good luck deluxe

So you say you love coconut? No one loves it as much as I do. I am koo-koo for coconut!

But not just any kind of coconut. I don’t do the nasty, shredded, stringy coconut. I like my coconut toasted, crispy, or crunchy. That is exactly what you will get when you bite into the Lindt Excellence White Coconut bar; crisped coconut that is enrobed in creamy, rich white chocolate.

White chocolate is not technically “chocolate.” However, after the Swiss do their rendition of white chocolate, it IS chocolate. You have never had white chocolate OR coconut like this Lindt Excellence bar.

It took me TWO DAYS to eat this thing! Two whole days. The flavor is so rich that one square of this bar packs the flavor of an entire cheap chocolate bar. Yes, it’s THAT good.

I told my friends about it, and the next day, I was still talking about how good this Lindt Excellence White Coconut bar is. My friend was like, “Girl, you’re still talking about that thing!” She hasn’t tasted it yet, but I have no doubt she’ll sing its praises, too.

Lindt is one of my favorite chocolatiers. Their confections always turn out extra-smooth and velvety, with the perfect hit of sweet. Lindt knows what to do with chocolate, and they have taken it to a whole other stratosphere with their Excellence collection.

If you’re a fan of flavored chocolate, you will love the Lindt Excellence Intense Pear flavor! Dark chocolate marries bits of pear in this goody bar.

You’re two clicks away from relishing these special chocolates. Click those pics!

Note: Concerned about sugar and carbs, or are you or someone you know diabetic? You’ve got to try Insulow. Click here to read my review of this awesome carb and sugar-reducing product that WORKS. Insulow is how I can eat all of these delicious sweets without guilt. I have taken Insulow for years and love it!

I know when some of y’all read the heading for this post, you bristled and were like, “I ain’t going to no spa.” Yes you will, after reading this post.

Guys, you know you like to look good. You also like to feel good - outside of the boudoir, that is.

So is it really that far of a stretch for you to combine your desire to look good with also feeling good in the process? I think it’s high time that men frequent men’s spas more. Treat yourselves!

Get that deep tissue massage, pedicure, back waxing, whatever. Don’t you deserve it?!

I can’t tell you how addicted I am to spas and beauty treatments. Hanging out in a sumptuous spa is like being with a lover, minus all the drama. All the benefits, none of the hassle.

I’m not advocating marrying your day spa, guys. I’m just saying that after how hard you work - all the blood, sweat, and tears you pump into your profession - you should have somewhere on earth that rewards you. And keep in mind that I am NOT talking about a “massage parlor,” if you know what I mean.

Men Essentials has a nice nationwide list of spas for men. They also include spas in the U.K. and Canada. That’s a good place to start. Print out the list. Wherever you travel in the U.S., the U.K., or Canada, you’ll have a men’s spa to visit!

If you’ve never been to a spa before, trust me when I say that after five minutes of being in your robe, you’ll feel right at home. All spas take a moment to get your bearings, but then your senses take over, and you just lose yourself in the experience.

Also be sure to visit the “Grooming Products - Men” section of my Amazon store to shop for male grooming products that I have personally hand-selected for you.

Enjoy!

If you’ve never had a New England lobster roll, you haven’t lived.

Cool, creamy lobster salad is stuffed into a griddled roll, and served with your favorite side items, or eaten by itself. Lobster rolls are ideal summer food.

I know it’s not summer yet, but you can at least pretend like it is and have an indoor picnic! Make a delectable spiked punch or have a glass or two of crisp champagne with your rolls, and life is good. Life is definitely worth living in that moment.

Lobster rolls are an exquisite treat to have ready for Friday after you get off work. Or you can impress your friends by having them over for a movie and treat them to this casual lobster extravaganza on Friday night!

When people here in California mention going out for rolls, they’re usually referring to sushi. Don’t get me wrong, I love sushi, but if I had to choose between a lobster roll or a California roll, what do you think I’d choose?

I am happy to be affiliated with Amazon, which offers a wonderful lobster roll kit that is complete with lobster salad, rolls, and Whoopie Pies (remember them?!) for a fun dessert.

Click on the picture above to buy your lobster roll kit from Amazon, or visit the Gourmet Food section of my Amazon Store to shop to your heart’s delight.

For some people, Friday is synonymous with “fish fry.” I love a good fish fry!
When you’re in Atlanta, you have to try the fried catfish at The Brickery!

Look, I know fried fish is not health food. You don’t have to school me on this, as I am well aware of the dangers of fried food. But since most of the fish I eat is either steamed or broiled, I have no shame in occasionally indulging my taste buds.

Although I’m not a fan of catfish since it is such an unclean organism, you better believe I will eat it if it’s fried. Almost all flaky, white fish tastes dynamite when it is batter-dipped and cooked ’til crispy!

The absolute best-tasting fried fish is made with seasoned corn flour. Every time I have used Tony Chachere’s Crispy Creole Fish Fry mix at home, my fish has turned out delicious. Perfect every time.

I have fried up catfish, whiting, grouper, even thinly-sliced orange roughy with
Tony Chachere’s Creole mix and have nothing but glowing raves for it. That spicy Creole flavor is permeated all throughout the fish, and the fish turns out crispy every time - never soggy or bready (new word, ha!). Two forks and two fins up!

And are you looking for a better dipping sauce for fish? You gotta try this zesty lemon-dill tartar sauce!

Click this picture to order it from Amazon:

I can’t stress enough how vital it is for men to smell good. It is crucial, and should be a global law.

Guys, while we understand that you are highly visual creatures, most women are not. Women feel, including with our noses by scent. A yummy-scented man can do no wrong.

I previously ranted on how men tend to be very off when it comes to selecting their own fragrances. I mean, we all remember the days when every guy in America received Polo, Drakkar Noir, and Cool Water by Davidoff as gifts, and you ALL wore it. Some of you marinated in that crap. Yuck!

No. The era of “One-Cologne-Fits-All” is over. I decree this!

I am actually saving your life in a way by writing this post…your love life, that is. You can thank me later.

Some of you may already know about BaseNotes.com, but for those who haven’t a clue, pay attention.

As of this moment, the Base Notes Fragrance Directory has scoop on 9,563 scents for guys and girls, and 24,064 fragrance reviews by its visitors. Guys, THIS is where you need to go to learn about the world of scents! Jump on the community forum and get honest advice and swap fragrances with members.

You never know, maybe someone will be kind enough to take that Drakkar Noir off your hands…

With all the hoopla lately about the new $1 coin that was recently released by the U.S. Mint, I wonder how receptive U.S. citizens will be to this.

These new coins have former President George Washington’s face imprinted on them. Every three months, a new president’s face will be embossed on the coins.

Does anyone really care?

Maybe I sound a tad bitter about this news because I recently accidentally handed a cashier a $1 coin instead of a quarter, and realized it when I got home. Hey folks,
guess who was out of a dollar?

I get mad when someone hands me one of those dollar coins instead of a dollar bill. The undue stress those coins cause when envisioning spending them in a store and possibly having to prove that it’s valid currency is just too much! It’s like selling a used car. You feel so shady passing one of those coins to someone.

I used to gripe that the U.S. Mint should make the $1 coins 3x as big as a quarter, paint them red - something. Only then would I shout with glee. The U.S. Mint must have read my mind, because these new coins are now a golden color.

Here’s an official picture of the new coin.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you eager to use these coins, or do you prefer paper currency?

I was always notorious for having cold fingers and toes. Even when the rest of my body was warm, my extremities felt like ice cubes. Can you relate?

A while back, I was given a beneficial health tip regarding circulation that was so simple, I just had to try it. The secret?

Cayenne!

Folks, this really and truly works. I haven’t found anything that works as fast and effective to get my blood circulating and to bring heat to my icebox feet. Per the National Institutes of Health, cayenne may be helpful for diabetics, as well. Not cayenne capsules, but organic cayenne powder.

So instead of reaching for thick socks and the thermostat, I have gotten used to taking a teaspoon of cayenne powder straight, with no chaser.

Keep in mind that I’m more of a rebel than you may be, and I adore spicy food, so I actually get a sensational adrenaline rush off of this. You can take cayenne whichever way suits you best. Some people take it with a tiny bit of food or in a cup of warm water. You’ll be surprised at how effective this is!

Cayenne has also been widely reported to stop a heart attack dead in its tracks.

Curious to learn more?

Champagne is a beautiful beverage.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, or better known as Veuve Clicquot (Vuhv Klee-KOH), is even lovelier!

I recently read an interview featuring one of Veuve Clicquot’s top execs, where she said something to the effect of there are always reasons to drink champagne. I agree! Champagne makes everything a celebration. Life should be celebrated!

I am one of those folks who can most certainly tell the difference between cheap bubbly and the real deal. I can detect Veuve Clicquot even by smell. There is nothing like it. So imagine my delight when I discovered the following goodies for Veuve loyalists!

eClicquot is a marvelous Veuve Clicquot online store that features all things Veuve: a key chain, ice jacket, umbrella, robe…even a Veuve Clicquot pen!

But it’s THIS baby that prompted me to create this Veuve Clicquot post today:

A Veuve Clicquot travel case. Yes indeed!

Who doesn’t love Red Velvet cake?

After my dear grandmother’s passing, I was a little concerned that I might never again have yummy homemade desserts. But lucky for me, my nana’s daughters can all bake. However, they live over 1,000 miles away from me, so I often have to make do on my own by way of bakeries and prepared baked goods.

Baking is a science. I guess it’s no surprise that I am not all that good with scientific measurements and formulas. I like to improvise and get creative in the kitchen! You just can’t do that with baking.

I’ve done more than my fair share of research on prepared desserts, and I am excited to feature them on Good Luck Deluxe.

Ooh, I even found Red Velvet petits fours! The next best thing to cupcakes!

Salivating yet?

Click on any of the pictures!

Note: Concerned about sugar and carbs, or are you or someone you know diabetic? You’ve got to try Insulow. Click here to read my review of this awesome carb and sugar-reducing product that WORKS. Insulow is how I can eat all of these delicious sweets without guilt. I have taken Insulow for years and love it!

As I mentioned previously, I have an affinity with cats of all kinds. I really do. I love them all, even ugly Persian cats with smooshed faces.

Cats are so agile and graceful. They’re smart as a whip, and they have very distinct personalities.

You can have the most hateful, vicious cat in the world, and that cat will jump in my lap, start purring, and will cuddle with me. I am convinced that I was a cat in a previous life. Maybe I was a cougar, a panther, a tiger - even a mangy domestic cat - but I’m certain I was one.

I have found that those who are adamantly not “cat people” give off a vibe that cats don’t like, and they mirror your own hateful and fearful energy back to you. You may say you hate cats, but keep in mind that hatred and fear are potent energy forces. A cat will volley back to you what is in your own heart. Or at least that’s the way I see it.

My late cat Nathan was such a cool barometer for good guys and bad guys in the heyday of my dating years. Nathan was the most loving creature ever; he liked almost everyone. Nathan only hissed at one guy, and I knew then to trust my cat more than the guy. Call me the Cat Lady if you want, but I know of that which I speak. Nathan was right!

Until now, I was able to push down my love of cats so that it didn’t flare into a full-blown urge to get a couple of kittens. I think it’s best to get two felines so they keep each other company and remain socialized when you’re busy or away.

Lately, with kitten season fast approaching, I’m finding it harder and harder to resist.

Every day, I take a peek on Craigslist’s Pets section just to test the waters and to see if there are any extra-cute pics of kittens on there. Not to make any sudden commitments; just to see…

I didn’t know this, but apparently black kittens have a hard time in being adopted due to human superstition of black cats. That’s too bad! Maybe I’ll consider getting at least one black kitten.

I prefer wild-looking and exotic cats like Bengals, Abyssinians, and Maine Coons, and I fancy male cats more.

I think it’s highly important for any aspiring cat owner to vividly imagine their kittens PAST the cute baby stage. Too many cat owners become disenchanted when their cuddly little kittens mature, and they are quick to put them back on the market.
Not fair!

Here is a very cool Maine Coon:

A regal Abyssinian from Egypt:

Look at this lovely Bengal cat:

By the way, I am AGAINST declawing cats. Declawing is cruel and totally unnecessary. As long as you keep a cat’s claws clipped and provide them with an effective scratching post, you should have no problems with the natural growth of their claws.

It’s the easiest thing in the world to start a kitten off young by gently clipping the very tips of their claws, away from the nerve, or “quick.” If you start while they’re kittens and talk baby talk to them and cuddle them as you clip, they’ll look forward to it. Nathan did! It only takes three minutes to clip the claws on both of a cat’s paws. I clipped Nathan’s claws every other week.

Nathan would run toward me when I’d pull out my nail clippers, and he would get mad if I took too long before I actually clipped his claws. He’d cry and cry until I gave him a good clipping. I even bought a leash and collar and took Nathan for walks outside. He loved this!

See, this is the beauty of raising a kitten into a cat from a place of love.

As for nutrition, I am a fan of the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) Diet for cats, as that is a diet that closely mimics what a cat would catch outdoors or in the wild.

When cats are in natural surroundings, they are not looking for crunchy, oven-baked, meat-flavored kitty nuggets. Cats eat birds and mice!

My vet told me that although Nathan led a happy, long life, his elderly kidney failure was partly due to my feeding him commercial cat food that was, unbeknownst to me, way too high in protein for an inactive, indoor adult cat.

According to my vet, adult domestic cats that are sedentary and indoors need LESS protein, not more. Too much protein is murder on an indoor cat’s kidneys. If not utilized, the excess protein is only wasted and excreted. My vet recommended that the next time I get cats, that I feed my adult indoor cats reduced-protein (lower, but not too low!) cat food. Canned senior-formula cat food is usually made with a lower protein content.

If you have a cat with kidney failure, here is some good info on the condition.

You can even make your own homemade cat food, adjusting the protein as appropriate. Some cats love veggies, and many of them appreciate your providing them with
organic kitty grass to chew on.

Regarding hairballs and vomiting, my cat only got hairballs when I fed him dry cat food, and too much of it.

It is my opinion that dry cat food swells in a cat’s belly. Since there are no enzymes in dry cat food, it is too hard for your cat to digest, so it just sits there like a brick. Add a bunch of swallowed cat hair to it, and you have yourself a fine mess to clean up when your cat upchucks.

Furthermore, some hairball control cat food is almost pure fiber, which made my cat lose too much weight!

The best remedies I found for hairballs and constant vomiting were:

1. Brushing my cat a few times a week, or bathing him monthly
2. Easing up on the dry food and snacks
3. Giving smaller portions of food at a time. No overfilling the cat dish!
4. Using Petromalt as a last resort.

If you insist on giving your pet dry cat food, at least do him or her a favor and supplement with these cat enzymes for easier digestion! This will even help to break down the excess fur your cat has digested, thus preventing hairballs.

For those in the L.A. area in need of safe, reliable petsitting in your home, check out
The Kat Lady.

As for me, maybe I’ll get one Abyssinian and one Bengal cat; whichever two temperaments will get along and co-exist peacefully! I’ve certainly got my research cut out for me… Decisions, decisions!

Do share this Good Luck Deluxe Mini-Guide to Cat Care with anyone you know who has one or more cats and may not be aware of the tips I have mentioned.