Gentleman Caller: Michael Ealy

If you have seen the movie "Think Like a Man," then you know that actor Michael Ealy is the only man that can make driving a broke-down Honda with a missing front bumper look so darn sexy! Ealy, who is now starring on the USA series "Common Law," says that if he wasn't an actor he'd be an educator like Cornel West. His guilty pleasure is watching episodes of "Ice Loves Coco."

For five other facts that you might not know about Ealy, click here.

Can drinking coffee lower your risk of death?

Older adults who drank coffee — caffeinated or decaffeinated — had a lower risk of death overall than others who did not drink coffee, according a study by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and AARP.

Neal Freedman, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, lead the study, which examined the association between coffee drinking and risk of death in 400,000 U.S. men and women ages 50 to 71.

"Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in America, but the association between coffee consumption and risk of death has been unclear,” said Freedman. “We found coffee consumption to be associated with lower risk of death overall, and of death from a number of different causes." 

Push to Save 'GCB'

It’s been two weeks since “GCB” aired its season finale on ABC. Although station executive have announced that the show – which debuted to a firestorm of controversy for its original title “Good Christian B**ches” – will not return next season, and a number of fans are simply not ready to say goodbye.

An online petition to bring the popular series back to television has gained over 57,000 signatures. The petition, which was created by Randy Bragdon of California, reached half of its goal of 100,000 signatures in its first week.

“I’m so grateful to all of the people like Randy Bragdon who’ve taken the initiative to start a campaign like this on their own,” said GCB author Kim Gatlin. “This is an authentic and heartfelt effort by these fans to tell ABC what they really want to see on TV.”

More: www.SaveGCB.com

High Heat & Cool Treats

Mooresville Ice Cream Company showcasing Front Porch, its new line of Southern style ice cream.

The South is known it’s for hot and humid summers, and this year doesn’t look like it will disappoint. The weather outside is really heating up.  Luckily, I was able to cool things down with half-priced Frappuccino’s and free ice cream.

Friday, Starbucks kicked off a nine-day Happy Hour. From May 4 until May 13, Frappuccino’s will be half off between the hours of 3 and 5 PM.

I stopped by on my way to SouthPark to check out the Alive After Five Golf Night Block Party, where I tried a couple of flavors of Front Porch Southern Style Ice Cream.

This hand-painted rocker, inspired by Peachy Keen
 flavored ice cream was one of many auctioned off
Friday night to raise money for BBBS.

Mooresville Ice Cream Company held an ice cream social at the event to showcase the new line of ice cream, which features 15 uniquely-crafted Southern flavors such as Blackberry Crumble, Nana’s Banana Pudding, Peachy Keen, and Scarlett Red Velvet. 

When I sampled the Sweetie Tea flavor, I had no idea what to expect from an ice cream named after the classic southern drink. I found it surprisingly good and refreshing. It has pieces of teacake in it. I also tried the Sassy Strawberry flavor, which had real chunks of strawberries – yum!

In addition to giving away free ice cream samples, Mooresville Ice Cream Co. also auction off hand-painted Front Porch Rocking Chairs – each inspired by a different flavor of ice cream. The silent auction was held in support of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte.

The chairs were by painted by professional artists Nicholas M. Stewart and Katelyn R. Smith. Art students at Mallard Creek High School painted and decorated the Mountain Mint Chip inspired chair.

Babi Alarcon, Mooresville Ice Cream Co.’s part owner, said the concept for the ice cream social was to get out and meet customers and allow the company to showcase the very items that inspired its new ice cream line – front porch rocking chairs.

“We also look forward to supporting a great cause in Big Brothers, Big Sisters,” she said.

For additional information, visit: www.enjoyfrontporch.com

Stuff you Should Know:

Slavery is alive and well. According to a report from the United Nations, 2.4 million people across the globe are victims of human trafficking and 80 percent are being exploited as sexual slaves. One out of every three victims is male. Criminals make an estimated $32 billion each year off trafficking humans for sex and labor. Breakfast cereals, yes even the sweet ones, are loaded with salt. A diet high in salt increases a person’s risk of dying from heart-related causes. The average American consumes close to 3,300 mg of sodium daily --about 1,000 mg more salt than recommended. The psychology of making a great first impression. Be yourself, but be the best you. Being someone you’re not is unsustainable. So, don’t waste your time. Focus on projecting the best aspects of who you truly are – in the way you carry yourself, how you’re dressed, your tone of voice and so on.

3 Things You Should Know

1. You can be strip searched for any arrest, no matter how minor. Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a by 5-to-4 vote that officials have the right to require citizens to “undergo a close visual inspection while undressed” before admitting them to jails even if the officials have no reason to suspect the presence of contraband. 

2. It’s a good time to plan a vacation on the seas. According the folks over at Wisebread.com, April is typically a good month (price-wise) to book a cruise. The website reports that not only are cruise prices down in general, but this year’s cruise deals are as much as 11 percent less than similar offers last year.

3. You are at greater risk for coronary heart disease, if you have a relative with cancer. The increased risk may be due to the negative stress. Research suggests that mental stress and depression affect the nervous system, blood pressure and inflammation, which in turn can increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke.

BEAUTY PARLOR GOSSIP

What's the big deal about Mary J. Blige singing about crispy chicken and fresh lettuce? A Burger King commercial featuring the R&B queen, which appeared online Monday, received some heavy backlash. Detractors questioned whether the “My Life” singer had sold out by agreeing to perpetuate the stereotype about black folks and fried chicken for a rumored $2 million. The commercial was part of a rebranding campaign for BK that also featured other celebrities including Jay Leno, Salma Hayek, and David Beckham. While the other three commercials remain on BK’s official YouTube channel, Blige’s has mysteriously been deleted with no explanation. View the “controversial” commercial here and tell us if you think BK made the right decision to pull the ad? 

Meagan Good is engaged to a preacher. Good reportedly met her fiance’ DeVon Franklin, who is both a 7th Day Adventist preacher and an executive at Sony Pictures Entertainment, while filming the movie “Jumping the Broom.” Good’s rep told TMZ that Franklin proposed last month in L.A. In the November 2011 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine, Good told publisher Jamie Foster Brown that although she had met someone special she was in no rush to get married. At the time, the “The Like a Man” star also said that she was practicing celibacy and focusing on her career and relationship with God. She told Brown that she’d had a conversation with God and the next man she dated would be her husband.

Cake, cake, cake, cake, cake

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE: 

This is what I'm making for my birthday.  (Recipe Source: Southern Lady March/April 2012)

Southern Girl @ the Range...

Estelle debuts "Thank You" video

ENTERTAINMENT: Estelle released the video for the single "Thank You" off her upcoming album "All of Me" - which drops February 28. Her leading man in the video is Sean John model Tracey Dukes (who at first glance reminds me of Fantasia's married baby-daddy Antwaun Cook).

I am greatly anticipating the drop of Estelle's video, I love her sound and her message. Check out the interview I did with her a while back for Qcitymetro.com. The British singer turned 32 yesterday. Happy Birthday!