Confessions of a Chocolate-aholic who also loves cheesecake

I love chocolate. I also love cheesecake but Hersheys, Snickers, Cadbury and M&Ms are my fix. Whether it's time of the month or a long day, chocolate makes me happy. I can remember eating one-half of the large St. Thomas Dairies chocolate icecream when I was pregnant with my daughter. It's funny because I still wonder why she was 7.5lbs.

Sweets are my weakness and it's something that I need to monitor because I come from a family who suffers diabetes and high blood pressure. I need to keep active and drink fluids to wash away these sweets.

I am also not ashamed to say that I don't like sharing my sweets. Call me 'selfish' but I love to sit and enjoy chocolate without having to break one piece or give away one M&M. As I write this blog post, I am enjoying a Cadbury Whole Nut. My inspiration comes from the simple things of life - a nice chocolate bar or a slice of 'good' cheesecake.

I don't need to eat the Dark Forest type chocolate cake unless I am really peevish. A nice tirumisu is good if you can get a nice piece. Don't get me wrong - I do love my local gooseberry or tamarind stew, a good piece of tart or a good vienna cake.

Chocolate just does something different and special for me. It is relaxing and perfectly sweet yet it makes me smile. I just love it!

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Reggae Artists Collaborations in Hip Hop, R&B and Pop

Reggae artists have worked with artists such as Mick Jagger, Beyonce, No Doubt and Janet Jackson in collaborations to produce chart topping songs.

Reggae music and its artists are versatile and have proven this by collaborating in songs with artists from other genres. Artists such as Peter Tosh, Shabba Ranks and Baby Cham among others have worked with R&B, Hip Hop and Pop artists to produce songs that are loved internationally.

Big Hits Featuring Reggae Artists

The list of reggae artists who have teamed with artists from other genres to write and sing would be very long. The following songs are well-loved and include classics from Peter Tosh, Patra and Shabba Ranks as well as more recent music from John Legend and Sean Paul.

• Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger: "(You Got to Walk And) Don't Look Back" is a reggae song about moving forward from bad relationships. "(You Got to Walk And) Don't Look Back" came from Tosh's 1978 album, Bush Doctor. Both of these powerful artists sang in the chorus, "so if you just put your hands in mine/ we're gonna leave all our troubles behind/ you got to walk and don't look back".
• Patra and YoYo: Patra and Yoyo sang "Romantic Call" from Patra's 1993 Queen of the Pack. Patra sings in the chorus "I'm on a romantic call, talking to my baby down a mi yard" and other lyrics include "phone call loving help when you feel lonely/ him can tell you things make you feel sexy". "Take your hands and wrap them round my waist/ cause I know that you can't wait" chants YoYo in her rap. There was a cameo of Tupac Shakur in the music video for "Romantic Call".
• Shabba Ranks and KRS-One: "The Jam" by Shabba Ranks featuring KRS-One was released on Shabba's As Raw As Ever album in 1991. KRS-One is known for his lyrical flow and had lyrics like "taking titles/ breaking idols/ the lyrics I chant in your head are like vitals" and "Boogey Down Productions specialize in classics/ cause all the others specialize in plastics" in "The Jam".
• John Legend and Buju Banton: John Legend's "Can't Be My Lover" comes from the No Other Love / Can't Be My Lover - Cool Breeze Mixes album released in 2009. "I got my bird in the eye why chase one in the sky" chants Buju Banton as Legend sings "over and over, over again... I tried to tell her no. no, no, I already have a friend".
• Baby Cham and Alicia Keys:  Baby Cham released "Ghetto Story" with Alicia Keys in 2006 on his album with the same title, Ghetto Story. Alicia chants in the song, "I remember the days when I went to bed hungry/ all I ever ate was white rice and honey". Some of Baby Cham's lyrics are "…when me and momma bed was a big piece of foam/ and me never like bathe and my hair never comb".
• Damien 'Jr. Gong' Marley and Bobby Brown: "Beautiful" is a sultry song by Damien 'Jr. Gong' Marley featuring Bobby Brown of New Edition. Coming from Marley's 2005 Welcome To Jamrock, "Beautiful" is a dedication to a lovely lady of good character. "She's the only queen the king is designating" and "she don't have no scratches only beauty spots" are some of Marley's lyrics.
• Barrington Levy and Shyne:  Barrington Levy was featured on two songs from Shyne's 2000 self-titled album, "Bonnie and Shyne" and "Bad Boy". In both songs, Levy adds his flavor and he was featured in both music videos.

Collaborations with Beenie Man

Beenie is considered one of the most popular reggae artists. He has collaborated with other reggae artists and also with Janet Jackson and Mya.

• "Girls Dem Sugar": Beenie Man's Art & Life album in 2000 carried a special song, "Girls Dem Sugar" featuring the songstress Mya. Beenie Man had already coined the phrase "girls dem sugar" in "Who Am I" from his 1997 album, Many Moods of Moses.
• "Feel It Boy": "Feel It Boy" came from Beenie Man's 2002 Tropical Storm. Janet sings the hook and Beenie Man tells the story in his chant. He starts the song off with "whenever I got no money/ she's still my honey" and Janet sings in part of the chorus "let's forget everything and everybody/ let's just have a party, me and you".

Reggae Collaborations with No Doubt

No Doubt featuring Gwen Stefani collaborated with Bounty Killer and Lady Saw on their 2001 album Rock Steady.

• "Hey Baby":  Bounty Killer, known for his hard lyrics in songs like "Sufferah" and "Fed Up" from his 2002 Ghetto Dictionary: The Mystery album, sang with No Doubt in "Hey Baby". Some of Bounty Killer's lyrics in "Hey Baby" are "when you rock your hips you know it amaze me...can you be my one and only sunshine lady" and he is featured in the music video.
• "Underneath It All":  Lady Saw joined with No Doubt in "Underneath It All", a mellow song with classic reggae and pop undertones. Stefani sings in the chorus "you're really lovely, underneath it all/ you want to love me, underneath it all". Part of Lady Saw's chant is "underneath it all you are my real prince charming/ like the heat from the fire you are always burning". Lady Saw does not appear in this video. This song appeared in the 2004 romantic comedy 50 First Dates headlined by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Collaborations with Sean Paul

Sean Paul has collaborated with several major artists including Busta  Rhymes in the "Gimme The Light Remix" and "Make It Clap", Blu Cantrell, Keisha Cole, Keri Hilson and Beyonce.

• "Give It Up To Me": Coming from the movie, Step Up (2006), Sean Paul sings "Give It Up to Me" with R&B songstress, Keisha Cole. Sean Paul chants "first place a where you belong" and "why can't you see, we ought to be together/ girl don't front on me". Lyrics from Keisha Cole include "as a woman on my own, I got it going on/ I'm liking what I see and I don't want to be alone".
• "Hold My Hand (I'll Be There): "Hold My Hand (I'll Be There) features [Keri Hilson](http://www.kerihilson.com) and comes from Sean Paul's 2009 Imperial Blaze album. "Girl you know I care, so if you ever lose your way/ don't have no fear" is part of the chorus that Sean Paul sings. Lyrics from Hilson include "and I never would disrespect boy/ I love you straight to my last breath".

Reggae is a genre that is never stagnant. The artists are talented and have and will continue to collaborate with artists from other genres to give the special flavor to the music that people love.

Ribbon's Tips for Saving & Reducing Debt

Making ends meet is not easy. It gets harder when you have bad habits. I listen to people who are crying that money is tight but yet some of them are 'fly' and taking trips. What are your priorities? I had to set mine in order to survive and still be able to enjoy the basics.

1. Save your change - singles and coins in a jar. Only access when the jar is full or if you really have no other funds to buy bread or water!
2. Take care of your family's clothing so that they can last longer. Iron dark colors with a white cloth and wash whites in hot water.
3. Recycle uniforms, books, church clothes with other family members or close friends.
4. Drive less by grouping errands and walking short distances. It's too hard to find parking spaces anyway!
5. Set a realistic savings goal. $20 per week is still $1,040 for one year.
6. Join a partnerhand and save your hand in a CD or Christmas Club account.
7. Long drives or ferry or airplane trips to shop? Can you really not find what you need online or where you live? What are you shopping for anyway - things you want or need?
8. Set goals. What is more important to you - a home or a car? If it's the car, then take car of it.
9. Include your car in your monthly budget. It needs tires, gas, brakes, servicing, coolant, oil, battery etc. Don't play cheap and not buy the new tires you need and be sure to rotate them. Driving on bum tires burns more gas.
10. If you cook food for your children then you can take lunch to work with you. Are you ashamed to walk with a lunch bag but not afraid to ask someone to buy you lunch? That's an lol moment for me!
11. Do your own hair once or twice a month. I do not mean for you to relax your own hair - we never recommend that. However, can't you style your hair by adding a wig, twisting, afroing, wrapping or using flexirods (thank's Juju) for cute curls.
12. Recycle, Reuse and conserve what you can whenever you can.
13. Try not to use the credit unless you can pay it off in one month. Remember, you pay interest on your credit card debt. If you are late once, your interest payment could double and of course there will be late fees. Use a debit card instead so that means if you don't have the money in the account, you can't shop.
14. Reduce your cable and telephone bills if you can. If you have internet, use Skype or another VOIP.

You still have to enjoy yourself and have fun. However, if you are in debt, you have to make choices to get yourself ahead. So if it means not going to the movies or going shopping, then do what is necessary.

I no longer feel sorry for anyone who lives beyond their means or who wants to keep up with the 'Jones and them'. I've made too many sacrifices to keep myself from sinking. Wake up, grow up and get your finances in order.

This is an example of ribbon's no-nonsense guidelines. Do what you know is right.

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POEM: How I Feel About You

Jamie Foxx said we are unpredictable
but I say whether or not, anything is possible
cause you and I are inseperable
it's like we are virtually incapable
of not loving each other
not wanting another
cause with you I feel cooler
loving you makes life much smoother
I lavish in the way you've captivated me
you in my future is what I see
this love has taken me to the place I want to be
so let's chill and listen to some Luther, McKnight or Bob Marley
relax, rewind, live life completely
cause you and I deserve more than satisfactory
let's be each other's significant other significantly
distinctively
physically
passionately
spiritually

© Linette Rabsatt

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POEM: My Sight

My Sight

In the heat of the night
or the heat of the day
My sight is varied
and my heart wants to play
I want to take flight
grow wings and soar
fly high above the mountains
to admire nature's seductive allure
I see the bright lights
the illuminators of the sky
how they shine on their journey
the reason I want to fly
These feelings I don't fight
it's an imagination's climax
only words can describe
wide-eyed thoughts with no syntax

© ribbon

Empowerment & Motivation: Traits of The Model Employee

Who are the model employees? These employees are motivated and empowered so they have a positive attitude and take initiative in developing new ideas.

Supervisors and managers want model employees who are empowered and motivated on their team. A model employee is empowered to take advantage of training opportunities, keeps a positive attitude and sets 'SMART' goals. Motivation is also significant to a model employee because it involves taking initiative and offering fresh ideas.

A Model Employee is Empowered

To empower means to authorize. So empowerment for an employee is that internal momentum that not only promotes belief in himself but gives that additional drive to strive for success. Empowered employees possess a positive mindset, seek new opportunities for growth and development and set SMART goals. 

•  A positive attitude: A positive attitude is an asset to employees in their professional and personal lives. Every day is not perfect, but it is important to view problems as a way to improve problem-solving skills. Think positive thoughts and say positive words to keep focus. Stay away from negative conversations especially those centered around gossip.
• Attains training to enhance self: New and seasoned employees need to attend training sessions or workshops to improve their performance. Some jobs offer training programs and also pay for employees to attend sessions offered by other entities. An empowered employee will also seek out opportunities for growth via the local community college or other workshops offered.
• Sets SMART goals: Everyone should set career and personal goals. Ken Blanchard and Susan Fowler Woodring in their booklet Empowerment: Achieving Peak Performance Through Self-leadership [Blanchard Family Partnership/Successories, Inc.,1998] state that goals should be SMART meaning they should be specific and measurable, motivating, attainable, relevant and trackable. For example, do not set a five year goal to attain a Master's degree if a Bachelor's degree is not acquired first. For long term goals, employees have to consider management positions, entrepreneurship and retirement.

Motivated Employees are Empowered to Take Action

Every person is motivated by different factors. Praise, notoriety, self-satisfaction and monetary rewards are some of the driving forces that keep employees motivated. A motivated employee takes initiative to get the job done right the first time and offers ideas for improving the business activities.

• Takes initiative: A motivated employee is willing to take initiative in situations that call for quick thinking. A motivated employee will not notice that there is one bottle of drinking water left and wait until the supervisor arrives to complain. The model employee will organize for water to be ordered and will ensure that water is always ordered before the last bottle empties.
• Offer ideas for the organization's improvement: Motivated employees offer fresh ideas to managers and supervisors to improve the company's operations. Laborers or junior staff members who keep the operations running will be able to make valid suggestions on improving the operations.

Motivation and empowerment give employees the boost to produce well. If the employees are not motivated, their performance will be poor. If they are not empowered, they will not grow. Model employees are motivated and empowered and committed to their work. They set goals, offer ideas, have a positive attitude and enhance themselves through training.

Owning Real Estate in the BVI for Non-British Virgin Islanders

Persons who are not native to the Virgin Islands and have been willed or are interested in purchasing real estate should know the processes involved.

Persons who are interested in owning real estate in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) but are not born in the BVI or do not have at least one parent or grandparent, a spouse or another warranted circumstance, must apply to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour (MNR&L) for a Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence before they can hold title to the property. These persons are classified as "non- belongers" as it pertains to owning property. If a registered company is interested in purchasing property then company documents must be submitted showing the directors and shareholders of the company to determine if the company is a non-belonger company.

The Law Governing Non-BVIslanders and Real Property

The law that governs this process is classified as the "Non- Belongers Land Holding Regulation Act (CAP. 122)". Land can be acquired by foreclosure, purchase or by probate. Once a person is deemed to be a non- belonger, they must complete and submit an application form with the required attachments and fees to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour in Road Town, Tortola.

The Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence Application Form

There are two applications forms, one for companies and one for individuals. If more than one individual wishes to apply for a licence to hold land, then each applicant will have to complete a form. For businesses, the form asks for general information about the company and there is a section for the directors and shareholders to answer general questions similar to the forms for individual applicants.

• Application Form for Individual Applicants: This form asks for general identification information such as one's name, address, contact information, places previous lived and employment status. It is important to answer all the relevant questions since the application may be returned for unanswered questions.
• Application Form for Companies: The general information in relation to the company that is required is the company name, registered office, contact information and the type of shares issued. The application also asks for the "main objectives for which the company is established." A company is deemed a non-belonger company if any of the directors are non-belongers. In addition, if the directors are BVIslanders and more than one-third of the shareholders are non-belongers, the company is deemed a non-belonger company.
• Property Description: The company and individual applications ask for the description of the land. Land in the BVI is classified by a block number, parcel number and a registration section. The local name of the location must also be submitted and notes of any right of way to the beach must be included. The application must also state whether the property is developed or undeveloped. If there is development, then the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and other rooms must be stated and photos are to be provided.
• Vendor or Lessor Information Must Be Shared: The name of the vendor or lessor must be submitted in the application form and it must be clarified if he or it is a belonger or belonger company.
• Usage and Future Plans to be Detailed: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour of the Government of the British Virgin Islands requires that any potential non-belonger land owner share the purchase price and their plans for the usage and/or development of the property. Applicants must also share their source of funds for financing.

Supporting Documents to the Non-Belonger Land Holding Licence Application

Firstly, the MNR&L requires that application forms are original forms with a color logo and not photocopies. The supporting documents are the same for both individual and company applications, except that the company applications must be accompanied by company documents.

• References & Identification: The application for each applicant or director or shareholder must be accompanied by two character references and two personal references. According to the application form, the personal reference must indicate "the applicant's ability to purchase land and to carry out the proposed development or improvement." The Ministry recommends that this reference should come from an employer, auditor or banking institution. A financial statement which is one year's worth of bank statements from a savings or checking account, is also required. A current police report must also be submitted as well as a recent passport-sized photograph of each applicant.
• Supporting Documents for the Property: The property must be advertised for four weeks in a local newspaper. The local papers in the BVI are published once per week. The advertisement must share the size, information about whether the property is developed, and contact information for the vendor. A valuation or appraisal report from an appraiser licensed in the BVI must also be submitted in addition to the sales agreement and name of the potential contractor. Another document is a letter-sized survey map of the property which must be requested from a licensed surveyor in the BVI.
• Documents from the Vendor: If the vendor is a belonger or belonger company, copies of birth certificates or belongers identification cards should be attached. If the vendor is non-belonger, then a copy of their transfer document or land title and a copy of the vendor's non-belonger land holding licence should be attached.
• Supporting Documents for Company Applications: Applications from companies should submit copies of the certificate of incorporation, the memorandum and articles of association, a certificate of good stand and a certified document detailing the directors and shareholders of the company from the jurisdiction of incorporation.

Non-Belongers Land Holding Licence Applications and Probates and Divorces
For persons who have been bequeathed real estate in the BVI, the same application procedures apply but a copy of the grant of probate also needs to be submitted and the property need not be advertised. If a couple who had a licence has divorced, documentation reflecting the details of the settlement and the Decree Absolute should also be submitted with the application.

To ensure that your application is processed in a timely fashion, be sure to follow the guidelines set out in the application form and attach all the required supporting documents. For more information about the applications for Non-Belonger Land Holding Licences, you may contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour in the British Virgin Islands.