Inexpensive Getaways For The Winter Blues

Las Vegas Everyone's favorite "Viva Las Vegas"

Gambling and nightlife still reign, but Las Vegas is now also a premier family destination. The city's hotels, resorts and entertainment complexes range from budget to lavish, but the Strip's neon lights are still

Dominican Republic .
The Caribbean's

Hot Vacation Destination!
Santo Domingo
Very good value for money and with a distinctly Latin American twist.
Great night life and very inexpensive.
Check it out.






Paris, France

Save Cash and Avoid Crowds in the Cooler Months

From November through March, there are many hot deals for tours, airfare and lodging in France. Even if you feel Paris is normally out of reach, this is a time to visit on the cheap end. Or this is also an ideal time to book a stay at some of France's finest and most luxurious hotels at a lower cost. As the hotels empty for winter, the savings are deep.

also checkout www.residences-Paris.com very good deals
on apartment living in great areas in Paris.




Ms Ray's Vacation spots

COUPLES!

Sometimes I just feel like talking about people. Whether A or B-list, we see celeb couples in the media all the time, and regardless, we all have something to say. Well, I just feel like doing a little bit of the bumping of the gums tonight.

Nick Cannon with Victoria Secret Model "Whatever-her-name-is"

BooOO! Nick Cannon Sucks to me!
He reminds me of someone annoying that I had a class with in college, and for some reason cute girls took him attractive. He would have definitely been an Alpha. No offense to my FRAT!

Omarion and J-Hud
Not a couple as in relationship, but just coupled in the photo

This pic is funny just because J-Hud's Boob is sitting on O's shoulder, which further lets me know how short he really is. J-hud aint but 5'5". And why does Omarion look like he got dressed to go to his little cousin's graduation dinner?

India Arie and Chris Tucker

It's something mysterious and weird going on with Chris Tucker. I can't quite figure him out. Is he straight, gay, what! The rumor is is that he and India are dating, UUGH! I like India (I'm lying). I just don't feel her style. What's up with the old Gucci Pouch?

Usher and Tameka (his stylist) I want to be happy for her, just because she's in the money. Not to sound like a gold-digger, but who else would date a man who has admittedly hung out at a gay club. Usher is very talented, but also kinda "how you doin?"


Kristen Davis of Sex and the City and Rick Fox (NBA Star)

This is a stupid couple. They both could do better! Rick Fox has such a big head and chin. And Kristen is so ordinary. I never understood why women loved him so much! Rick would have definitely been a Kappa!

Tracy McGrady and his wifeI'm feeling the chinchilla collar but his wife looks like "Summer time in the City"!

Naomi Campbell and Terrence Howard Yes it's true, Terrence and Naomi are dating. My reliable sources (other Blogs) have told me that they have been spotted all over the red carpet and will in fact accompany each other at the Oscars. I thought he was a little confused too, but he found Naomi. Maybe she could bust him in the head a few times to make him act right!

Isiah Washington with Wife (I don't know her name off the top of my head)A great couple. I never have anything negative to say about these two, but can she not looks so damn matronly all the time. I would guess she's in her early forties, but she does not have dress like she's Barbara Walters

Tyson with Random modelI can tell that this pic is from the back stage of a fashion show, therefore, I'ma let him make it with this ridiculous ensemble. But this pic further lets me know how gay he is!

The Dumbest Toys!! ... Very Dumb

Pussycat Dolls

Customers who bought the Peekaboo Pole Dancing Kit and the I-Tattoo probably would've been clueless enough to buy this one too...

To compete with the spectacularly successful Bratz doll phenomenon, Hasbro unveils plans to launch the Pussycat Dolls, aimed at girls as young as 8 years old and modeled after the risqué, burlesque-inspired pop group of the same name.
(Yes, the "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me" Pussycat Dolls.)
After protests by parent groups, Hasbro nixes the line.






I-Tattoo,

Toymaker Spin Master releases the I-Tattoo, a $15 kit for kids ages 6 and up that features a "realistic, vibrating tattoo pen" and instructs youngsters to "get ready to 'get inked.'"Amazingly the people who

Customers who bought the Peekaboo Pole Dancing Kit also purchased this item.

Peekaboo pole-dancing kit.

"Unleash the sex kitten inside" is the message to youngsters with the Peekaboo pole-dancing kit." It contains a chrome pole, a DVD with suggested dance moves, and a 'sexy dance garter' - all formerly in the toys and games section of the Tesco website. 8.5 foot chrome pole with play money for stuffing into a garter. Parent groups agreed to remove the Items from the toy shelves. This is so distasteful, They are recruiting so soon.

What were they thinking?
Ms Ray

Sports: NBA All Star Weekend is for "Hip Hop Hoodlums"

According to a recent article at AOL Sports, the NBA All-Star Weekend was a complete flop and very dangerous. The author of this article seems to have a lot of anger in his heart!

The game is a sloppy, boring, half-hearted mess. The dunk contest is contrived and pointless. The celebrity contest is unintended comedy. And, worst of all, All-Star Weekend revelers have transformed the league's midseason exhibition into the new millennium Freaknik, an out-of-control street party that features gunplay, violence, non-stop weed smoke and general mayhem...

David Stern seriously needs to consider moving the event out of the country for the next couple of years in hopes that young, hip-hop hoodlums would find another event to terrorize. Taking the game to Canada won't do it. The game needs to be moved overseas, someplace where the Bloods and Crips and hookers and hoes can't get to it without a passport and plane ticket...

After this weekend, I'm convinced he's losing the battle. All-Star Weekend Vegas screamed that the NBA is aligned too closely with thugs. Stern is going to have to take drastic measures to break that perception/reality. All-Star Weekend can no longer remain the Woodstock for parolees, wannabe rap artists and baby's mamas on tax-refund vacations. full story

OK!? So there were a few bad apples in the whole bunch! It was pretty hectic out there but, did he have to say "baby's mama's?" There are actually some "baby's mama's" in the world doing respectable things. All Star weekend would be pretty classy overseas though...tell me what u think?

Groove Truffle Collection

Groove Truffle Collection
12 Musical Genres + 12 Chocolate Truffles + 1CD



Groove Collection
If you love Chocolate and the essence of great music, try one of our favorite chocolate brands, Vosges. If you are feeling a little guilty about all of that chocolate don't worry, the proceeds go to restoring music education in our public schools and the CD is a must-have for your collection.

















Experience the latest sensory journey in chocolate. The Groove Collection is a study of the African-American influence on America's musical history through chocolate, story and song.

Each box includes:
- A booklet tracing the historical significance of 12 musical eras
- 12 chocolate truffles, each incorporating popular ingredients of the era:
- CD featuring 12 songs from African American artists that influenced America's musical roots

10% of profits from sales of the Groove Collection goes to Little Kids Rock, which helps restore music education in our public schools. http://www.littlekidsrock.org/

If you want more information about Groove Truffle Collection
http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/groove_truffle_collection/groove_truffle_collection/

I hope you enjoy it, let me know how you feel.
Ms Ray

Randomness fo' that @$$: The Crack Files...

K-Ci & JoJo Sounding very "crackish" at the TV One Bill Bellamy's Who Got Jokes Finale
Introducing Ashy Larry & Tyrone Biggums...all I can say is please seek professional help if you ever feel the need to try drugs, PLEASE! If you haven't seen this yet, please get prepared to laugh your socks off or even cry!




While watching this, please notice the extreme weight loss and the pitchiness of the voices.

Whitney and Ray J again, doing the most...what's up with them?I'm just hoping that she has always wanted a son, that's all I'm saying!

What tha.........FUC@?: Britney Spears Shaves Head and Kelis Makes a Big Mistake

What in the HOT HELL is going on around here! Brit-Brit has completely lost it... Looking like the lost extra on "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", and Kelis looks like somebody smacked her in the head a couple times with a wet pack of skittles.
These two need a serious Come-to-Jesus. I'm passing the mic' to you guys on this one...

Why?

Jennifer Hudson Covers Life Magazine

Another day, Another cover, Jennifer Hudson does it again.



If it was anyone else, I would say "Enough Already", but I am one to always root for the under-dog. Jennifer Hudson has to be the top under-dog of all top dogs. Keep the Em' Coming!

Spike Lee, CNN get teens to film life in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - Spike Lee handed video cameras to New Orleans-area high school students and told them to capture their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for the world to see. "Let them know what's happening down here, that everything isn't okey-dokey," said Lee, who directed When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, a four-hour documentary chronicling the Katrina disaster.
The teens' footage will air monthly as part of a special CNN series Children of the Storm. The first segment, in which Lee and host Soledad O'Brien handed cameras to 11 students, aired Friday morning.
The series will run until the second anniversary of Katrina in August.
Students will document how the hurricane affected their lives and neighborhoods while also sharing their thoughts about the city's recovery and their future in New Orleans, O'Brien said.
"You're doing this for the world," Lee said in the first segment. "Remember it's not just for yourself."

I applaud Spike Lee for his brave efforts to call out the grotesque treatment of the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This documentary will be very important for the world to see. The media can be very disheartful and will seize any coverage of the aftermath in order to make "us", the public, forget. But we will never forget or forgive. Being from Houston, Texas, I frequented New Orleans and I know it will never be the same. All of the communities that were devastated will probably never be rebuilt. I hope that people across the country from all races will now vote intelligently, so this will never happen again.

Jamie Fox Blasts Comedian

Disclaimer: We know this is an old clip, but just in case you didn't see it, check it out, Jaime embarrasses the hell out of this guy!

Passport Spas

If you need some R& R, but can't get away, here are some International Rejuvenation spas in New York. Here are some of my Favorites and more to come.






















Swedish
Great Jones Spa
29 Bowery and Layfayette St
212 505 3185

This three-and-a-half-story holistic day spa in New York City offers Manhattanites a place to commune, detox, and eat a healthy meal. They're known for the "Swedish massage" which includes classic kneading and stroking.



Thailand
Azure Day Spa
155 Spring street
w. Broadway and Wooster St.
212 274-8121

A Thai message
Everything at this spa from the aforementioned greeting,(bowing) Buddha painting and the ingredients in its Sarahn product line all come from the homeland.

Even the pretreatment footbathing ritual is great!( manual yoga like stretching)
The best pedicure ever !!






Romania
Cornelia Day Spa
663 5th Ave Ste
Between 52nd Street and 53rd Street
New York, NY
(212) 871-3050

Romanian Facial
Despite being one of the largest day resorts in Manhattan and offering everything a glamour girl could want, this luxurious spa has an attention to detail even a perfectionist would praise. Swanky candlelit hallways lead to multiple stories of treatment rooms, a cozy library and the posh rooftop garden with a flowing watsu pool.(Fab pool!!)


One more thing, the La Prairie at the Ritz-Carlton Spa offers this fab French facial and also Caviar Firming Facial - True luxury with an unprecedented concentration of Caviar Extracts, AHA's and unique sea proteins leaves your skin feeling transformed, lifted and illuminated.

Ms Ray
Check it out Guys!

Milli Vanilli Film in the Making

I just got word from the BBC News that Milli Vanilli will be the focus of a film about their rise and fall in the music industry

The paper reports the film will be written and directed by Jeff Nathanson, who wrote Catch Me If you Can starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
I am dying to know who will play the notorious duo of lip-synchers . This is definitely the movie I have waited all my life for. Who do you think should star in the movie?

Comedy Saved My Life: Mark Curry Contemplates Suicide

Appearing on "The Montel Williams Show" set to air Today, Curry, 42, said he suffered burns over 18 percent of his body after a falling can of spray starch ruptured and sparked a fire in his California home.


NEW YORK Feb 14, 2007 (AP)— Comedian Mark Curry, who starred in the 1990s sitcom "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," says that if it wasn't for some of his comic friends such as Bill Cosby and Sinbad, he probably would have committed suicide last spring after a freak accident landed him in the hospital with second-degree burns.

"It was so bad … that pain was so excruciating that I just threw it out," said Curry, recalling the moment when he woke up from a three-day, medically induced coma.

"I wanted to kill myself and, by the fourth day, I said, `I can't do this.' I felt less than a man. I couldn't even look at my own body. I saw my hand with the peeling skin and threw up, and I didn't look at myself again."

I Gotta Man! Tyra Banks with V-day Sweety

The gates of Heaven have opened. Tyra was spotted out with a mystery man on Valentine's Day. I hope this works out for her, because I am so over her bringing up subtle details of her failed relationships on the show. No one cares ! She might be able to keep him if she would just zip it!

Who Cares?

Randomness fo' that @$$...

...these are just a few of my thoughts along with today's pointless headlines that I found rather interesting. It's amazing what makes breaking news and it's funny how entertaining it can be. So if you have nothing else to discuss with your friends and family, perhaps these topics will make great conversation pieces, consider these tidbits Valentine's Day gifts from me to you!

e Tracey Morgan pleads guilty for drunk driving full story

e 50 Cent and Irv Gotti stare each other down (just in time for Valentine's Day) at a Grammy party full story

e Wasn't it nice to see Carl Anthony Payne (most of us remember him as either Cockroach from The Cosby Show or Cole Brown from Martin) on Girlfriends Monday night? It was just kinda weird to see him as a woman beater though!

...speaking of the Cosby Show, Bill Cosby's dog won the Terrier group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on Monday night full story

e Paula Abdul says she's never been drunk...oh please! full story

e Is it really necessary for Tyra to have an entire show dedicated to her trying on the swimsuit that she wore when she graced the cover of the SI swimsuit edition 10 years ago? full story

Ok, Tyra is cool and all, I like her but her show topics are so limited sometimes-makeover this, oh I'm too fat that, eating disorder this, I'm crying on stage because i don't have a man, blah blah blah...

Men's Apparel and Accessories 07

We promised to bring more men's fashion and we are keeping our word.
A peak at next Fall '07

Just giving you heads-up! Guys

fall/2007-Bottega-Veneta
























fall/2007-Armani

Beyonce Covers Sports Illustrated

So what if J-Hud has out-shined her on everything related to Dreamgirls. J-Hud might have Vogue, but B covers Sports Illustrated. Ummm! Yeah! not as impressive as Vogue. I'm sure Beyonce damn near regurgitated when she found out. But to say the least, any press is good press, right!

Long Time no Gossip.... IF I Was Your Girlfriend

Ok. guys and gals. I haven't spewed any gossip lately just because the celebs are getting boring. Yeah I'm sure you heard about Whitney and Bobby getting back together, and the infamous Micheal Jordan Mistress debacle, but I just I had to shit on Ray J for a hot second. I'm sure ya'll also know about this sleazy sex tape as well, no need to get into that. But apparently "Mr. Brandy's Little Brother" got kicked out of a party that Kim Kardashian hosted for Complex magazine's pre-grammy party. He apparently tried to waltz his way into the party and she smooth kicked his ass out, SHAME!!! Now supposedly she's dating annoying-ass Nick Cannon. Lets hope he could sneak a sex tape out of this one. Ya'll know he's dying to lose that cornball Will Smith persona!

Ray J with his used-to-be-girl Kim

Nick Cannon with Brandy's Lil Brother's-used-to-be-girlfriend, KIM

Until next time.... Stay Vain!

Black Style Now Exhibit Ends on Feb. 19, 2007

Just a Reminder: If you are in the New York area, be sure to purchase your tickets to the Black Style Now Exhibit. The last viewing will be on Feb. 19. You don't want to miss this fantastic display of black style dating back to the 70's.
Check out the Museum of the City New York for ticket info here

(left, photo of Donyale Luna -First Black woman to cover Vogue)

Jennifer Hudson Makes History Again: Vogue Magazine

Thanks to concreteloop.com, I obtained the recent photos of the J-Hud cover for Vogue.


I did not realize that Jennifer Hudson will be the first African American singer to grace the cover of Vogue magazine. Beverly Johnson, Shari Belafonte, Oprah Winfrey, Liya Kebede and Halle Berry are some of the few that have graced the cover of the fashion bible, Vogue. I congratulate Jennifer for all of her success. Annie Leibovitz is an extraordinary photographer, but she did no justice with the photographs for Jennifer. The second photo was taken at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. I like the idea, but the pose is awkward and uncomfortable, it looks very unnatural. The cover is nothing special compared to the work that Leibovitz is known for. But with all that said, at least she got the cover. B must be sick right now!

For more pics of past Vogue covers featuring African Americans check out Clay Cane.