Channel Ascension

Episode 24: Pass the Peas, Not Our Privacy!

Do you ever feel like someone is watching you? Well you're right! On this week's episode Ari and Didi discuss the NSA listening to out conversations (were you guys really that surprised?) the Apple Keynote that was held earlier this week, Queen of the Ratchets: Amanda Bynes, and a host of other topics. We also talk about clean eating, and invite listeners to join us on our one month clean eating challenge. "What is clean eating?" you ask, tune in to find out! Do you enjoy the finer foods in life, but choose to eat junk because you don't want to compromise your thug? Well www.thugkitchen.com is at your m*ther f*cking rescue! This website is packed with some g*d damned delicious, and f*cking exciting recipes, that even the realest of thugs can enjoy! We love the site so much we are paying homage to @thugkitchen bye showcasing one their recipes. Drink of the Week BLACKBERRY BOURBON FIZZ (b.k.a. Chill the F*ck Out!) 5 blackberries 5 ice cubes 1 shot of bourbon ¾ cup cold ginger ale (none of that high fructose corn syrup, aspartame nonsense either.) Get good shit that has fucking ginger root as an ingredient) ¼ cup cold club soda (optional) Put the blackberries in the bottom of a tall glass and mash them around with a spoon. Keep some big chunks because it looks cool. Add the ice and then the bourbon, ginger ale, and club soda. I like adding club soda because it keeps it tasting refreshing as fuck but you can save some cash and just add more ginger ale. Garnish with fresh basil if you are trying to impress somebody. Serves 1 but invite a fucking friend, no need to drink alone Chat wit us: @CatnapsNCognac @arielcherie @luckiestarz

Episode 23: Take You On a Natural High

Up for this episode, Deeds and Ariel talk about the awful #AskDraya debacle as well as the sad case of Paris Jackson. On to better things, we let you know some of the best natural remedies to cure sickness, and give you the best times to shop for an airline ticket and our dream vacation spots! Drink of the week: I Do Declare 8 parsley leaves 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice 3/4 oz. Basic Simple Syrup Ice cubes, plus crushed ice 1 1/2 oz. gin 1 oz. chilled club soda 1 lime wheel In a cocktail shaker, muddle the parsley with the lime juice and Simple Syrup. Add ice cubes and the gin and shake well. Strain into a crushed ice–filled collins glass. Stir in the club soda and garnish with the lime wheel. Hit us up! @CatnapsNCognac @LuckieStarZ @arielcherie

Episode 22: Social Media Takeover

Facebook: Hey, Twitter... What are we going to do today? Twitter: Same thing we do every day, Facebook; try to take over the world! Have you guys seen Amanda Bynes' crazy twitter antics, or Nathan Fielder and his latest "experiment"? On this week's episode, Ari and Deeds delve a little into the good, the bad, and some of the ugly of social media. We found some cool infographics (see links below) about how social media has, and can enhance customer/vendor rapport - and how social media has become the new source for late breaking news, and disaster relief. http://socialmediatoday.com/brianna5mith/1373121/using-social-media-customer-service-tool-infographic http://technorati.com/social-media/article/social-media-is-the-new-face/ What's a Catnaps and Cognac episode without talking about tv?? You guys know that reality tv is one of our guilty pleasures. Well, NYC's PBS station is throwing much shade at us for it! See below for some of the shady but HILARIOUS ads from thirteen.org. Drink of the week Social Media Slur •2 oz gold tequila •3 oz cranberry juice •1 oz lime juice •2 oz Grand Marnier •lime slice for garnish As always you can follow and chat with us here: @catnapsncognac @arielcherie @luckiestarz

Episode 21: Catnaps Go On the Road!

We took our show on the road!! We are joined with returning guest, Sterling from The Lost Dial, and we gab about Powerball, Downtown Diddy, food trucks (our fave!) and the misery that is student loans. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V4XCg4kc70] Cocktail of the week! The Transplant It's a six-foot, seven-foot, eight-foot, PUNCH! Just combine brown Sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and white rum to taste in a pitcher. Garnish with lemons and oranges! Come and talk to me, we really wanna know your name.... @CatnapsnCognac @LuckieStarZ, @arielcherie And you can find Sterling on The Lost Dial here!

Episode 20: Back From a Catnap

We're back! Did you miss us?  In today's episode, we talk about the creepiness of Stevie J on Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta. We also get into the tragic death if Malcolm Shabazz (Malcolm X's grandson) and the details of his murder. Ariel creates an Instagram photo challenge, and Didi teaches us basketball. We also play a game with special guests! Check out the photo challenge here! Drink of the week! The Bon Voyage 1/4 cup agave nectar 1/2 cup water 3/4 cup thinly sliced sorrel leaves 4 limes, quartered, plus 4 thin rounds, for garnish 40 ounces seltzer, chilled Combine agave nectar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring. Let syrup cool completely, then transfer to a blender and puree with sorrel until smooth. Pour syrup through a fine sieve into a bowl and discard solids. Squeeze lime quarters into a large pitcher. Add quarters to pitcher and gently smash with the back of a wooden spoon to release the oils in the rind. Add sorrel syrup and seltzer. Serve over ice, garnished with lime rounds. Chat and follow us! @catnapsncognac, @luckiestarz, @arielcherie!

Episode 19: Let's Make It a Movie Night

In this week's episode, Ariel tells a story about pranking her mom and it going horribly wrong, Jason Collins (who?) comes out, how to pronounce gifs and other mispronounced words, and the wonderful world of Netflix! Cocktail of the week! 2 oz Leblon Cachaça 6 blackberries 1 lime wedge 1 oz.  simple syrup 2 sprigs of mint Place blackberries, lime wedge, and simple syrup into a shaker. Gently muddle fruit in shaker for 10-15 seconds, extracting juice from blackberries and lime wheels. Add Leblon Cachaça. Fill rocks glass to the top with crushed ice. Add 6 blackberries. Shake or stir, mixing thoroughly to combine all ingredients. Garnish with a mint sprig. Follow us! @CatnapsnCognac, @LuckieStarZ, and @arielcherie!

Episode 18: Where Are Your Manners?

On this week's episode, Ariel and Didi try to locate the f$&%* that every one has seemingly lost! Have you guys seen Ciara's "Body Party" video? Did any of you try any of the moves? This girl did! HA! Listen as Deeds and Ari give their opinions on the video, chat about the Twitter hacks, Bun B and Shea Serrano's Hip Hop Coloring book, manners, and a myriad of topics - as always! If you don't give a f$%& and you know it say YEAH! Or you could dance like Darth Vader in the .gif below. Drink of the Week: Broughtupsie Pour as much or as little of the ingredients below, mix and enjoy! Tennessee Honey Jack Daniels Simply Mango lemonade Canada Dry cranberry ginger ale As always you can chat with us: @CatnapsNCognac @arieldcherie @LuckieStarz Like us on facebook facebook.com/catnapsandcognac

Episode 17: Will Twerk for YouTube

This week, we talk about the horrors from the Boston Marathon and the beef between Ciara and Rihanna. We also get into twerking and the best twerking anthems you can mean mug to as well as glory that is YouTube. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL2txMU50CI] Cocktail of the week: The Viewmaster 3/4 oz triple sec 1/2 oz cognac 3/4 oz lemon juice Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel. Follow us on le Twitter: @CatnapsNCognac, @LuckieStarZ, @arielcherie!

Episode 16: When the Sh*t Hits the Fan

On this week's episode we discuss Rick Ross being dropped by Reebok,  Ray-J's "I Hit it First", and Jay-Z's "Open Letter". RHOA reunion part 1 aired last Sunday, and viewers were introduced to the seventh housewife - Kenya's Fan! Check below for .gifs of Miss Kenya and that "damn fan." Do you have any pet peeves? We polled our listeners, and we got a laundry list of what gets on their nerves. Listen as we discuss ours and see if you share any of them. The drink of the week: The Vex 1.5 oz. Patron Silver 3 chunks of cucumber 1 sliced jalapeño 1 chunk of pineapple 1 oz. lime juice 1 oz. simple syrup splash of soda water Muddle the cucumber, jalapeño, pineapple and simple syrup. Tumble along with tequila and ice then pour into a large rocks glass top with soda water, and garnish with a cucumber wheel and jalapeño slice. As always, you can chat with us on twitter! @CatnapsnCognac, @arielcherie, @LuckieStarZ Don't forget to like us on facebook www.facebook.com/catnapsandcognac

Episode 15: A Children's Story

In this episode, we talk about Erica Mena's awful new video, Game of Thrones, and the Real Housewives franchise. April is National Autism Month, so we also get into that and how you can contribute to the cause. And Take Your Child to Work Day is April 25! We dig into what we and some of our listeners wanted to be when we grew up. Breaking Bad 1995 Style! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjsOZDjnJA] Cocktail of the week: The Shady Housewife 1 spoon strawberry jam 1/3 oz. lemon juice 1/3 oz. vodka 3 oz. Chandon Brut Shake and strain in a glass over ice. Talk with us! @CatnapsnCognac, @LuckieStarZ, @arielcherie