Good Luck Deluxe

This isn’t meant to be a profound post - simply one of appreciation and gratitude.

I had a really nice night here in Hollywood this evening.

We went to an Oscars house party that was complete with a house with a great view, flickering candles, yummy veggie appetizers, BBQ burgers and ribs, good wine, champagne, and Sprinkles cupcakes.

The folks at the party were all awesome and great conversationalists, and kept us roaring with laughter. Everything I love was concentrated into one fun-filled, indulgent evening!

Talk about the Law of Attraction!

To top it all off, my girl Jennifer Hudson won her Oscar, and Martin Scorsese FINALLY got his due.

Yes, it was a very good night. Thank You, Lord!

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.

Click on either of the pictures in this post to buy these gourmet bars from Amazon, or click here to visit my Amazon store and go to Gourmet Food, then Fine Chocolates.

I am a lifelong student of spirituality and the cosmos. I am eternally curious, and I always want to learn more about the world and how it operates.

I am not of the belief that God just created a world by throwing elements together and sat back and hoped for the best. No. This world that we live in, as well as the outer galaxies, have a rhythm and precise schedule by which they operate. Everything that God created works according to a very specific system.

Some things we have been able to understand aspects of, such as physics. I realize we’ll never be able to completely understand or comprehend it all.

However, there are spiritual laws that govern this universe that I can personally attest to as being real. Violate one of the principles, and you will pay dearly for it.

I have read hundreds, possibly thousands, of books on spiritual laws, but none have summed them all up like Bishop E. Bernard Jordan’s book, The Laws of Thinking.

In this book, Bishop Jordan gives step-by-step instructions on how to co-create your world with the hand of the Creator. I read this book in one day. At the end of that day after applying a few of the book’s principles, I had made an amazing shift, and things just started happening. It’s like I finally got it.

Never doubt the power of thought. Every day, you’re creating your surroundings by the thoughts you dwell on. This is the only book that I have found that teaches you how to change your thoughts from wanting to having.

Click this picture to buy the book from Amazon:

Also visit the Spiritual Books section of my Amazon bookstore to order the spiritual books that I have read and recommend.

Click this picture to buy the companion CD set from Amazon:

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’s 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!

Jill Scott has the happiest smile I have ever seen in my life. I have never seen such a happy, cherubic face.

I asked a friend if she knew what I meant about Jill Scott’s aura and glow, and my friend agreed. She said, “She’s radiant.” Yes, she most certainly is. It’s even better when you see Jill in person.

I had the fortune of seeing Jill at a book signing. After she finished reading excerpts from her poetry book, she asked us if we had any questions for her. Then she, in her soft, dainty voice said something to the effect of, “Don’t be shy. You can ask me anything
at all.”

I was dying to raise my hand and say, “Yes, I want to know what you know that most people don’t that makes you smile that way.” But I was too chicken. I kept my lips zipped and went home kicking myself for not asking Jill my burning question.

But I didn’t stop there. Later, I did a search on Google for “Jill Scott” and “glow,” and found some interesting results. Here, I found my answer.

Jill Scott’s smile is not just a pleasant one. It is luminous. Vibrant. Joyful. Jill’s smile is the standard for which phrases like, “a smile that lights up the room” and
“grinning from ear to ear” were made.

Jill has the grinniest grin! Just beautiful.

I agree with Lupe Fiasco, who said in his interview that Jill has this positive energy that just pulsates. Her husband must feel like the luckiest man on earth to have married such a beautiful soul. Jill is a loved woman, and it shows.

So what does Jill Scott know? She knows joy.

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:

With the media storm surrounding Anna Nicole Smith’s tragic and untimely death, I would like to offer my condolences to her loved ones.

I am so torn up about this. I did not know Anna personally, but I think a lot of people could sense her sadness and pain and could connect with that and relate to aspects of it. Every time I hear a news story about her, I shed a tear.

Anna Nicole was a beautiful, funny young woman who tried her best with what she had.

When she was recently interviewed and was crying about her childhood and parental issues, none of us know what she endured and the events that led to all of this. The whole thing is just sad, and I would never judge her for her decisions. None of us have walked in her shoes.

I pray that Anna’s daughter will be surrounded with tremendous love and support throughout her life, and will have a better, happier life, in spite of the drama.

Anna, may you rest in peace and God’s love. You are missed.

Good news! I now have an Amazon store, featuring all the flavors of
Good Luck Deluxe. I think you’ll love my product selections!

Would you like to support my site indirectly? As an Amazon affiliate, I receive a modest commission for every product you purchase on Amazon via this site.

Click here to go to my new Amazon.com store

***You can also do ALL of your Amazon.com shopping through this site to show your support.

Enter Amazon’s main site from Good Luck Deluxe by any of my posts featuring items, or by clicking on “Powered by Amazon.com” at the bottom of my store’s page to continue your Amazon purchases.

Again, thanks so much for your contributions!

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…