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I love this vegan + gluten free recipe. It's so simple + so good + it has been in our weekly rotation for some time now! Quinoa is one of the healthiest + most nutritious foods on the planet! It's rich in fiber, minerals, antioxidants + all nine essential amino acids. It may improve your blood sugar + cholesterol levels + even aid weight loss. If you’re not a fan of quinoa, I also love to use basmati or jasmine rice from Lundberg Family Farms which you can find at Whole Foods. Ingredients: ○ 1 cup dried quinoa (I use: Lundberg Family Farms, Organic + Non-Gmo Quinoa Tri Color) ○ 6 asparagus stalks, remove ends and cut into small bite size pieces ○ 1 cup shredded organic carrots ○ 3-4 tbs Coconut aminos (I use: Big Tree Farms brand) ○ Ground ginger ○ Onion powder (I use: Simply Organic brand) ○ Pink salt (I use: Redmond brand) ○ Pepper ○ Avocado Oil (I use: Primal Kitchen avocado oil ) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 ○ Optional: Sweet & spicy sriracha (I use: Yellowbird brand which is organic, non-gmo, zero added sugars and paleo + keto certified) ○ Optional: Avocado Directions: 1. Grab a mesh strainer + rinse quinoa very well. Add 2 cups of water to a medium pot + bring to a boil. Add quinoa to boiling water + simmer with lid for 15-20 minutes. 2. While quinoa is cooking, heat up olive oil on a frying pan. When oil is hot, add asparagus. Season with salt + pepper. 3. When asparagus + quinoa are done, add asparagus + shredded carrots to the quinoa pot. Mix well on low heat. Add in a dash of ground ginger, a few dashes of onion powder, coconut aminos, salt + pepper. You may add in more coconut aminos to your liking. 4. Build your bowl! You can also add some avocado which is a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium + potassium. They also provide lutein, beta-carotene + omega-3 fatty acids. Although most of the calories in an avocado come from fat, don't shy away! If you make this recipe or any of the recipes that I share, please be sure to use the tag: #NicoleDeRosaLifestyleRecipes on Instagram @nicolederosalifestyle I love seeing your pictures and comments!

I love making my own salad dressings + marinades. I've compiled a list of 15 super versatile + yummy options. They are perfect for warm veggie bowls, sandwiches, wraps or salads! I love all of them, but I do loooooove the Maple Syrup + Orange Dressing either warmed up (over veggies or as a marinade on my fish dishes) or served cold (over a salad). Enjoy + let me know in the comments, which ones you have made + which ones are your favorite! Post your photos + tag me on Instagram! Tangy Lemon Vinaigrette Ingredients Makes 5 servings 1 large lemon, zested + juiced 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon dijon mustard (we love the Primal Kitchen brand which you can get here) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 Sea salt (to taste) Black pepper (to taste) Directions Combine all your ingredients in a bowl + whisk to combine. Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Strawberry Vinaigrette Ingredients 1 cup of organic strawberries (sliced) 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 tablespoon of honey Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) Directions Combine all ingredients in a blender Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Honey Mustard Ingredients 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1/2 a lemon (juiced or I used the Santa Cruz Organics brand) 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons of dijon mustard (we love the Primal Kitchen brand which you can get here) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 tablespoon of honey Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) Directions Combine all ingredients in a blender Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Avocado Cilantro Ingredients 2 small avocados 2 lemons (juiced) 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk (we use the Malibu Mylk brand which you can get here) 1/2 cup of filtered water 1/4 cup of fresh organic cilantro 1 teaspoon of grated ginger 1.5 teaspoons of garlic powder Salt (to taste) Directions Combine all ingredients in a blender Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Peanut Thai Ingredients 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter (or we use Almond or Walnut Butter by the Artisana brand) 1/4 cup of coconut aminos 1 lime (juiced) 1 tablespoon of honey 1 teaspoon of minced garlic 1 teaspoon of grated ginger 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar 1 tablespoon of sesame oil 1 tablespoon of filtered water Directions Combine all ingredients in a blender Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Apple Cider Vinegar Herb Dressing I loooooove this herb dressing on top of warm veggie bowls, sandwiches, wraps or salads! Super versatile! Ingredients 1/2 a bunch of organic parsley (cleaned + chopped) 1/2 a bunch of organic cilantro (cleaned + chopped) 1/2 a bunch of organic basil (cleaned) 2 garlic cloves (peeled) 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) 1/2 a cup of organic extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 Directions Combine all ingredients in a blender Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Sesame Ginger Dressing I loooooove this sesame ginger dressing either warmed up (over veggies or as a marinade) or cold (over a salad). It's so good and so versatile! Ingredients 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 1 tablespoon of coconut aminos 1.5 tablespoons of honey 1 tablespoon of sesame oil Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) Cayenne (to taste) 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger Directions Combine all your ingredients in a bowl + whisk to combine. Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Super Simple Dressing Ingredients 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 lemon (juiced) Salt (to taste) Directions Combine all your ingredients in a bowl + whisk to combine. Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Lemon Garlic Dressing Ingredients 1/2 a cup of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 lemon (juiced) 3 cloves of garlic (chopped) Salt (to taste) Pepper (to taste) Directions In a food processor or chopper, combine all ingredients above. Blend until there are no garlic pieces left. Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Basil Salad Dressing Ingredients 2 ounces of fresh basil 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1/2 a teaspoon of sea salt 1/2 a teaspoon of pepper 1 teaspoon of lemon juice Directions In a food processor or chopper, combine all ingredients above. Blend on high speed until smooth Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Creamy Avocado Dressing Ingredients 1 avocado 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 tablespoon of lemon juice 1/2 cup of filtered water 1/4 teaspoon of celtic sea salt 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper Directions Place avocado, extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil and filtered water in blender. Puree until smooth Then blend in salt + pepper Avocado Dressing Ingredients 2 ripe avocados (chopped) 2 spring onions (finely chopped) 1 clove of garlic (minced) Lime juice (to taste) - omit if you are sensitive to citrus Filtered water (as needed) Sea Salt (to taste) 1/2 a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (optional) Directions In a food processor or chopper, combine all ingredients above. Blend on high speed until smooth Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Creamy Onion Dressing Ingredients 2 tablespoons of red onion (minced) 1/2 a cup of apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon of stevia 1 teaspoon of mustard powder 1/2 teaspoon of celtic sea salt 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 Directions Place onion, vinegar, stevia, mustard and salt in a blender Puree on high speed for 20 seconds, until smooth Turn on blender + drizzle in extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients 1 avocado 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (once again, we love the Primal Kitchen brand) Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon of lemon juice 1/2 a teaspoon of herbs de provence 1/2 teaspoon of celtic sea salt 3-5 drops of stevia 1 cup of filtered water Directions In a blender, combine all ingredients above. Blend on high speed until smooth + creamy Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Maple Syrup + Orange Dressing I love this dressing when I make Crispy Orange Cauliflower with Coconut Jasmine Rice. You can find that recipe here . Ingredients 1 tablespoons of sesame oil (I use: Napa Valley Naturals) 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger 3 cloves of garlic (minced) 1 cup of fresh orange juice (I use: 365 brand, organic w/ Vitamin D + Calcium) 1/4 cup of maple syrup (I use: 365 brand, dark maple syrup) 3 tablespoons of coconut aminos (I use: Big Tree Farms, organic, non-gmo, soy + gluten free ) 3/4 teaspoons of red chili flakes 1 tablespoon of cornstarch 2 tablespoons of water Directions In a saucepan, heat up sesame oil. Then add in your ginger + garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant. Whisk in all of your ingredients EXCEPT cornstarch + water. Whisk for 2 minutes then crank up the heat and bring to a boil. While your sauce is heating up, place cornstarch + water into a separate bowl, then add it to the sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. You want to make sure the cornstarch has dissolved. Store in an airtight glass container to use throughout the week. Shake well or whisk again each day before using. Photos courtesy of: Wix, Artisana & Primal Kitchen

Avocados have become an increasingly popular food in recent years, with people blending the creamy fruit in their smoothies or slicing it to layer on top of toast. This green fruit has become a true staple in kitchens around the world -- and for good reason. Avocados deliver a variety of health benefits + are a versatile ingredient when cooking. I use the fatty fruit in soups, dips + even chocolate truffles. Depending on how you bake with it, avocados can be an excellent fat substitute that won't make your desserts taste like an avocado. I will be sharing some delicious desserts made with avocado soon! They are chock-full of nutrients + can be a beneficial part of a balanced diet. These are four ways avocados are good for your health: 1) POTASSIUM - They have more potassium than a banana. The mineral helps regulate nerve function + move nutrients into cells while taking away waste, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Potassium also works to combat high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. High levels of sodium can increase blood pressure, the CDC said + potassium allows more sodium to leave the body through our urine. This in turn lowers our blood pressure, the American Heart Association said. 2) MONOUNSATURATED FATS - It's an unsaturated fat that works to lower LDL cholesterol without affecting the good HDL cholesterol. When you have too much LDL cholesterol, it hardens along the edges of your arteries + narrows them, according to the Mayo Clinic. This reduces blood flow through the arteries, which can cause blood clots + other medical complications. 3) FOLATE - Folate is a B vitamin that is important for proper brain function + healthy pregnancies. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements recommends women of childbearing age have 400 micrograms of folate per day. Pregnant women should increase their intake to 600 micrograms per day, according to the agency. Folate can help prevent birth defects, specifically those that affect a baby's brain + spine, during the early weeks of pregnancy, according to the CDC. Around half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, the article said, which is why it's important for all women of childbearing age to have enough folate as part of their regular diet. 4) FIBER - Foods with more fiber tend to keep you satiated longer than low-fiber foods do, the Mayo Clinic said. This makes avocados a great choice for people who are watching their weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. How To Make Healthy Avocado Deviled Eggs Total Time: 10 minutes Yield: 4 serving(s) Nutrition Info. Per Serving Serving Size: 1 egg (or 2 halves) Calories: 89 Protein: 6 grams Fat: 6 grams Carbs: 1 gram Sugar: 1 gram Ingredients: 4 hard boiled eggs (we love Vital Farms) 4 tablespoons of mashed avocado 1/2 teaspoon of mustard (we love Primal Kitchen, which you can get here) 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice (we love Santa Cruz Organics) salt & pepper (to taste) dill (to taste - (we love Simply Organic) paprika (for garnish - we love Simply Organic) Directions: 1) Slice hard boiled eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolk from whites + set in a bowl. 2) Add avocado, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper + dill. 3) Mix together until creamy. 4) Spoon or pipe filling into empty whites. Garnish with paprika. Enjoy!

Hey Friends + Fam, I read that October 10th was World Mental Health Day - a day the World Health Organization has been observing since 1992 to commemorate, raise awareness, + mobilize efforts in support of mental health across the globe. Between the pandemic, calls for social justice + the general state of the world, it’s been a difficult year that has had a major effect on our mental health + on the resources available to help treat those in need. But, I believe that everyone has the right to happiness + wellness, no matter who or where they are, so I wanted to re-share some blog posts where I opened up about my diagnosis + struggles with Anxiety, Depression + Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I share what helps me, how I can help others understand me better + resources that you can reach out to for even more help. I'm always here as well if you wish to talk or need help navigating the resources. Please always feel free to reach out to me. I love hearing from you! With my blog posts below, my mission is to destigmatize mental health disorders + empower access to vital resources for all. Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Meditation - Loving Kindness For Beginners Meditation - Cue Controlled Relaxation Autism Acceptance - Behaviors, Education, Resources & More Autism Acceptance - The Arc’s Wings for Autism + Wings for All Program Understanding Anxiety Disorders & Effective Treatment Celebrities who have Anxiety Disorders Helping Someone During A Panic Attack Insomnia - Tips on Improving Your Sleep 10 Foods to Boost Your Brain Health + Stretch Out Your Exercise! My Dad Talks About His 50 Pound Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle Journey Fitness Motivation Q&A At Home Fitness with Melissa Wood Health At Home Fitness with Tasha Franken At Home Fitness with Shannon Nadj At Home Fitness with Kale and Krunches At Home Fitness with Amanda Lee Fun Exercise Videos To Do With Kids How To Create Healthy Boundaries Formulation of an Assertive Statement + Assertive Communication Productivity Hacks Journaling and Manifesting. Where Do I Begin? Is Quarantine & Lockdown Making You Crazy? xo Nicole xo

I believe that writing down your dreams + goals can be so powerful. Do it. Put it out into the universe. It will reward + thank you. I promise! Below are my intentions for the new year..... 1) Creating a strong daily routine for myself. This includes: meditation, going to bed at a decent time, waking up at a decent time, making sure I eat balanced meals, stretching + doing exercise that I enjoy. 2) Launch this website into the world! 3) Grow my business. 4) Dive deeper into my meditation practice. 5) Get out of my head + focus on the present. Enjoy every day to it's fullest! 6) Take time for myself by practicing more self care. 7) Continue therapy for my OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Anxiety + Depression. 8) Reach out to family + friends more. Make time for a call, Facetime, Skype, Zoom etc. 9) Get better at photography. 10) Journal more + get my thoughts down on paper. I have an Erin Condren Life Planner™ which was gifted to me by my parents as a Christmas present...get yours HERE. What are some of your intentions for the new year? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Everyday can seem monotonous + like groundhog day right now, especially if you are living in a colder climate + pretty much stuck indoors. I try to remind myself, the sun will be shining again soon + the snow will be melting away. Until then, I've put together some helpful tips that I have been using as I try to stay sane during these uncertain times. I hope you enjoy these helpful tips. I'd love it if you would share what you have been doing to stay sane as well! Ok, let's dive into it! Check out these tips + let me know whatcha' think...... Rearrange! Being in the same environment day in, day out is draining. Try rearranging your living spaces to create fresh space. Everyone I know is doing this + everyone I follow on Instagram is doing it too + honestly, it's a fun creative outlet. Instead of shopping, you get to discover stuff you already have in a new light or switch out things from other rooms. The possibilities are endless, really! Have fun with it...nothing is set in stone! Declutter! I'm sure many of you have seen The Home Edit series or Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. You might even have their books. If you have not, I highly recommend both to get you inspired! A cluttered space makes for a cluttered mind. If you are a pack rat + messy, just pick one thing per day if it seems too overwhelming + work yourself up from there. Pick a drawer one day, then another drawer or cabinet the next, or if you are like me, do all the drawers! Move to your closets another day, then your children(s) toy room, kitchen pantry, fridge etc. It's a great time to put together items for the less fortunate + our homeless communities. Find out what organization in your area needs items the most + donate items there. Go through your important papers and make sure you don't have extra things you don't need. Perhaps, you the next step you can do is create a binder for ONLY important papers. After, putting them together, be sure to purchase a fireproof document bag for these important papers. Another thing I have been doing slowly but surely, has been organizing and uploading ALL our family photos. God forbid, something happened to our house where the pictures were in danger, I wanted to make sure that I have all of our photos uploaded online. I keep the photos on a private family website that I created via Shutterfly + I also uploaded most of the photos to a private Facebook. If something ever happens to those, then don't worry, my OCD already took care of that + I made other multiple back ups to storage the photos. It was fun to put all these photos in some sort of chronological order + also gift some of the extra copies to family. Now, our photos have a easy to find system for when we want to make a card or switch out a frame or just pull them out + relive all the wonderful memories together! Give Yourself Some Credit! It's normal to feel like we're just existing right now, but give yourself some credit. I'm serious. That is an achievement in itself! Truly. At the beginning of quarantine, I honestly didn't get out of bed some days. Some of it was from insomnia + debilitating anxiety + some days, I got in a real deep depression that made me feel frozen in place. Be gentle with yourself + also, seek help if you are feeling like it is getting worse. I will talk more about mental health in upcoming posts, so I do hope you stay tuned for those posts. Just please hear me when I say, give yourself credit. You are doing the best you can given these circumstances. Find the silver lining, if you are with family, pick movie nights, pick a recipe to cook together or take turns, take time for yourself with a bubble bath or hot shower. Read a book that you've been putting off or listen to a funny, upbeat podcast. I will have an upcoming post with my favorite podcasts! Or write. Write like you've never written before + get it all out. It's so therapeutic to write. Once you get going, I guarantee you won't wanna stop! I have an Erin Condren Life Planner™ which was gifted to me by my parents as a birthday present this past July...get yours HERE. Routine! Question if your routine is working for you right now, do you have one? If not, try + create a routine that involves getting outside + do things you enjoy. I have to say, my Dad is really the best when it comes to routine. He has been working out every day doing his favorite YouTube workouts like Bowflex with Tom Holland + Bodyfit by Amy. I commend him so much, because he does them religiously + he also just wrote a post we are going to share on Tuesday where my Dad wrote about his 50 pound weight loss + health journey. I know you will be inspired by his story + I can't wait to share. There are also so many wonderful tutorials on YouTube as well to learn something new. Key in anything you have an interest in and viola! You now have a new hobby to dive into + learn about more + more each day. Do you need a routine to help your mind + slowing down? There are also wonderful video meditations you can do to help you relax + quiet your mind. There are ones that are short + there are ones that go on for hours if you have trouble getting to sleep. There is also something called a sound bath. Look it up on YouTube + let me know what you think after you have tried it out. One of the last tips I want to share with you (I'm sure I will have others in future posts), is the one below + I think is the most important + achievable. Daily Well Being Check In... I have a list of 5 things that I consider an important part of daily self care. I will do a daily well being check-in to see where I am at in the day and enjoy those 5 things. They include: 72 ounces of water 30 minute walk 15 minute workout 10 minute meditation 10 minute journaling Please let me know if this post helped you + let me know some of your tips on staying sane during these times. Drop me a few lines in the comments below.... I look forward to hearing from you! One last thing, here is a video called "Andra Tutto Bene" which is Italian for, "Everything Will Be Fine" which I thought of when I saw the photo above of the two little girls holding signs out of their window.

“Jolly” Jerry Boulding, also known as “The Doctor of Radio”, was a radio industry pioneer who developed the country’s first urban format for satellite delivery called “Heart & Soul.” As a program director, Boulding has programmed 16 radio stations in over 6 major markets throughout the country. After growing up in Beaver Falls, Penn., Boulding got his start at WILY in Pittsburgh. By the time he joined WOL in Washington, D.C., he began using the air name “Jolly Jerry B.” His success there led to a series of programming jobs across the country and to another nickname: "Over the course of his career, Jerry picked up the nickname "The Doctor of Radio" -- because he always made the ratings better, and healed sick stations." Boulding made black radio thrive during a time when white stations were the only ones to play blues and soul. He brought life and flavor to Chicago’s WVON radio station in 1977 when he hired a young 20-something-year-old disc jockey named Tom Joyner. By giving Joyner a chance, Boulding set the stage for his multi-million dollar empire, reaching millions on the radio today. Boulding remembered being told that he didn’t sound black. His response, “What is black supposed to sound like?” Interested in the other side of music, Boulding accepted an offer to head the Black Music Division at MCA records. In the book “Turn It Up, American Radio Tales 1946-1966″ by Bob Shannon, Boulding said, “I believe in what radio is, and what I know it can be.” “The white guys taught us formatics, but we taught them hipness,” Boulding told Bob Shannon, author of Turn It Up! American Radio Tales 1946-1996. “Beyond the music, it was the hipness that a lot of white folks came to black radio to hear.” Chicago programming guru Jim Smith said Boulding was a pioneer at taking Top 40 concepts and applying them successfully to black radio. Jerry was a man who was one the greatest pioneers in both Urban & American Radio Broadcast. Ike and Tina Turner with Jerry Boulding The Ike & Tina Turner Revue WWRL station in New York City January, 1970 Boulding, who initially made great strides in radio programming in the late 1960’s and 70’s, saw radio transform with the changing civil times of America. The music and commentary on the air reflected the changing climate of the black community and the struggle for equality and civil rights. Jerry Boulding co-founded, Black Radio Exclusive and later founded Urban Network Magazine, a Los Angeles-based urban media company with two online radio shows, and served as Senior Vice President of Entertainment Programming for American Urban Radio Networks. As I reflect back and as I write this in 2021, we saw the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 remind us that we still have a lot to learn. The terms "urban" and "Black Music Division" that Jerry headed at MCA Records are no longer terms that are used today. Industry executives railed against those words which are born out of racial stereotyping of black communities. Living Legends Foundation, a charity Boulding co-founded to recognize and honor music and radio industry professionals. I had the immeasurable pleasure of working with Jerry at All Access in Malibu, California. At that time, Jerry also continued his consultancy specializing in network syndication and ratings analysis for major market stations including KJLH/Los Angeles. At 75 years young, following a short term illness, my beloved friend, Jerry Boulding passed away in Westwood, California on Thanksgiving evening, November 28, 2013. Jerry's beloved wife, Maggie remarked, "Jerry was a very special man. We've always known that, but we really found out when Jerry became ill. So many folks spoke of him as their mentor. The outpouring of support was amazing." I remember that Thanksgiving Day so vividly. I was with my parents and brother in Massachusetts at my brother's in laws house, when I got the text from my boss telling me about Jerry. I could not stop crying. Jerry was just one of those amazing people that if you are lucky enough to meet in this lifetime, you should without a doubt consider yourself blessed. I felt blessed to be with my parents, brother and nephew on Thanksgiving and yet at the same time, Jerry's passing truly tore me apart. I cannot for the life of me hold in my emotions and all I wanted to do that day was be upstairs and just think about Jerry and remember all the amazing times we shared together. I took some time to myself in the guest room upstairs for a bit, but that day, all I could think about was Jerry.....his smile, his voice and his sunshine ray of light personality. Jerry was always inquisitive about what I was working on as he saw my passion for interviewing music artists and we would swap all kinds of stories and he would give me invaluable pointers and feedback. Jerry always took the time everyday to ask me about myself, my family......life. And I in turn, would ask him about....life. He was always sharing so many wonderful stories about himself, his son, Aaron his granddaughter, Sage and his lovely wife, Maggie. When he talked about them, his face and smile would shine even brighter than it already did. When I returned back to Los Angeles from the Thanksgiving holiday the reality of not seeing Jerry's face began to really set in. A few months later on January 10, 2014, my co-workers and I went to West Angeles Church of God In Christ on Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles. I sat at Jerry's Celebration of Life service next to my co-worker, Matt who was nice enough to let me have all his tissues. All of a sudden, he nudged me on the shoulder. He gently whispered something....."What?," I whispered..."It's Stevie," he said. I looked up, puffy eyes and all, squinting my eyes to see a man being walked down the aisle. It was Stevie Wonder paying his respects to Jerry. Once he reached the podium, Stevie would go on to tell us all about how Jerry played Stevie's music on the radio when Stevie was being turned down left and right from radio stations. (How insane is that?!?) Stevie told us one of Jerry's favorite hobbies was taking apart old radios and putting them back together again. As Stevie told more stories about himself and Jerry, my tears began to dry and were soon replaced with laughter and a smile. That is what now comes to mind whenever I think of Jerry. His joyful laughter and his ray of sunshine smile.

10) The Slap (Hulu) - 1 Season, 8 Episodes This American drama television mini-series which is an adaptation of the Australian series The Slap, which was based on Christos Tsiolkas' 2008 novel The Slap. It revolves around the aftermath of a birthday party for a middle-aged city employee where Harry Apostolou (played by, Zachary Quinto) slaps someone else's misbehaving child, Hugo, after he kicks him in the leg. Hugo's mother, Rosie (played by Melissa George), insists on criminal charges, claiming that Harry's slap has caused Hugo PTSD. Though Rosie's diagnosis is later undermined when Hugo mentions how much he misses seeing Harry, the case slowly makes its way to court. Each episode tells the story from the perspective of a different character. The cast also includes: Thandie Newton, Uma Thurman, Penn Badgley, Blythe Danner and Victor Garber. 9) Seinfeld (Hulu) - 9 Seasons This show is MY JAM. Anytime it is on tv, I stop whatever I'm doing and watch, no matter how many times I've seen the episode. No matter, what mood I am in, it instantly makes me happy. Seinfeld is an American sitcom television series created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It aired on NBC from 1989 to 1998, over nine seasons and 180 episodes. The show stars Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself who is the main protagonist and focuses on his personal life with three of his friends – George Costanza (Jason Alexander), former girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and neighbor across the hall Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). Seinfeld is set mostly in an apartment building in Manhattan's Upper West Side in New York City. It has been described as "a show about nothing," often focusing on the minutiae of daily life. 8) Parenthood (Hulu) - 6 Seasons Loosely based on the 1989 film of the same name,The series is set in Berkeley, California on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay. The show revolves around three generations of the Braverman family: the patriarch Ezekiel "Zeek" Braverman, the matriarch Camille Braverman, and the families of their four children Adam, Sarah, Crosby, and Julia. Adam is married to Kristina and they have two children, teenage Haddie and eight-year-old Max. Max is diagnosed with Asperger's. Sarah is divorced from Seth, and has two teen children, Amber and Drew. Crosby has a son, Jabbar, with ex-girlfriend Jasmine. Julia is married to Joel and has a daughter, Sydney, and a son, Victor, whom they adopted after finding themselves unable to conceive a second child. 7) Being Mary Jane (Hulu) - 4 Seasons BET's first hourlong scripted drama is a follow-up to the same-titled TV movie that premiered on the network in the summer of 2013. The series returns Gabrielle Union to the lead role of Mary Jane Paul, a successful cable news anchor who has a closet, packed with designer clothes and shoes, a beautiful home, a nice car, and the drive to achieve even greater heights. Yet something is missing. As Mary Jane looks to start a family of her own to share life's greatest gifts, she discovers who she really is and the people who help define her. 6) Better Things (Hulu) - 4 Seasons `Better Things' is the story of Sam Fox (actress, Pamela Adlon who played spitfire Marcy Runkle on Californication), a single mother and working actor with no filter trying to raise her three daughters -- Max, Frankie, and Duke -- in Los Angeles. She also looks out for her mother, Phil, an English ex-patriate with questionable faculties who lives across the street. Whether she's struggling to keep her daughters close or trying to push one of them out of the nest, Sam approaches every challenge with fierce love, raw honesty, and humour. At the end of the day, Sam's just trying to earn a living, navigate her daughters' changing lives, survive her family, have fun with a friend or two, and also -- just maybe -- squeeze in some private time. 5) The Golden Girls (Hulu) - Binge watch all 7 Seasons (like we did during quarantine and it kept us laughing our asses off!) Four mature women live together in Miami and experience the joys and angst of their golden years. Strong-willed Dorothy, spacey Rose, lusty Southern belle Blanche and matriarch Sophia, Dorothy's mom, occasionally clash but are there for one another in the end. After all, when the show's theme song is titled `Thank You for Being a Friend', the ladies have to remain friendly with one another. 4) Killing Eve (Hulu) - Binge watch all 3 Seasons! Writer + Creator: Phoebe Waller-Bridge Eve's life as a spy is not adding up to what she had hoped it would be when she started. She is a bored, very smart, MI5 security officer who is very desk-bound. Villanelle is a very talented killer, mercurial in mood, who clings to the luxuries of her job. Eve and Villanelle go head to head in a fierce game of cat and mouse, each woman equally obsessed with the other as Eve is tasked with hunting down the psychopathic assassin. Sarah Barnett, BBCA president, says, " `Killing Eve' stands out in a sea of scripted stories as refreshingly entertaining and great fun." 3) Magic For Humans (Netflix) Magician Justin Willman blends good-natured magic with grown-up laughs in this series that sends him out on the streets and into locations like schools to baffle unsuspecting people. He aims to wow the marks as he performs the tricks and illusions in front of them, with no camera tricks to assist him. Along the way, Willman squares off against a robot in a magic battle and delivers a surprise proposal to a woman who married herself. 2) Up To Speed with Speed Levitch (Documentaries / TV Series on Hulu) - 6 Episodes Up to Speed is a historical six-episode travel web series starring Timothy "Speed" Levitch and directed by Richard Linklater airing on Hulu. It is hosted by the quirky New York tour guide Timothy "Speed" Levitch who takes viewers on a "magical history tour" in order to “hang out and empathize with the inner psyches of famous landmarks and visit with the monumentally ignored monuments.” Each episode seeks to highlight places, people, things, and monuments that are usually overlooked by the average tourist in lieu of the more known sites. Visiting San Francisco, Kansas, Missouri, New York City, Chicago, and Monticello/University of Virginia Levitch narrates the history of each object and includes a broader history of the time so viewers can understand its importance. Besides highlighting little known monuments, the other aspect that makes Up to Speed different is that Levitch converses with each monument, asking them questions about their role in history and their feelings about current developments. Each of these items speaks back to Levitch with a unique and often equally quirky personality, some even going so far to yell profanities at him. Each episode is written by Levitch and is infused with his unique poetic language and philosophies such as: "Status quo only begets more status quo unless we as a species attack it by way of appreciating the beauty in the unexpected" and "Instead of asking why, ask why the fuck not?” Levitch ends each episode performing with a band and freestyle singing about the monuments highlighted in that episode. These factors have made it a fan favorite on Hulu earning it a four star viewer rating and many positive reviews. 1) For Life (Hulu) - Binge watch Season 1 (13 episodes) and Season 2 (10 episodes). Inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr., "For Life" is a fictional serialized legal and family drama about an imprisoned man, Aaron Wallace, who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. His quest for freedom is driven by his desperate desire to get back to the family he loves and reclaim the life that was stolen from him. Aaron's complicated relationship with a progressive female prison warden helps shine a light on the flaws and challenges in the U.S. penal and legal systems.

10) explained An enlightening 2018, 3 Season Series Documentary from VOX which dig into a wide range of topics. News site Vox is behind this series that puts the spotlight on topical issues that impact people's lives. The docuseries -- which features episodes that generally range from 15 to 20 minutes in length -- aims to dig deeper into topics, questions and ideas that aren't often part of the daily news cycle. Among the subjects covered are the rise of cryptocurrency, why diets fail, and the world of K-pop music. Some of the highlights include: Season 3: Sugar (Mama Joy's most recommended of the series) Royalty Flags Dogs The End of Oil Chess Know Your Skin Season 2: Cults Billionaires Animal Intelligence Athleisure Coding Pirates The Next Pandemic The Future of Meat Beauty Diamonds Season 1: Monogamy Designer DNA Slavery, Housing Discrimination, Racial Wealth Gap Wild World of K-Pop The Rise of Cryptocurrency Why Diets Fail The Stock Market eSports Extraterrestrial Life Exclamation Point Cricket Weed Tattoo Astrology Can We Live Forever? The Female Orgasm Political Correctness Why Women Are Paid Less The World's Water Crisis Music 9) Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal Netflix's documentary “Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal,” gives viewers an enraging and shocking look into the largest college admissions scam in history. A deep dive into the fraudulent methods used by Rick Singer to get the children of rich and famous families into top U.S. universities. (2021) (Documentary / Crime) Starring: Matthew Modine, Jill Peterson, Sarah Chaney, William-Christopher Stevens, Wallace Langham, Josh Stamberg and David Starzyk. 8) Sweet Girl He lost the love of his life to a pharmaceutical company's greed. Now his daughter is without a mother, and he's without justice. For now. (2021) Cast: Jason Momoa, Isabela Merced, Adria Arjona, Lex Scott Davis, Justin Bartha, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Amy Brenneman. 7) ALL AMERICAN Inspired by pro football player Spencer Paysinger, this sports drama features NAACP Image Award winner Taye Diggs as a coach. Culture clashes and brewing rivalries test a teen football player from South Los Angeles when he’s recruited to the Beverly Hills High School team. (2018) (3 Season Series Drama) Starring: Daniel Ezra, Taye Diggs, Samantha Logan Creator: April Blair 6) 9 to 5: The Story of a Movement In this documentary, female office workers in '70s Boston inspire change with a call for better pay, more opportunities and an end to sexual harassment. Directors Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar follow up their Oscar-winning "American Factory" with this fascinating story. Cast: Jane Fonda, Karen Nussbaum, Verna Barksdale, Ellen Cassedy, Laurie Brown, Rose Aguirra and Adair Dammann (2021) 5) UNTOLD Through five sports stories loaded with preconceptions, this series offers a potential alternative for thinking about the fan-athlete relationship. “Untold” is ostensibly about sports, but there's a curious connector across this Netflix documentary series. These five sports stories include: UNTOLD: Malice at the Palace - Key figures from an infamous 2004 incident between players and fans at an NBA game in Michigan discuss the fight, it's fallout and its lasting legacy. (2021) UNTOLD: Breaking Point - Under pressure to continue a winning tradition in American tennis, Mardy Fish faced mental health challenges that changed his life on and off the court. (2021) (Sports) (Mental Health) UNTOLD: Caitlyn Jenner - Caitlyn Jenner's unlikely path to Olympic glory was inspirational. But her more challenging road to embracing her true self proved even more meaningful. (2021) (LGBTQ) UNTOLD: Deal With the Devil - Christy Martin broke boundaries and noses as she rose in the boxing world, but her public persona belied personal demons, abuse and a threat on her life. (2021) (Martial Arts/Boxing & Wrestling) UNTOLD: Crimes and Penalties - They were the bad boys of hockey — a team bought by a man with mob ties, run by his 17-year-old son, and with a rep for being as violent as they were good. (2021) 4) The Chair At a major university, the first woman of color to become chair tries to meet the dizzying demands and high expectations of a failing English department. Starring: Sandra Oh, Jay Duplass, Holland Taylor / Creators: Amanda Peet, Annie Julia Wyman. (2021) (Comedy/Drama) 3) Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj Hasan Minhaj brings an incisive and nuanced perspective to global news, politics and culture in his unique comedy series. Minhaj left The Daily Show in August 2018 to host this weekly comedy show. In April 2019, Minhaj won his second Peabody Award for Patriot Act, and he was listed among TIME's 100 most influential people in the world. (2018) (6 Seasons) (Political TV Show) 2) The Prom A group of down-on-their-luck Broadway stars shake up a small Indiana town as they rally behind a teen who just wants to attend prom with her girlfriend. Starring: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana DeBose, Andrew Rannells, Keegan Michael Key, Awkwafina and Kerry Washington. (2020) (Musical/Comedy) 1) The Laundromat When her idyllic vacation takes an unthinkable turn, Ellen Martin begins investigating a fake insurance policy. When Ellen gets swindled out of insurance money, her search for answers leads to two cunning lawyers in Panama who hide cash for the super rich. Starring: Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, David Schwimmer, Jeffrey Wright and Sharon Stone and James Cromwell. Director: Steven Soderbergh (2019) (Comedy/Drama)

By: My Papa Ed Veterans Day always brings back memories of my Grandfather, Daniel Goffredo. He was an immigrant from Naples, Italy who came to America. He once told me that as the ship he was on passed the Statue of Liberty, his heart filled with love for the country he was about to enter. Several months after he arrived, he met my Grandmother, Maria Polumbo who came to America from Bari, Italy and they married a year later. Growing up in New York, we lived with our Grandparents in a tenement building in the Bronx. My Grandfather was so proud of being in America that starting when I was old enough to walk on my own, he would wake me up on Veterans Day morning. He would dress me and take me by his hand to the Grand Concourse were the annual Veterans Day Parade would take place. He would hike me up on to his shoulders as the bands and every military service marched by. My Grandfather pretty much kept to himself and spent most of his time sitting at the dining room table playing solitaire. The one day of the year were he became animated was Veterans Day, which I now realize how important it was to him. The ravage of war throughout Europe that he experienced as a young man and the bravery of the allied forces gave him such gratitude for the freedom he was experiencing in America.

By: My "Papa Ed" DeRosa November 22, 1963 was a dark day in American history. No matter what your politics were, the moment that President Kennedy was assassinated and murdered, we all lost our sense of innocence. That day unleashed a path of tragic events that over the next several decades, has left us in a downward spiral of fear and distrust of our basic beliefs. It is difficult to think of the loss of contributions that the music of John Lennon would have provided us with, or the success of social justice and racial equality in this country that Martin Luther King dreamed for us. Many other events too numerous to mention have chipped away at the bedrock of our way of life. The question before us is, do we continue to harvest the seeds of hate and distrust or do we look at the better angels in all of us to awaken a more mature and enlightened society?

By: My Papa Ed The tragic murder of John Lennon left an irreplaceable void in the world of music. There are very few people that leave an amazing legacy on the world and he was one of them. His lyrics will forever demonstrate the hopes, fears and joys we all experience in our lives. John's contribution and collaboration with Paul, George and Ringo will go down in music history as a moment in time that to this day has not been replicated. We can all learn from his message of peace and harmony in a world that has become increasingly fractured. In his words, " Imagine all the people living life in peace..." he knew there was a better world that we can all live in if we try. Rest in Peace, John.