kk recommends: fresh n easy edition.

i've been to fresh n easy twice now, and i am a smitten kitten. at first the packaging of a lot of the produce might seem a bit sterile, but i appreciate the simplicity behind it. i also like that there are many items suited for a single shopper, and the prices are completely reasonable. but specifically, what i like about fresh n easy:

1. THE PARKING LOT

outside the store, there are reserved spaces for hybrids, expectant mothers, and adults with children. i don't qualify to park in any of these, but i certainly applaud the emphasis.

2. THE SHOPPING CART

has a cupholder! brilliant!! i actually walked in from lunch, and i still had my cup of coke. imagine my delight in having a place to put it. 

3. CHICKEN MAKHANI FROZEN DINNER

anyone who went to vcu with me remembers the indian cart, a roach coach that would serve generous portions of indian food for $5. this frozen dinner is the closest we'll ever come to that without returning to richmond. a simple chicken makahni, rice, potatoes, and peas. granted, it's a tv dinner but none of us are over completely over frozen foods quite yet, are we? this is the best tv dinner you'll ever have. you won't be hungry (in fact, i couldn't finish mine), and it holds up well in the microwave. it's definitely not healthy (50% sodium/per serving... it's 2 servings) but it is gooooood.

4. FROZEN PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM RAVIOLI

surprisingly flavorful. same deal with the makhani, not good for you but goood.

5. MANGO NECTAR

mmmmm, mango nectar. 

6. HANSEN'S SUGAR CANE GINGER ALE

granted, not a f&e brand, but they carry it. rather than using high fructose corn syrup, hansen's uses pure cane sugar. you can taste the difference. at first it seems a little too sweet (sort of like sugar in the raw) but then you get used to it and realize it's amazing.

7. FROZEN MARGHERITA PIZZA

ok, so i got pretty excited about the frozen food section. sue me. i would put these frozen pizzas just a notch above trader joe's pizzas. the crust is better. 

8. SELF-CHECKOUT

normally i hate self-checkout. i mean, it's never proven any faster to me, the machines practically yell at you, and it's generally a hassle. but at f&e, they've got it down. plus, it's your only option. i like that you have an "i don't want to bag this" option, because, in trying to be environmentally conscious, i'm not going to put a gallon of oj in a bag when i can carry it by the handle. normal grocery store self check-outs don't allow this (and the machine yells at you!). also, because most of the produce is packaged, it's easy to scan... no looking up codes. annnd, while you're scanning your groceries, a manager comes by and gives you a $5 coupon for your next visit. (not sure if this is a grand opening thing, but it's happened both times i've gone). one more bonus: no rewards cards.

9. F&E CANNED CHILI

i tried both the chicken and the beef, and both are awesome. i had my bowl resting on the counter while i tore a paper towel and my roommate walked by. she goes, "that looks bomb." it was. 

10. SLICED MULTIGRAIN SPROUT BREAD

did i seriously just say that? yes. wheat bread that's good.

all in all, i would say fresh n easy is a safe bet. if you haven't hopped on the shopping bandwagon, go now. NOW.

album review: little jackie, the stoop

normally i send album reviews to soundsxp.com, but they don't review hip hop or r&b. so, friends, here it is, my latest obsession, little jackie.

LITTLE JACKIE, THE STOOP

S-Curve Records

Take hip-hop themes of poverty, racism, and sexuality. Sprinkle on pop rhythms. Add old-school R&B backbeats and silvery vocals. Blend til smooth. 

This is the winning recipe behind Little Jackie, the refreshing combo of singer Imani Coppola and programmer Adam Pallin. Proving that you attract more flies with honey than vinegar, Little Jackie’s debut album The Stoop masks sharp-tongued lyrics with sweet, easygoing melodies.

The title track invites the listener to Little Jackie’s corner of Brooklyn, which “ain’t no Beverly Hills.” But this isn’t some angry polemic of life in the ghetto; instead, we’re treated to a celebration of a brownstone paradise, where piano and trumpet create a danceable groove, and Coppola’s vampish voice assures us “it ain’t all hard up in the hood… sittin’ on the front stoop, it’s all good.” 

That “all good” mentality prevails throughout the eleven tracks on the album, led by Coppola’s provocatively femme attitude on the mic. Songs like “The World Should Revolve Around Me” and “Guys Like When Girls Kiss” are cheeky, seductive, and instantly endearing.

With its genre-bending and -blending, Little Jackie offers something for everyone. Coppola sings that “there’s only one of me in the galaxy,” and The Stoop is certainly a strong argument in her favor.

freedom isn't free...

and therefore, we should tax the shit out of it.