Summer in the City

"Come-on come-on and dance all night

Despite the heat it'll be alright"

I love the summer. Well most of it. The heat I can do without. Just a little warm, please. I do love those summer nights though. Getting together for a cold beer and bbq. There are things you can only experience during the summer. I have compiled 5 of my favorite things to do during the summer. Tomorrow I will post 5 fun activities I have yet to try and 5 great summer songs!

5 Fave Summer Activities

5. Hang in the AC

Nothing is better than a cold, freezing house during a heat wave. We had a pretty nasty heat wave last week where it was so unbearable to be outside. The cure: lay around eating watermelon and watching Netflix, of course.

4. Homemade popsicles

I made some watermelon sorbet recently, I am looking for some good molds to make some popsicles this year. I lost mine from last year. Here is a little inspiration from my main lady, Martha:

3. BBQ

My friends and I have started a weekly ritual of meeting up to BBQ and hangout. It's been a fun way to catch up since we are all pretty busy and also to cook together. Here are some cool grill recipes I pinned recently:

2. Swimming
Swimming is so much fun! You get a good workout in and you are all hungry for some BBQ when you get out. My in-laws have a pool and live nearby. I cannot wait to take advantage of this!

1. Go to the beach!
The best. Period. Beautiful scenery, great drive and delicious seafood. Derek and I got married at the beach and it was pretty nice. My parents moved to the coast in the last couple years and it has been spectacular to visit. Not only is Morro Bay amazing but the surrounding beaches as well as the day trip to Big Sur is breathtaking.

Any fun things you like to do? Let me know so we can all try it out!

You're a Yankee Doodle Dandy!

Happy 4th Everyone!

Here is a funny video to make you laugh today:

PS Sorry for the hiatus. I have been working a new job and have done 8 days in a row. We also got a major heat wave here in the Valley. I will post even more new stuff in the coming week! Thanks for your patience. 

Titillating Tuesdays #2

On Why You Should Believe You Are Sexy

Why?  Because you’re fucking sexy.  Period.

Let me break it down from the perspective of a woman who just recently accepted that she is in fact sexy.

The bottom line is that there are so many images and ideas in our culture dictating what is sexy that us mere mortals hardly ever feel truly sexy.  Think of the sexiest person, image, or scenario you can imagine.  Having recently watched ‘Taking Lives’, mine involves Angelina Jolie.  For you it may be something different, but I’m writing this article, not you, so we’re sticking with Angelina, got it?!

Not to ruin the movie or anything, but at one point, she opens her hotel room in a loose, thin robe and the look on her face just screams “I want the D!”  Watching that, my first thought was “I could never be that sexy.”  First, I do not look like Angelina Jolie.  Secondly, I have always considered myself far too self-conscious and reserved to even suggest with a look that I want the D.

But then there’s the issue of my latest paramour, who has told me repeatedly that I’m in fact dripping with sexuality.  What?  Me?  Naw.  I’m funny, smart, cute, sometimes spirited, but not sexy.

Except I am.  All those attributes I just described and many more make me one sexy beast.  I don’t need to be in any particular clothing or look like any particular model of beauty to be sexy.  So how did I accept this and begin to believe it?

One of my favorite axioms is “Fake it till you make it.”  If you aren’t accustomed to being ‘sexy’, pretending to be sexy will get you at least half way there.  Let me give an example.  I have a friend who I think is incredibly sexy.  She’s sensual and doesn’t even seem to try.  A few months ago we were getting to know a couple gentlemen on a double-date of sorts (if you consider going home with a couple cute guys from a bar a date). 

When asked what music we wanted to hear, we of course shouted out “PITBULL” in unison because if I’m drinking, nothing brings out my inner slut faster than hearing that man sing “Yo no quiero agua, yo quiero bebida, Mami tu eres loca no te hagas la fina”.  My friend starts to dance and I’m thinking, “Great, she’s sooo sexy, these guys are going to forget I exist.” 

I want to take a moment to point out jealousy over who’s garnering more male attention is a fatal flaw in our collective society as women and we need to work to destroy it every time we encounter it.  Moving on.

Before I let myself be consumed by oddly jealous thoughts of someone I love as much as my friend, I decided to try pretending to be sexy.  I thought, these guys don’t know I scrapped my knee the week before in a swimming pool (yeah, I’m that clumsy).

So I rose in all my fake sexy glory, closed my eyes, and started to groove.  And I kept on groovin’, till the guy I wanted to groove with couldn’t help himself and grooved with me.  And we grooved baby, oh boy did we groove. 

At one point, he pulled me close and whispered, “Oh damn, you’re sexy”.  That was nice, and the intended result, but I was already feeling it before he said it. 

And that’s the point of faking it till you make it.  Others will see you as sexy if you feel it for yourself first.  You will attract people to you with the confidence sexy people have.  The fun of being sexy is that you don’t have to work that hard, and for the moments when you’re just going with what feels good and pleasurable, you can relax and enjoy your body (and hopefully other bodies) in a way that doesn’t require too much thinking.  ¡Qué lindo!

Internet points to whoever adds up how many times I used the words ‘sexy’ and ‘groove’!

Be Prepared!

Most of my time I am working on a campaign I am "in the field". This means I am usually away from the office talking to voters either by knocking on doors or going to events. Long hours and little sleep meant I needed to try and take care of myself. 

So I created what I called a Campaign/GOTV kit (Get Out The Vote)

Here are some of the items I would throw in my tote bag or car:

Mini First Aid Kit: You can usually find this at a dollar store. I took out the components I probably wouldn't use to make room for extra band-aids and Picot (it's like Alkaseltzer but non-aspirin.) 

Hand lotion: Once I worked in a hospital and I was constantly washing my hands to deflect germs. I needed this lotion (I suggest the Jergens Ultra Healing) You can get it travel size.

Baby Wipes: I love these. I can wash my hands, face whatever using these. Also good for wiping down a gross table. I would get the giant packs from Target and keep one in my car. I would take a bunch out and put in a sandwich baggie to save some money.

Travel Tylenol: I always have Tylenol with me. I am allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen. I keep it on me just to make sure I have it when I need it. The little travel tube is also convenient for refilling or storing other things.

Wisps: I love these! Great for if you don't have a chance to brush your teeth but need fresh breath/mouth. I follow it up with a mint for longer fresh breath.

Health: I put this on there because I think it is extremely important to take care of yourself. I keep a small sandwich baggie with vitamins, allergy medicine, and cough drops. These little things help me in a pinch when I need it. 

Couple extras I added: Tide Pen, travel deodorant, and sunscreen.

It seems like a lot to tote around but worth it if you are gonna be out and about. Great for trips, traveling, campaigns, and people who generally work away from these conveniences. 

Pinterest Clusterfuck

I get a lot of inspiration from my friends and family. Most of which "pin" a shit ton. I spend so much time re-pinning and making the hard decision to chose what makes it on my board (mostly if it is adorable or I am drooling it will made the cut)

Here is a round up of some of my favorite pins from this week:
(Click the title to be taken to the pin!)

Bricoche Brunch Cassarole

(You need to scroll through the other yumminess on the page to find this but totally looks amazing)

Home made cleaner
(First it looks fucking cool, second you don't have to smell the fumes)

Cool coffee table!
(I am actually going to make this for my new place! Currently using a plastic shelf thing ugh)

Game of Thrones mugs
(So first I must note that Khaleesi is my Queen! She is the rightful heir to the throne. Anyways these really cute and I love them.)

Animal parts magnets
(Imagine a fridge covered in wildlife; gold, sparkling wildlife.)

Banana Oat Muffins
(Not made with any oil or flour!)

Pineapple Whip 
(Seems healthy and delish)

Check out the stuff of my Pinterest here: Jackki HB's Pinterest

Hope you found some inspiration too!

New Series: Titillating Tuesdays!

I am happy to welcome the first guest post for this new series, Titillating Tuesdays! Our guest blogger (Ms. Anon) brings her perspective on sex and relationships.

Check out her new post:

On Why You Shouldn’t Fuck Anyone Who Argues With You About Safe-Sex and Using Protection

Why?  Because they’re assholes.  Period. 

Well, let me elaborate, from the perspective of a woman asking a man to use a condom.

What form of birth control you use is a personal decision that should be influenced by public knowledge that unprotected sexual intercourse can, and will lead to unintended pregnancies and the transmission of disease.

With that being said, there are a number of men who believe it is acceptable to have sex without a condom.  This may work well in the confines of a monogamous relationship, but let’s say you’re an ‘ethical slut’ (more on this later) and having just met someone, have decided you can’t wait to jump their bones.

First, congrats on following through with your desires- sex is fun and pleasure is good for you!  Second, where’s the condom?

A decent man will either gladly wear whatever freebies you got from your local Planned Parenthood or provide his own. Seriously, the willingness to wear a condom simply makes you decent.  You don’t deserve an award or ‘Nice Guy’ designation for being a responsible adult.

Now onto the dredge of society I like to call ‘I-just-don’t-like-the-way-it-feels-Guy’.  He will say he can’t orgasm with a condom on.  He will say it doesn’t fit right (shoulda brought your own cowboy).  He will say he won’t fuck you with a condom on.

At this point in my life, I just don’t have sex with men who give me any flack about wearing a condom.  This may seem harsh, but take a moment to think about the lack of respect it takes for a person to decide that regardless of the potential life-long health risks you both run, he thinks it’s more important that he be able to cum faster.

If you decide you’re willing to fuck someone who shows an obvious disregard for something this basic (maybe it’s a one-night stand and you could care less, I get it and have been there friend), there is a lot of internet advice on how to delicately ask “Why won’t you just fucking wear one?!”

Honestly, this advice is cloying- one should not manipulate or cajole anyone into something that needs to be as explicitly stated as safe sexual practices.  So here it is, the only thing you need to say to No-Condom-Guy:

“This is my preferred method of protection/birth control.  If you won’t wear one, I can’t have sex with you.”

That’s it. 

(Condom in image) courtesy of [posterize] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What if you already fucked without a condom?  Not a problem.  Know why?  Because relationships, ESPECIALLY sexual relationships, require ongoing consent.  Meaning that just because you did something before doesn’t mean you waive consent regarding that act for all of eternity.  If you already had sex sans condom and don’t want to do so again, there is a simple solution to this as well.

“We made a mistake not using a condom before and got lucky.  From now on you need to wear one.”

Again, that’s it.  The sooner you get comfortable being as pointed as possible about the things that matter most to you so that you can have guilt-free, regret-free, shameless sex, the better your interactions will be.

Now please know that in my experience, a man who quibbles with you on condom usage is not a nice person.  He puts his own needs and pleasure above yours, rather than in tandem with yours.  This will not change.  My advice is to keep these kind of men to one-nighters and occasional hook-ups, if you’re going to mess with them at all.  Also, he probably won’t make you cum, which isn’t just a bummer when you enter your ‘late-twenties’, but absofuckinglutely unacceptable.  Words to live by.

Work in Progress: What's Gilbert Eating?

So like I mentioned in my blog post: My First Project Kickoff, I am helping my friend Gilbert out with some delicious, freezer meals that he can cook at his convenience.

I am going to be making:

• BBQ Cranberry Chicken
• Lemon Garlic Chicken
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Apple Butter Porkchops
• Chicken Tacos

As well as pre-made smoothies for breakfast.

I am compiling  recipes from all over the internet and Pinterest. I am trying to make sure they are easy to make and to use. When you work all day you don't really want to start cooking at 7PM and eat even later. Fast food is usually the most efficient answer (and is fucking gross). Hoping this helps those in a time crunch. I suggest a good crock pot obviously and a rice make is always a good item to have. I will be posting recipe cards tomorrow.