Women

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  kirtsy-Popular Stories

• stun...ning...{when you say that, spread it over six syllables, won't you?}

  kareym

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

  i must've sat there for minutes looking at this dress. it is the definition of sexy. flat out sexy. love this blog. it is a sight. enjoy.55 Vote(s)

• Clients From Hell

  saraolive

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:17 pm

  A collection of anonymously contributed client horror stories from designers. I have a few I could add to this list!!47 Vote(s)

• Is Sarah Palin Creating Her Own Sexism? Interesting Article From Pundit Mom.

  Laura

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:11 pm

  Pundit Mom always has the best commentary of the day.64 Vote(s)

• Cindy Crawford's Alleged Extortionist Turns Himself In

  bumper

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:43 pm

  The 26-year-old German model who allegedly tried to extort $100,000 from Cindy Crawford has turned himself in to the cops.16 Vote(s)

• ohmygosh. she's my friend. and she's rachel zoe. ohmygosh.

  kareym

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

  holy heck. rachel zoe loves her work! this is huge, yes? yes. a million times over. yes. enjoy.60 Vote(s)

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  iVillage Today

• 15 Palin Family Rules We Learned from 'Going Rogue'

  From mommy guilt to why wedding rings aren't mandatory, get a glimpse at Sarah Palin's philosophy from her just-released book

• 11 Things Sarah Palin Should Have on Her Book Tour Bus

  Starting Wednesday, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will be Going Rogue on her tell-all book tour, traveling across the United States in a Palin-branded tour bus. As John McCain's former running mate kicks off her road trip in Grand Rapids, Mich., we give our thoughts on what we think the maverick should have packed aboard her vehicle -- besides her kids, of course!

• : 12 Reasons to Join Team Jacob

  Join the frenzy. Are you on Team Edward or Team Jacob?

• : 12 Reasons to Join Team Edward

  Is it his brooding stare? His pale skin? iVillage gives you 12 reasons to join Team Edward.

• Give Yourself a Gift: Dress Your Man for the Holidays

  Do you say to your man (or think to yourself), "Honey, are you really going to wear that?" It's time to get straight to the point and dress him fab for the holidays. These tips will benefit both of you...

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  Strong Girls

• Left Out of Leadership!

  Dr. Janet Rose

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:55 am

  Today the Washington Post ran an informative article entitled: Our leadership crisis: Where are the women? This timely article states that according to the Whitehouse Benchmark Project on Women, the majority of Americans are comfortable with women leading in all sectors. The bad news is that women hold only 18% of leadership positions across the 10 sectors examined in this project, including politics, business, law, sports, academia, journalism, religion, film/TV, nonprofit, and military. This current research indicates that women continue to be under-represented in all arenas in the halls of…

• Gender-Bias Live!

  Dr. Janet Rose

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:16 pm

  So, I meet this interesting man on an airplane last month, a superintendent, and we engage in a great conversation about education, our goals, our successes and failures. As our flight ends and we part, we agree to keep in touch and he offers to mentor me in my quest to move into a superintendent’s position. We also discuss the possibility of co-authoring a book together. I excitedly tell two people about this chance meeting…a man I am dating and my mother. Both reply “He probably just wants to have sex with you”.I have an interview for a superintendent’s position. I feel it goes…

• Teach Your Girls To Tinker

  Dr. Janet Rose

  12 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am

  Girls now surpass boys in nearly every measure of academic success.Yet, even as girls open new gender gaps by outpacing their male peers in most subjects, men still receive roughly 77 percent of the bachelor’s degrees awarded in engineering and 85 percent of those in computer science. Why aren’t girls choosing to enter these critical fields of the future? A Study reviewed in Education Week (November 11,2009) entitled "Teaching Girls To Tinker" indicates that the number of females choosing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is low because girls are not encouraged…

• How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

  Dr. Janet Rose

  9 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm

  How much is that doggie in the window?The one with the wagglely tail.How much is that doggie in the window?I do hope that doggie's for sale.Today I was having lunch with two male adminstrators and we began talking about finances. I was amazed when both of these men stated that they manage all the finances in their families. They also stated that their wives have never written a check or paid a household bill! I was shocked. "What", I asked, "will they do should something awful happen to one of you?" This conversation prompted me to ask a few other staff and I found many similar responses. I…

• Parental Impact on Educational Outcomes...Revisited!

  Dr. Janet Rose

  8 Nov 2009 | 8:35 am

  I was reading a study the other day about the effects of poverty on the educational success of our children (The Impact of Poverty on Educational Outcomes for Children,Ferguson,Bovaird,and Mueller,2007) and was once again reminded of the powerful impact of parents' messages on our children. This study shared that "Children from low-income families often do not receive the stimulation and do not learn the social skills required to prepare them for school. Typical problems are parental inconsistency (with regard to daily routines and parenting), frequent changes of primary caregivers, lack of…

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  A.R. and Proud

• Rest Up

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am

  Here's a little math problem for you.12 phone calls to my primary care physician to get an orthopedic referralplus1 orthopedist that "doesn't think I really need a MRI"plus 1 very uncomfortable MRIplusback pain trailing down my left leg, with numbnessWhat does that equal?Well apparently it equals "emergency" lumbar back surgery. So, it may be quiet here for a bit while I recover. (I'm currently 5 days post operation already.)But I promise I will be back. (Oh gosh, really bad unintentional pun.)

• Work It Out (At Home)

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

  While I have found some classes at the gym that I like (kickboxing, Zumba), they don't tend to run when I want to exercise (6:45 am), and getting to the gym, getting changed, etc. wastes 30 minutes. So I like to exercise at home. The trick to exercising at home is variety. (Actually, that's the trick to exercising in general.)So, for you, dear readers. 5 Fabulous Exercise DVD Resources:1. Collage VideoHands down, the best workout video resource I have ever seen. They have reviews, they have clips, they have everything. If the DVD you want isn't on their list, it's not worth doing.2.

• I.D. Yourself

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  29 Oct 2009 | 4:55 pm

  You are out there hiking, biking, rowing, walking. Feeling the sun, rain, wind, snow in your face. But what happens if (god forbid) something happened to you? Would anyone know who you were? Or about your medical condition?Well, then you need a RoadID. It's a stainless steel ID that is engraved with your contact info and then attached to a bracelet or shoe tag. Pictures here.(Gosh, this sounds like a commercial.) I've had mine for over 7 years now, and I love it. It's inexpensive, it makes me feel safer, and it lets me leave my driver's license at home.Please consider getting one for…

• Do the Math

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  26 Oct 2009 | 3:57 pm

  So, I've been exercising and eating consciously for 5 months. Yes, it's nice that I am now a size 12, yes it's nice to fit in my wedding dress again, yes, it's nice to day dream about buying a bikini. But none of that is really important. What is? The fact that I am actually healthier.Because I am a Type 1 Diabetic, there are stringent cholesterol numbers I am supposed to aim for.So, in the past 5 months, my total cholesterol has dropped 37 points, my HDL has gone up 6 (this is a good thing), and my LDL has gone down 19 points. My numbers are now all below (or in the case of HDL) higher than…

• Tell the Truth

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  19 Oct 2009 | 10:42 am

  From time to time, I get requests from companies to try their products and then blog about it. I usually pass, because I wouldn't normally use the item they are hawking, and I don't want to be beholden to anyone (but myself). So when Katie Lewis of Rocket XL contacted me about Vaseline's new Sheer Infusion with Stratys 3 body lotion, I was going to say, "No Thank You." But then I realized that I was almost out of the current lotion I bought at Costco 6 years ago (I'm not even kidding). Katie assured me that Vaseline was only interested in brutally honest reviews of their product. So I said…

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  Okay, Fine, Dammit

• Help Anissa Mayhew

  maggie, dammit

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:07 am

  It’s July, almost 2am. These wretched chunky yellow heels have chewed my feet like jerky and so I’m sliding in striped socks through the lobby of the Chicago Sheraton. I’ve been here since 8am and I’m having the time of my life but I’m exhausted, not to mention slathered in glitter. Turns out I was the only one who took the “80s party” details of the evite seriously. I’ve spent the last several hours looking like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper’s love child, an insult sharpened by the point that the other several hundred party attendees are…

• tickets to the gun show

  maggie, dammit

  9 Nov 2009 | 9:05 am

  I’ve always been attracted to the working man, squared shoulders and a set, hardened jaw, spinach-fueled forearms, and calloused hands. It’s not the fear of danger that I like, it’s not some misguided antiquated desire to be controlled or anything like that (very real, I know, hello Twilight fans, gulp)–no. There is absolutely nothing about being dominated, nothing about an angry man, that I find remotely palatable. Rather, it’s the work ethic, the utter capable-ness, and, maybe hottest of all, watching the softness sneak out. I love a good study in contrasts,…

• Your last post (A love letter, on your birthday)

  maggie, dammit

  29 Oct 2009 | 7:01 am

  I don’t know exactly when I stopped writing about you. It feels like it’s been a long time, though it’s not like I ever made it official… it was just an instinct I followed, a dog with my nose hovering a half inch above the ground. I could probably go back through these archives and pinpoint just when, but I never do that and I don’t feel like doing that today. I’d rather sit right here at the kitchen table, steeping in the sweet wake you left when you gushed out of here this morning, a blur of freckles and elbows and anticipation. On your tenth birthday. I know that I used to…

• TSA took my baby, @mybottlesup, and the trigger happy Internet

  maggie, dammit

  17 Oct 2009 | 9:30 am

  I was away from Twitter yesterday, or I probably would have re-tweeted it, too; Nic from My Bottle’s Up and her terrifying account of TSA agents separating her from her baby in the name of security. I logged on this morning, read Nic’s post, and expressed my sympathy for what she had endured. I believed her; partly because I’ve come to think of her as an Internet friend, and partly because I’ve been through something similar at the airport with my own children. Within seconds of my supportive tweet I received several DM’s alerting me to the rest of the…

• Here it comes.

  maggie, dammit

  6 Oct 2009 | 6:25 pm

  My computer cursor pounds, a telltale Hitchcock heartbeat, an unavoidable thudding, a steady command. I think about what I could be getting away with, and yet I can’t make myself peck it out. It’s never been this hard for me before, this weird, this arrhythmic. This jagged of a fucked up atrial beat, the writing, the words, the weather, the turn. I know this place. This is that awful purgatory, one leg straddling each side, that space in time when I know where I have to go but these feet won’t listen. I stop stuck and there’s this tiny smidgen inside that still…

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  DivineCaroline Home Page

• Ten Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee

  Beliefnet

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Move over, green tea. Recent studies indicate that coffee drinkers are...

• Grazing: A Better Way to Eat?

  Molly Mann

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  It seems like every time I look at a magazine, there's some new ...

• Has Tough-Love Therapy Gone Too Far?

  Vicki Santillano

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  It's no secret that we're a society of tough-love advocate...

• The Five Biggest Medical Concerns of the Middle Ages

  Expedient Info Media

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Excruciating, painful, even up to a point that you would think it is s...

• Nineteen Hobbies That'll Make Any Man Sexier

  The Frisky

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:35 pm

  Just like women, men can woo with their extra skills. Dudes can do thi...

• Photostream from Daylife
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  iambossy.com

• Who Has More Fun Than A Brookstone Catalogue Hand Model?

  BOSSY

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:04 am

  Now with special Brookstone catalogue bonus shot:

• Bossy’s Favorite Things

  BOSSY

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:55 am

  Parallel parking. Not only can Bossy get her car into impossibly small parking spaces, she does it utilizing only one reverse and one forward adjustment. Oh yeah, Bossy rocks the parking space, always has and always will. As her grandfather Walt used to say, “Just like a body in a coffin.” bossy’s car in red. Stay tuned for a tutorial.

• Yet Another Little Known Fact

  BOSSY

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am

  Bossy grew up in a neighborhood with many cobblestone streets. As a matter of fact, when Bossy was a young girl in her parent’s car, sleeping on the way home from a far-flung destination, the cobblestones under the tires would wake Bossy up. And the funny thing, Bossy had the very particular sounds of those cobblestones memorized — the extra bumpy part, the just-fixed smooth part, the part with many depressions… … Even with eyes closed Bossy always knew exactly which part of which street she was on, because those cobblestones always meant home.

• Der Spellcheck, Since When Is Ho Officially A Word?

  BOSSY

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:12 am

  Bossy thought she had nothing more to say about common misspellings, but ever so unfortunately it’s a slow week at Camp Bossy and there is more. The other day Bossy was trying to type the word who and instead typed ho which is apparently just fine with Spellcheck, even though every single time Bossy types her own website name, iambossy, spellcheck is all Do you mean embassy? And one more thing. Der Onelook Dictionary.com, how come no matter which word Bossy types into your provided field, you say it is a surname? Finally, Bossy would like to announce the winner of her latest Match Game…

• Yet Another Little Known Fact

  BOSSY

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:12 am

  Yesterday while at Ikea with Bossy’s friend Martha, Bossy was taking stealth photographs of stuff like a stack of their votive candles which have now resorted back to poopy-butt manufacturing practices — when suddenly Bossy was confronted by an intimidating employee and told to empty her camera of all photos or else, for security purposes. Bossy is already decades into this dance with Ikea, as Bossy used to be an interior designer who often wished to capture different, appealing, product shots for her clients than those made available in Ikea’s thin-paged directory of a…

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  The Personal News Network

• Doing the write thing -- in Hindi!

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:38 am

  So we've all been doing lots of NaNo-ing, and on a break I went to browse a book I've been meaning to read: "Dreaming in Hindi."The author took some big life leaps and writes about them, and this funny video was definitely inspiring to me.And hopefully to you!http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m1HZMQBGKXL4PG/ref=ent_fb_link

• Beauty is skin deep but a good liver lasts years.

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:51 am

  Dear Bloggess:  My ex-boyfriend dumped me and is marrying this woman who is so ugly she makes my bones hurt.  She’s not nearly as pretty as me.  WHY IS HE DOING THIS?  Seriously.  She’s REALLY ugly. ~ LeciaLecia ~ Sounds like you’re paying too much attention to appearances.  Sometimes people are beautiful on the inside.  Like, maybe she has a really sexy liver.  Does your boyfriend drink a lot?  He might just be marrying her so he can poison her and then harvest her organs.  And then he’ll come back to you and he’ll be able to drink…

• Question of the Day - Green Beans

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:46 am

  Every Thanksgiving, my Mom and I have a conversation that goes a little something like this:Kerri's Mom: Why aren't you eating any green beans?Kerri: (rolls eyes) I don't like green beans.Kerri's Mom: (genuine shock) YOU DON'T LIKE GREEN BEANS????? Since when?Kerri: (angry stare) I have NEVER liked green beans.Kerri's Mom: Have you ever tried a green bean?Kerri: grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.The same conversation happens when I announce (every year) that I prefer dark meat to light meat. (But I will say that overall I am an equal-opportunity turkey eater but if I must pick I would go with dark…

• The Child

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

  Kids once made me nervous. The last time I held a baby, I was cradling my now 17-year-old nephew. Then, last week in Seattle, I spent a day sightseeing with my friend Joy Laydback and her eight-year-old daughter, Epona. Everything changed.When they knocked on my hotel room door, I had more butterflies than I do on a first date. “Hello,” I said shyly. Epona’s warm little face broke into a toothy grin, green eyes brimming with mischief. And I fell in love. By the time we’d pulled onto the highway, Epona and I had chatted about her travels (“San Diego is so cool!”) and what she likes…

• What Matters

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:41 am

  Long ago I realized that balancing my needs and wants -- especially as it applies to writing -- and my family's needs and wants is never quite as easy as hanging out a sign: "Mommy's Writing, Take a Number and Wait Your Turn," but despite the interruptions I did manage to sneak in a few thousand words here and there... until this November.With one thing and another, my writing has taken a backseat.My NaNo project has stalled out and been put on the side burner. Note I didnt' say the back burner -- where you take the pot off the heat and let it sit to cool and thicken before serving. My NaNo…

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  wowOwow | The Women on the Web

• Announcing the Winner of Our 'Caption This' Contest

  21 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  What caption submissions did we find most ingenious?Caption This! Contest | Today 8:00 am Thank you for participating in last week’s "Caption This" contest on wowOwow! While we found all of your submissions to be positively charming, witty and fun, below are the two captions that truly wOwed us. Keep an eye out for our next "Caption This" contest on wowOwow. Enjoy and congratulations! The Winner: By V B on 11/15/2009 10:06 am MULTIPLE orgasms you say? The Runner ...

• Mr. wOw: Falling in Love Again With 'Marlene'

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  It behooves every fan of Dietrich to watch the Maximilian Schell documentary, just out on DVDMr. wOw | Today 6:00 am "You should go back to Austria and learn some manners! Learn what Mama Schell didn’t teach you! Nobody has ever walked out on me, like a prima donna!" That was Marlene Dietrich, raging at her documentarian Maximilian Schell toward the conclusion of Schell’s brilliant, nasty, mesmerizing 1984 film "Marlene" (now just out on DVD).  Schell, who had also appeared in one of Dietrich’s last films, "

• Let Down and Felt Up? by E.D. Hill

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  How the new mammogram recommendations impact a high-risk womanA Friend Stopped By | 11/20/2009 4:00 pm Editor’s Note: Emmy Award-winning journalist E.D. Hill is a nationally known TV and radio host and author. She spent the past ten years hosting several daily programs on Fox News Channel and was Bill O’Reilly’s sidekick on The Radio Factor, heard on 400 stations. She currently hosts "Good Day" with E.D. Hill on americaswebradio.com Tuesdays and Thursdays 8 - 9 AM EST. E.D. and her husband have eight children and pets too numerous to mention. She splits time between their…

• Could Mammograms Fall Victim to Obamacare? by Liz Peek

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  If you disliked the autocratic decision making practiced by your HMO, wait until you have to argue your case to Beltway bureaucratsWall Street Weekly | 11/20/2009 11:15 am Bears, Bulls, Chickens and Pigs: wOw’s Wall Street Weekly with Liz Peek (Week of 11/16)  Editor’s Note: Liz Peek is a financial columnist. An English friend recently described an example of the kinds of practices that so alarm opponents of Obamacare. Her mother, who is 83 years old, is a breast cancer survivor. She has had surgery and subsequent chemotherapy twice and is currently in excellent health. The…

• Dear Margo: When Dad/Gramps Just Ain't Interested

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:30 am

  Grandpa’s a grouch, but shouldn’t we try to get along? Margo Howard’s bright advice … Dear Margo | 11/20/2009 5:30 am When Dad/Gramps Just Ain’t Interested Dear Margo: By his choice, my father-in-law, "Herman," has had little to do with my wonderful family. He is a negative, toxic individual whom I don’t trust, given his manipulative and abusive behavior. When his wife finally moved out some years ago, Herman did as he had long ago threatened: He cut off contact with his son (but not his daughter). He seems to have a particular dislike for me,…

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  It's Different For Girls

• Halloween Twitter Story Telling Game

  LindaSherman

  30 Oct 2009 | 7:21 pm

  What are you doing for Halloween? Here’s a twitter story telling event called cthalloween to add to your fun. This collaborative game was created by the great social media story teller: Jay Bushman. Come help create a living Halloween story. My interview of Jay Bushman, captured at Digital Hollywood Oct 21 How To Play Step 1: Follow the Twitter account @cthalloween. Step 2: Pick one of the four character types presented on the game website to portray yourself on Halloween: The Questing Professor, The Tormented Artist, The Suspicious Citizen, or The Gibbering Cultist. If you’re…

• Twitter Tips from Twitter Pros

  LindaSherman

  12 Oct 2009 | 5:44 pm

  Learn how to Twitter from pros who use Twitter and other social media tools successfully in their business and their personal lives. This video collection of insights from smart people who have been using Twitter for years will help you get started in the right direction. Their concise, key Twitter tips are useful for beginners but they are also great reminders, and perhaps wake-up calls, to Twitter veterans on how to use Twitter for business or pleasure effectively. Basic Twitter Tips from Leading Twitterati Women. Interview by Linda Sherman, Video by Ray Gordon Filmed at 140 The Twitter…

• Building a Local Social Media Network for LA

  LindaSherman

  9 Sep 2009 | 11:36 am

  There are no borders to social media but sometimes it’s important to build a database of key influencers in your city. In the vibrant Los Angeles scene, it may be difficult to decide who the “coolest kids” are but one thing is for sure, we have many of them. This article gives hints on finding them on and off line. I recently shouted out a list of who I hoped would show up at the August 27, Digital LA poolside event. I tweeted a page’s worth of twitter names of outstanding people I’ve met at various tech/entertainment industry related networking events in LA. As…

• Take Responsibility for Your Fitness

  LindaSherman

  23 Aug 2009 | 5:42 pm

  Time magazine’s cover story “The Myth About Exercise” made me mad. It looked like an irresponsible marketing ploy to sell newsstand copies. The Time article sends absolutely the wrong message to Americans who should take responsibility to do as much as they can to create and maintain good health. In this case, the magazine’s actions are detrimental both to individuals and our costly American health care system. I was grateful for the LA Times response and accompanying comments from readers. GrandpaG’s was one of my favorites: I just finished reading the Time…

• Online Community Leads to Offline Fireworks

  LindaSherman

  5 Jul 2009 | 2:23 pm

  We were talking about online personal branding last night. The beautiful fireworks display had just ended. Everyone had enjoyed the food and drink we brought to share. Fireworks view from Julie Spira’s rooftop terrace in Marina Del Rey Julie Spira and I were explaining the value of a Google profile to a few of the party guests. Someone asked, ‘Why would I want to be more visible on the internet?’ The answer is: because you are already there - whether you like it or not. A profile you create yourself offers a free and easy way to represent yourself more accurately. (For more…

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  Women Wired In

• Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-10-28

  digitalsista

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:33 am

  RT @swhitley: I just left a comment on Twitter Connect Update & Post Comments to Twitter at Shannon Whitley – http://is.gd/4FmiE # RT @jdcoffman: Quick video of Soleil Moon Frye (@moonfrye formerly known as Punky Brewster) at #140conf today http://bit.ly/4wgceh # u should have been on that panel @christinelu if any1 sees @jeffpulver ask if he's [...]

• Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-10-26

  digitalsista

  26 Oct 2009 | 12:33 am

  loved your take on gaming & #wmn r/t @nattylux Great job at #blogpotomac. Thanks for coming!! # @BlogPotomac Wake audio from many of your tweeps & #soicalmedia friends http://bit.ly/bpWake #bpwake via @nooneyouknow # @sukifuller you were missed at the last #blogpotomac esp. during #bpwake # r/t @theory143 have U seen this? @turnstonetweets feature on #tech /science girl stars [...]

• Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-10-25

  digitalsista

  25 Oct 2009 | 12:33 am

  r/t @IsCool Back on live #PopTech: Watch The Conference Live http://ow.ly/wnM2 # hey gang I will miss you all today it's pouring @jillfoster @jessiex @scottstead @jonnygoldstein #dctweetup # @lauriewrites have you seen the #socialmedia landscape or conversation prism you would really be confused. in reply to lauriewrites # @nakeva that means I should see you for #shesgeekydc right! [...]

• Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-10-24

  digitalsista

  24 Oct 2009 | 12:33 am

  RT @ghbrett: some photos from #BlogPotomac online now at http://bit.ly/Cump6 # will do my #ff and #women2follow tomorrow 2 tired to do anything tonight but thanks to everyone for #FF luv! # RT @GeoffLiving: Thk u 2 every1 who has made #BlogPotomac such a moving, community building event. Go forth & continue 2 do great things # RT [...]

• Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-10-23

  digitalsista

  23 Oct 2009 | 12:33 am

  agree completely @FrankGruber re: must know that the next #socialmedia tool will have a different name but outcomes are the same #twtrcon # RT @tonia_ries: RT @floridagirlindc: What if we could geolocate volunteer opportunities 4 ppl 2 make a difference w/ their downtime #twtrcon # can't wait for launch! RT @WomenWhoTech: Barely got anything accomplished that I [...]

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  Learned On Women by Andrea Learned

• Male Competitiveness: Nurture Not Nature

  Andrea

  13 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am

  Though the findings in a recent Slate piece are nothing new on the face of it, the body of research on gender and competitiveness should be looked at with new eyes.  As the writer, Ray Fislar, put it: Like many gender differences, the “competitiveness gap” is taken as simply human nature. Surprise, surprise.  It turns out, there are environments (in this case – tribes) where women have become the more competitive gender.  So, like a few other supposed “male traits,” competitiveness is more nurtured than natural. Why did Fislar’s piece catch my eye…

• UK Dell’s Brilliance: Women Mentoring Men

  Andrea

  10 Nov 2009 | 3:45 pm

  I just saw this mentioned on twitter* and because it is such a brilliant program, I was compelled to post right away.  Dell is taking a step, starting with the UK apparently, to do a sort of reverse gender, reverse role mentoring program.  As described in a recent issue of PeopleManagement.com (with UK spellings): The reverse mentoring programme, which was piloted for six months in the EMEA region last year, aims to give male bosses an insight into the challenges women face in the workplace, helping more women into senior roles. Participants in the pilot met at least once a month, usually…

• Flaunting Socially Responsible Consuming

  Andrea

  10 Nov 2009 | 8:54 am

  We are at an interesting crossroads in consumer culture.  Where luxury purchases used to be the ultimate sign of affluence or, at least, aspiring affluence, more consumers now may be driven to make conspicuously conscious purchases.  According to research co-authored by Aronte Bennett and mentioned in her MediaPost article, corporate social responsibility (CSR) seems to be becoming a strong motivator influencing consumers today – even in these bad economic times.  As she put it: In a variety of experiments, our research found that consumers like CSR-associated products for two…

• Bridging Gender, Consumer Behavior & Social Responsibility

  Andrea

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  A few trends are aligning that have already and individually been making a difference in the world of marketing.   They have to do with consumer gender, corporate responsibility and values-based humans (as consumers and employees).  While addressing these will be challenging for marketers, I believe it will be worth it.  What those trends represent is likely to be the most rewarding business and cultural shift we’ll experience in our lifetimes. The separate trends I see now combining to cause that shift include: 1) A new perspective on gender, and how it influences consumer behavior.

• Open Your Feminine Mind To The Power of Sustainability

  Andrea

  28 Oct 2009 | 8:36 am

  What if I told you that one of the most successful converts from traditional manufacturing to sustainable manufacturing had a big clue for you?  Would your brand take an interest in more seriously committing to a sustainable business approach?  One more question: what if changing your ways had to do with moving your mind toward its more feminine sensibilities? Here’s what that convert, Ray C. Anderson, Founder and Chairman of Interface (and well-known sustainability proponent) writes of male/female, left/right brain thinking in the afterword to his book, Mid-course Correction (in…

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  Strong, Light and Beautiful™

• Bike Haiku

  SLaB

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pm

  A row of bikes hungawaits my ankle healinglike loyal friendships

• Tossing Trash - Talking Trash

  SLaB

  13 Nov 2009 | 5:27 pm

  Today, like many other, I saw a driver at a light drop a cigarette out window - if it weren't for crutches I'd have done my usual; get out, grab his trash & hand it back!I've had several experiences handing back trash through the car window. Makes a great impression - but I only do it at a safe intersection w/ lots of witnesses ;-).1st goober threw entire cigarette box out window w/ plastic after

• Falling into Fall

  SLaB

  9 Nov 2009 | 12:04 pm

  Thought I'd update my blog with a brief synopsis of the last month. Recovery is slowly happening since my surgery. My cat has had a few emergency's and I'm managing a landscape project at home trying to utilize salvaged bottles and wood. As tradition would have it - we also scared lots of kiddo's in the neighborhood for Halloween!PHYSICAL THERAPYThe knee seems to be my focus still - even though

• Bicycling Basics - Class at Stanford

  SLaB

  13 Oct 2009 | 1:05 pm

  I have the privilege of helping teach the first of a multi night class at Stanford University for their "Health Improvement Program" aka HIP! If you are wanting to help introduce a super beginner into the bike world... via commuting, fitness, sport or otherwise... this is a great place to start. Classroom on campus - see details at this registration page: http://hip.stanford.edu/ October

• Handcycle success!

  SLaB

  3 Oct 2009 | 4:15 pm

  Now my recovery is rejuvinated and sanity is saved.

• 
  The WIP: Byline portal + WIP Contibutors

• "Liberation Was Just a Big Lie"

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:03 am

  by Olivia Ward, Toronto Star, Canada - She sleeps in safe houses, with a rotating squad of bodyguards securing the doors. She goes out only in a billowing burqa. Even her wedding was held in secret.

• Photo Essay: Refugees from Bhutan

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:50 am

  by Anna Husarska, APFA News.com, Bhutan - In Bhutan, a Himalyan country famed for its focus on Gross National Happiness, the Nepalese minority has been forced out

• Report: Bush Officials Knew AIG Would Use Bailout Funds To Pay Counterparties

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:40 am

  by Mary Susan Littlepage, truthout, USA - Government officials were aware that billions of dollars used to bail out American International Group (AIG) last year were used by the insurance giant to pay off its creditors, according to a newly released government watchdog report.

• Beyond the Votes in Bolivia: A Reflection on Evo Morales First Term

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:31 am

  by Ashwini Srinivasamohan, Upside Down World, USA - The history of popular struggle in Bolivia took an unexpected turn when Evo Morales, the candidate of the socialist party (MAS) was elected into office.

• Dr Amina Wadud: For a Progressive Islam

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am

  by Trisha Sertori, Jakarta Post, Indonesia - Dr. Wadud, a scholar and feminist, is well-known for her progressive position within Islam and seeking justice for women under sharia.

• 
  EmpowHer - Women's Health Online

• At what age should women start receiving mammograms?

  Tina Tran

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:52 pm

  Younger than 40 40 to 49 50 and older View Results

• Will your insurance company still cover annual mammograms at age 40? So far, most say yes

  Diane Porter

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:31 am

  There are a lot of worries surrounding this week’s new breast screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Poll:  At what age should women start receiving mammograms? read more

• Mammogram ruling backlash: Shock, anger, and vows to ignore the new guidelines

  Diane Porter

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  I expected the stories, told by breast-cancer survivors whose tumors were found by mammograms in their 40s or even their 30s. read more

• Mammograms after 50, not 40? No self-exams? What you need to know about committee’s reversal on breast cancer screening

  Diane Porter

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:53 am

  Get ready for a fight. In a move that certainly came as a surprise to many, new recommendations by a panel published yesterday now recommend that regular mammograms start at 50, not 40 for most wom read more

• Considering Surgery for Sleep Apnea?

  Tina Tran

  16 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm

  Display Title:  Considering Surgery for Sleep Apnea? Background Image:  Peggy shares how her appearance changed following her surgery. Image Only:  No Description Background:  on Link Text:  Watch Peggy's story URL:  http://www.empowher.com/community/herstory/video-herstory-peggy-shares-how-her-a... Align:  left Weight:  2 Text Color:  White

• 
  Totally Her, Totally Real - TotallyHer.com

• The Dog Who Saved Christmas | TV Movie Review

  Sarah Eve

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:01 am

  If you have a dog this is a great movie to watch as a family! However, if you don’t want a dog and don’t want your kids asking for one, this movie is definitely not for you. The Dog Who Saved Christmas follows a dog who gets adopted into a family, but needs to prove his worth as a watch dog.

• What’s In a Name? Everything!

  Lores

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Did you know that most people are affected by the names of food they eat? This information can be very helpful around the holidays!

• Purlisse Pur-Lip Comfort Lip Balm | Product Review

  Denise

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:01 am

  As a self-professed lip balm junkie, I love trying different kinds and finding new favorites. Plus, I need at least 5 tubes of lip balm at all times because I am constantly losing them! With that being said, I was excited to try Purlisse Pur-Lip Comfort Lip Balm and see how it stacked up against my current favorites.

• Stressed Out Kids

  Lores

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  What are young kids stressed about? More than what we may think. The American Psychological Association just released its annual Stress in America survey, which reveals the causes of stress for children.

• TotallyHer and Marriott Travel Voucher Giveaway

  Kelli

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  the new Marriott.com was developed through a two-way dialogue between Marriott and thousands of our customers. The results? Search front and center. Improved navigation. A more modern and elegant look and feel. And, of course, enhanced functionality overall. To celebrate the re-design and get the word out, we’re running a promotion that gives TotallyHer visitors a chance to win a $100 Marriott TravelCard.

• 
  Prospere Magazine

• The Mr., Mrs. and Ms.: Cynthia on Traditional Social Correspondence

  Admin

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  When I was in high school, a girl in my class complained that she didn’t like how the school addressed mail to her parents.  She said that because they were written to Mr. and Mrs. Dad Lastname, that they were ignoring the fact that her mother “existed” as an individual.  While she might have a point in this case, the school was not wrong according to every etiquette guide I’ve seen. Traditional “rules” have not changed for women who take their husbands’ last names.  It is,  If Mary Smith’s husband is John Smith,  the envelope is to be…

• Cute Resort Dress That’s Great for the Petite Gal!

  Admin

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  TLE Designs‘ latest collection makes for great resort wear or for a night out in the city.  Designer, Teresa Le’s brightly-coloured tops, mini-dresses and headbands will surely turn heads whether at the beach or at a club or lounge!  The best news about TLE Designs is that the pieces are perfectly proportioned for women 5′4″ or shorter – the designer herself is petite at just under 5 feet tall.  Her models are also usually on the petite side (truly petite, not America’s Next Top Model-petite). One of Prospere Magazine’s favourite pieces from the…

• Vermont Couple Carves Solutions with Soaps and Candles

  Admin

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  Dawn Lancaster and her husband, Mike, have created a line  soaps and candles called Carved Solutions after 20 years of working a 9 to 5 job.  Incorporated just over three years ago, the soaps and candles are eco-friendly, custom-created and locally made, the products have an elegant feel and are perfect for gifts this holiday season. Soaps come in three sizes.  The standard ones are 4.5 oz and triple-milled.  The CS Simply Organic collections are smaller.  The Spa Bar set consists of 25 three ounce bars while the set of 25 Spa Amenity bars are 0.75 oz.  The soaps are created in…

• Favourite Sesame Street Characters Vary!

  Admin

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  To celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary,  Prospere Magazine asked its readers which Sesame Street character they liked the most growing up.  Surprisingly, Big Bird wasn’t everyone’s favourite – he came in at 12.5%.  We had thought he’d be on top.  The Count and Grover also came in at 12.5%.  Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie and Elmo (!!!!!) all came in at 20.8%.  This was a little surprising, especially with Elmo.  I guess the first of the Elmo generation are now grown-ups (I just narrowly missed Elmo.  I think I was 5 or 6 when he was introduced).  What…

• Poll: What have you done for the holidays?

  Admin

  16 Nov 2009 | 8:00 pm

  Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

• 
  jennster :o)

• did i like new moon?

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:28 pm

  that's the question i'm still trying to figure out.... the morning after seeing the movie. granted, i am freaking tired as hell, but still.. i don't know how to answer the question, and trust me when i tell you that EVERYONE IS ASKING ME!!!!i can tell you this- i definitely was not as pissed off and horrified at its terribleness like i was when i walked out of twilight last year. that movie was a colossal disappointment on so many levels. so i didn't hate new moon, that much is true.but i didn't love it either.and as any fan of the books will tell you... you really WANT to love the movies.

• because i love her

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:51 pm

  because WE love her.i'm not on twitter or facebook often enough to keep up with what the hell is going on in everyone's life on a minute to minute basis. so that explains why when anissa had a freaking stroke tuesday, i had no fucking clue. and why had i not gotten a text from becky, i probably still wouldn't know. ok i'm being way melodramatic... i'm sure i'd know by now.i was so saddened by the news. i just kept thinking about how much i genuinely LIKE her. how fucking funny she is. how much i love our twitters to eachother (stupid kittehs). and how excited i was to finally meet her at…

• i'm trying to read new moon again

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:25 am

  before the movie comes out and i see it at MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY! **insert girly squeels here**but the thing is?it's REALLY pissing me off.making these books into a movie has really fucked with my head. i have no idea WHO edward and bella were in my mind when i read the books the first time... but they sure as shit were not kristen "i hate my life. why is being a celebrity SO hard!!! i never smile because i'm not happy. what the hell do i have to be happy about?? would YOU be happy if you were me?" stewart, or robert "thank god for my teeth, cause even though they're all fucked up, they're…

• maintaining privacy

  16 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pm

  some people think that it's a conflict of interest if you claim to want privacy, yet have profiles on sites likefacebook and myspace. they think that you can't possibly want privacy when it comes to your life, if you choose to put yourself out there in that way.but i completely disagree.you wouldn't know it i'm sure... but there are some aspects of my life where i am viciously private. and while i do have lots of ways that you can get in touch with me online- i like to be in control of most of it.for example-i have a blog..a personal website..a message board/forum..a twitter..a flickr..a…

• cryptic blog posts

  12 Nov 2009 | 10:16 am

  sometimes i have to be cryptic here.i wish i didn't have to be.i wish i could say everything i wanted too without worrying about the consequences... but that's not realistic.at least not for me.sometimes i want to start a new blog that no one would know about where i could spew venom and all my frustrations without the worry of "what if the person i'm writing about reads this?". but really, nothing about what i just said is positive at all- so maybe it's a good thing i don't have a space to do nothing but spew anger. it's not that i'm nice all the time here, it's just that, like i've said…

• 
  Mostly Lisa: Canada's Sexy Geek Blog

• Voices: A Fun Voice Morphing app for your iPhone

  Mostly Lisa

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:41 pm

  Download Voices for your iPhone. If you think this is weird, you should see the outtakes! Oh boy. I’ll post the behind the scenes video once I recover from this all-nighter. ZzZ. I had a lot of fun making this video and playing with the Voices app. There is nothing funnier than sounding like a drunk robot or a possessed chipmunk.Especially at 3am after being up for 30 hours and engulfing massive amounts of helium. The lights were so smoking hot they popped a few balloons including the one that surprised me in the video! Best $29 I ever spent. How can you not love a raccoon hat? For more…

• Felion Fisheye’d Fever

  Mostly Lisa

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:45 pm

  5DMII, 15mm f/2.8, 1/25, f/5.6, IS0 320. I rented a 15mm fisheye lens (Sigma 15mm f/2.8) a few weekends ago and I absolutely fell in love with it. It’s not the type of lens you’d have in your regular kit, but boy is it fun to have for those rare occasions when you want to make the ordinary look super cool. I ended up taking the lens to the BC Lions football game. Yes we have football in Canada. While I do not really understand the intricacies of the game play, I do understand the purpose and importance of the scantilly dressed Felions. With a game that stops and starts as much as…

• How to Take Better Portraits

  9 Nov 2009 | 12:08 pm

  Whether you are snapping pictures of your cat, daughter or a glamorous super model the key feature in any portrait is the eyes. 1. Set your Aperture at f/2.0-5.0. This will give your portrait a nice depth of field with the eyes in focus and falling off around the hair line. If you are shooting in natural light your f-stop will be dictated by how much light you have. Just watch that if you decrease your aperture to < f/2.0 that you are able to get both eyes in focus which is tricky if your subject isn’t straight on. 2. Focus on the middle of the pupil. It’s very easy to catch…

• HEY EVERYBODY

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:27 pm

• Looking for inspiration

  Mostly Lisa

  25 Oct 2009 | 12:46 am

  5DMKII + 85mm f/1.8 I feel like my creativity died with the summer sun. Dull days, rain & all that other work I do to make money have kept me from shooting. I’m mad at myself for letting my photography slowly slip away in the last while. Other than having to pay the rent and buy food, the main reason that I haven’t been taking photos is that I feel such a pressure to produce “perfect” images. I’ve set a high bar for myself and when I don’t reach it technically or emotionally, I feel let down and oddly self-conscious about my work. This photo, for…

• 
  Women's Voices For Change

• My mammogram story

  I am in a high-risk category for breast cancer. My mother has had it twice. I am 59 and have been having mammograms since I was 40.  I examine myself [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• Poetry Friday: The Shine of Sapphire

  Before all the buzz dies down around the already-laureled film Precious, we thought we’d stay in the glow of the creator of its title character, the poet and educator known [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• The Folly of Limited Screening for Breast Cancer

  On Monday evening, the way that we are supposed to recommend breast cancer screening to women was radically shaken to the core and has left many physicians and their patients angered [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• A Call to Gynecologists: Don’t Let Menopausal Women Down

  The following post first appeared on Dr. Allen’s Huffington Post blog, as an urgent message to her fellow physicians. — Ed. Patients with menopausal syndrome are flocking to infomercial doctors. They [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• Health Mix: Stumbling Onto A Female Viagra?; New Mammogram Guidelines Confuse, Enrage; Michelle Obama on Older Women And Health Care Reform

  Equality with Viagra? We don’t know about you, but WVFC was more than a little startled to learn that there’s an organization called the “European Society for Sexual Medicine.” We’ve [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• 
  Diva Marketing (Blog)

• Power To The (e) Patient!

  Toby

  16 Nov 2009 | 12:25 pm

  Hundreds of thousands of digital voices are taking medicine to the virtual streets. There's a new cause being fought in social media communities. Not unlike the grass root movement of the '60's this will also influence change but this time in the world of healthcare. As we've seen with consumer and business brands ePatients are using the Internet for research and social media for peer-to-peer support. On the other side of the street some healthcare providers (physicians, nurses, physician assistants, etc.) are doing much the same. Blogs, social networks, Twitter, along with gated communities…

• Social Media or Advertising Campaigns?

  Toby

  12 Nov 2009 | 12:40 pm

  Just Thoughts for a Friday the 13th afternoon ... Over the past few years I've asked hundreds of people what they thought social media meant. Duncan Wardle's, VP Global PR for Disney, response was typical of most. - "Creating dialog with consumers." Spent the last 2 days at social media events in Atlanta. Blogwell, complements of Gaspedal, and Atlanta Interactive Marketing, sponsored by an alphabet soup of Atlanta marketing groups: AiMA, AMA, AAC, BMA, PMA. The format for both was case studies which always makes for great learnings. I had the opportunity to see work from some big…

• Social Media Marketing Plan _1

  Toby

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:57 pm

  A thought inspired by too much Halloween candy. From social media networks to blogs, widgets, tweets and hot mobile apps marketers are faced with more choices than we ever could have imagined. It seems every day brings a new shiny toy to try .. and to confuse. Add a few traditional tactics .. PR, email, advertising and search and the job becomes overwhelming. Overlay that with an internal structure where functions are silo-ed by departments and you have a frightening disjointed marketing program. One of the benefits that social media brings to the enterprise is a critical need to ensure cross…

• Friday Fun: Top 13 Reasons to Halloween "Toilet Paper" A Social Media Strategy

  Toby

  30 Oct 2009 | 1:55 pm

  Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly. In the spirit of David Letterman's Top Ten ... 13. A zillion landing page blogs are pretending to be social media .. take off the mask and you find a search strategy built on a blog platform 12. A comment that lists a company name instead of a person is likely looking for link treats not a relationship. 11. Facebook "fan" pages with posts lifted from corporate brochures and press releases is just…

• Atlanta Women In Social Media Marketing - 6

  Toby

  23 Oct 2009 | 11:50 am

  This is a continuing series highlighting some of the fabulous women in the metro Atlanta area who are working in social media marketing. These divas include women from both the client and the agency side. From a personal (and I must admit selfish) view it's been a fun opportunity to meet and answer the question .. Who are the Atlanta Women In Social Media? Today's post takes a slightly different direction. Toss of a pink boa to Karen Russell, an amazing prof at UGA, who suggested that I include a special post on educators. I'm very excited to introduce you to professors who are opening the…

• 
  Menstrual Poetry

• This 10 Year Old Won’t Stand for a Country that Doesn’t Support its GLBTQ Population

  Will Phillips is an exceptionally bright 10 year old boy who recently skipped a grade in school and whose family had always taught him to be aware of what’s right, wrong, and what’s fair. The family has many friends in the gay community and they are allies for the community, having attended pride parades [...]

• Help Make Puerto Rico Prosecute the Murder of 19 Year Old Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado as a Hate Crime

  On November 14th the body of 19 year old Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was found on an isolated road in Cayey, Puerto Rico. His body was partially burned, both of his arms and legs, as well as his torso were dismembered and he was also decapitated. While giving a televised statement, the police officer [...]

• Women’s Studies and Education Privilege

  At the end of October a list of 50 eye-opening Women’s Studies blogs was released and much to my surprise, Menstrual Poetry was on that list. Also to my surprise, it wasn’t just shoved at the bottom of the list with a description of something like ‘a woman who likes to spout her opinion [...]

• Feminist: It’s Just About the Worst Thing You Could Be

  Feminism is in the media, you just have to know where to look to find it and even then, chances are you’re going to have to dig pretty deep through your popular publications to find an even so-so assessment of what feminism truly brings to the table and gives us our due hat-tip for our [...]

• The Good, The Bad and The Burning

  Warning: This post is mostly about “lady parts” and “lady problems.” If the words vagina, menstruation, bleeding, tampon, pad, and/or urinary tract infection or any variation of the previous words offend you, it would be wise on your part to cease reading the following post. I had always loved that Renee over at Womanist Musings posted [...]

• 
  DailyCandy All Cities

• Republican Party

  DailyCandy

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

  The Republic Opens He says: The Marina’s new bar and grill, The Republic, has twenty American craft brewskis on tap, and 40 more in bottles.She says: It’s from the Bin 38 guys, so there’s a sweet list of boutique American wines.He says: Updates on pub grub, like sous vide buffalo wings and a house-ground burger with duck fat fries, rock.She says: Sustainable ingredients and more refined options, like pan-roasted escolar with soy-ginger glaze, taste even better.He says: I can watch the big game on an 82-inch flat-screen — starting early Sunday mornings.She says: They cover up the tube…

• A Tisket, a Tasket

  DailyCandy

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  Afternoon Delights from Holly Flora You’ve said, “Please enjoy this obligatory thank-you fudge,” and, “This teddy bear was the only hypoallergenic thing in the hospital gift shop.”But now you can say what you actually mean with Afternoon Delights from whimsical floral design company Holly Flora.Featuring hand-selected wines, cheeses, and local produce and adorned with floral touches, visionaries Holly Vesecky and Rebecca Uchtman’s plentiful baskets are available for local delivery.While Fall Harvest (think pomegranates and persimmons from Vesecky’s farm in Ojai, Bosc pears,…

• Freezy Street

  DailyCandy

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  Snookelfritz Ice Cream Artistry This season, cuddling is a hot commodity.You need a main freeze.Take a bite out of the biting cold with Snookelfritz, a just-launched artisanal ice cream company from pastry chef Nancy Silver.With stints at Trotter’s, Blackbird, and Bistro Campagne under her belt, Silver’s no novice. A stickler for simplicity, seasonality, and sustainability, she uses farm-fresh ingredients (Nichols Farm fruits, Chicago Honey Co-op honey, local dairy) to create flavors that’ll make you melt.Maple syrup with candied hickory nut and salted caramel apple neatly curb your…

• Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

  DailyCandy

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am

  East Side Social Club Opens A preview of the Gilroy family Thanksgiving.Billy: We got a lot to be grateful for. East Side Social Club opens on Monday. The whole family, working together.Jimmy: Here we go. My kid brother’s on a roll. What’s this, your 90th place, Mr. Macao Trading-Employees Only-Match?Billy: You talk, Sir Legendary Sunday Night Bartender at Raoul’s for decades.Jimmy: Hey. Don’t age me. Can I help it if we inherited the gene from Grandma, the original owner of Grotta Azzurra? (Before Little Italy was a culinary joke.)Billy: Yeah, and East Side’s special. An…

• More Than Words

  DailyCandy

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  Library: Archives of Fashion Vintage Shop It was Miss Lail with the horsebit belt in the library.Need a bigger clue? We’re talking about Library: Archives of Fashion, an online vintage shop out of Charleston.At the helm is Lauren Lail, who sees each fashion piece as a story, together creating a unique anthology.Designer items share virtual racks with no names, all dangling reasonable price tags and detailed measurements.Hopeless romantics will be drawn to floral dresses, ruffled tops, and crochet vests. Big sunglasses, chunky belts, and animal prints will appeal to those with a penchant for…

• 
  if you want kin, you must plant kin ...

• Connecting the dots.

  girlgriot

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:58 pm

  After the surprise of seeing photos of the matriarchs in my family, my students stumbled over what those photos were saying to them.  We had, you’ll remember, just been talking about the “shock” of discovering that Michelle Obama has a white person (at least one) in her family tree.  That was, of course, the reason [...]

• Maybe seeing will be believing …

  girlgriot

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:26 pm

  In my morning class, when we read the Times article about Michelle Obama’s “shocking” family tree, we had a conversation about the issue of family histories, about Jefferson and Hemings, about the “important American story” Megan Smolenyak is trying to tell for black people in this country. “Why might it be hard for African Americans to [...]

• And if I’m gay, what’s your point?

  girlgriot

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:33 pm

  Catching up with Jay, I was happy to find this little history lesson on tap: As a life-long ‘East Coast Cat” myself, I’m glad Jay chose to step up and share a little knowledge with Larry Johnson about Stonewall and ‘weakness’ … and in the process help us all remember that prejudice starts with ignorance.¹ I’m wondering when calling someone a [...]

• What’d you get done in the last 14 1/3 weeks?

  girlgriot

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:03 am

  Author’s note: I’m cleaning house today and found this post lying around in my “Draft” folder.  It’s from April 30th, so it’s the 14 1/3 weeks before April 30th that this post refers to.  Not sure why I never hit “Publish” when this is pretty much whole and says what I wanted to say.  WordPress tells [...]

• On the road again …

  girlgriot

  16 Nov 2009 | 8:54 pm

  Yes, I’ve left town for another conference.  This one’s the National College Transitions Network shingdig in Rhode Island.  Today I was here to present as part of a panel.  Our session went well: more people than we expected and lots of questions and conversation.  We were only marginally prepared — two of our group of [...]

• 
  Stirrup Queens

• Lifestreaming vs. Blogging

  Lollipopgoldstein

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:44 am

  Just so you know what I hypocrite I am before I begin this thought, I set up a lifestream site called Stirrup Queens on the Road (you can get to it from the new pomegranate icon below the header) and posted pictures and video from last night’s party on it.  I’m not sure where it’s [...]

• 164th Friday Blog Roundup

  Lollipopgoldstein

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:25 am

  Jeanne Claude, Christo’s wife, died this week.  She was only 74.  They were still working on the same project I heard them speaking about back in 1995–fabric panels over a river in Colorado. I broke up with my boyfriend at the time over Christo and Jeanne Claude.  There had been a limited number of tickets given [...]

• The 79th Circle Time: The Show and Tell Weekly Thread (yes, it was my anniversary edition)

  Lollipopgoldstein

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:07 pm

  Show and Tell is wasted on elementary schoolers. Join several dozen bloggers weekly to show off an item, tell a story, and get the attention of the class. In other words, this is Show and Tell 2.0. Everyone is welcome to join, even if you have never posted before and just [...]

• Bay

  Lollipopgoldstein

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:17 am

  A few days after I lost my grandmother, the traveling began and it kept everything at bay for two weeks.  There wasn’t time to sit and think; if I was at home, I was moving the twins through life or preparing for a trip or cleaning up from a past one. And I knew this would [...]

• At This Exact Moment in Time

  Lollipopgoldstein

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:35 am

  I have been having wonderful luck lately with meeting other bloggers.  Last week, it was Serenity and Somewhat Ordinary.  This week, it was Baby Shmaybe, To Baby and Beyond, and Palemother. Last weekend, I was in Detroit doing a book reading.  What?  You don’t have a copy of Navigating the Land of If?  Well, you should [...]

• 
  Feminist Daily News

• FDA Approves Single-Dose Plan B Emergency Contraceptive

  The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a single-pill version of the Plan B emergency contraceptive, which is currently available as a two-pill dose. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd announced yesterday (see

• Obama Appoints Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General

  President Obama announced yesterday his appointment of Regina Benjamin, MD to the position of surgeon general. The President commented that Dr. Benjamin, who has lost relatives to diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood cancer, has a deep understanding of the health needs facing the United States. ...

• Sotomayor Hearings Commence

  Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings for the United States Supreme Court began yesterday. Though the first day of hearings was dominated by the Senate Judiciary Committee's opening statements, Sotomayor made a brief introductory statement at the close of the proceedings. In her opening ...

• Law Protecting Clinic Buffer Zone Upheld

  The US 1st Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Massachusetts law on Friday, allowing a 35-foot safety buffer zone between protestors and abortion clinic entrances. The law, established in 2007, protects clinic patients and staff from harassment. Five anti-choice protesters

• Appeals Court Rules Pharmacists Can't Refuse Plan B

  The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that pharmacists in Washington State must dispense Emergency Contraception (EC), also known as Plan B, even if they have personal religious objections to the medication. The ruling overturned a temporary injunction from the US District Court in Sea...

• 
  Joy Unexpected

• The Finalist

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:27 pm

  One of my favorite episodes of The Office is the one where they play basketball in the warehouse. Do you know which episode I'm talking about? Yes? Okay. So, you know how Michael assumes Stanley is going to be really good? Because he's black? But then Stanley gets the ball and he totally sucks and Michael is all "are you KIDDING ME?" Well. Tonight E played in his very first drum competition. There were 4 different divisions. In the last division (teens) There was a girl there who looked like a rocker. Big, spiked hair, ripped jeans, concert t-shirt. One look at her and I was all "She is gonna…

• On Dealing With Little Bullies

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  Yesterday when I picked up my daughter from school, she was quieter than usual. I could tell something was bothering her. "How was school?" I asked. "I can't remember." She responded. Not the answer I wanted to hear. In the pit of my stomach, I knew something was wrong. I didn't want to push the issue, so I thought I'd allow her to unwind from her day before I asked any more questions. Later that afternoon, I was in my room finishing up some things for work. She started to scream at her brother and had a bit of a meltdown. I had no choice but to put her on time out for her behavior. After she…

• Check Him Out!

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:39 pm

  My 12 year old son wrote his very first blog post today-- a review of Tony Hawk Ride. He worked hard on it and is excited for people to read and HOPEFULLY (HINT HINT!) comment. So, if you would be so kind, hop on over to my review blog and give it a read. This Mom would be so grateful.

• What 34 Pounds Gone Looks Like IN MY FACE.

  12 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am

  I thought I'd be under 200 pounds by now. But I'm not. I'm still stuck at 203. This is PISSING ME OFF SO MUCH YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW, but I keep reminding myself that there is progress and that's what matters. (or so I tell myself so as not to cry or put a hole in the wall.) I need to get to at least 150 before my endocrinologist will take me off of met*formin and I really need to get off of met*formin because it is RUINING MY LIFE with the "side effects" and by "side effects" I mean "unpredictable ass explosions." I'm going to change a few things in my diet this week as well as kick things up a…

• Bokeh Wednesday: A Real Post is Coming Soon I SWEAR, Edition

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:08 pm

• 
  Shakesville

• Senate Debate on Healthcare

  Melissa McEwan

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:10 am

  Currently airing on C-SPAN2. The live stream is here if you want to watch but don't have C-SPAN2 on your cable/satellite system. (Or don't have cable/satellite at all.)As I write this, Orrin Hatch (R-1950) is talking about abortion, and my teeth are grinding together so hard I feel like I may spontaneously generate a new universe between my molars.

• Open Thread

  Melissa McEwan

  21 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Hosted by Rainbow Brite and Starlite.

• The Virtual Pub Is Open

  Melissa McEwan

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:59 pm

  Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your screen name...TFIF, Shakers!Belly up to the bar,and name your poison.

• Quote of the Day

  Melissa McEwan

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:22 pm

  [Trigger warning.]"If they were put in front of me I'd probably watch it."—Billy Arnone, Carrie Prejean's brother, on his sister's sex tapes, in an interview with Radar Online, during which, btw, he was wearing a t-shirt reading "Loose Lips."Seriously: WTF? I don't even know how to deal with that.I know this makes me the Queen of Obvious Statements, but there is something deeply, deeply wrong with our culture.

• Today in Rape Culture

  Melissa McEwan

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm

  [Trigger warning.]In three parts...Part One: Shaker Richard Gadsen emails about this theater review in The Guardian, in which Mark Lawson wonders if he should have walked out on a play in which there was objectionable content about sexual assault:It's a rightly angry play and I shared the writer's rage, until a moment when it turned against him. A young woman, Dora, is raped by three of her classmates in turn. The characters look back on the action of the past – from either old age or the afterlife, depending on their luck – and Dora's reflections on this violation are: "I screamed, but I…

• 
  ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

• Poetry Slam And General Flea Market

  echidne

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:51 am

  Subbing for Anthony McCarthy today. Please use the comments for your poetry, thoughts and topics you'd like to talk about. Even recipes (for food, love or life).

• Mapping Job Losses

  echidne

  21 Nov 2009 | 2:03 am

  This animated map of the growth of U.S. unemployment figures is fascinating in a horrible way. (Via David Derbes)

• Question for the weekend (by Suzie)

  Suzie

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:23 am

  Have you had the H1N1 (a k a swine) flu? I went to an internist yesterday who said I probably had a flu of some sort and gave me Tamiflu. She explained that a good test to determine H1N1 costs $300, isn't covered by most insurance, and thus, few people get it.

• Naked women as sport (by Suzie)

  Suzie

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:44 am

  ESPN's "Body Issue" arrived free in the mail last month. (In other words, I got it whether I wanted it or not.) The inaugural issue had six covers of naked athletes, four female and two male. It's amazing how women have come to dominate sports coverage.I happened to get the magazine with Sarah Reinertsen on the cover, wearing only her prosthetic leg. Women with disabilities often have been considered uninterested or incapable of sex. Reinertsen looks capable of anything. She gazes directly at the camera. Her pose – sitting with arms and legs crossed – is relaxed but still coy because…

• Friday critter blogging (by Suzie)

  Suzie

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:33 am

  This is Xena and Logan in Lisa's house in Anchorage. Let the fur fly!

• 
  Girlfriendology

• Cincy Saturday - Girlfriend Introductions

  Girlfriendology

  21 Nov 2009 | 2:28 am

  My very good friend Judi (on the left in this photo) asked me to put a meeting on my calendar. Always one to forego meetings if not completely necessary and if at all possible, I hesitated - and she knew it.…

• Give Thanks - For Friendship and Thanksgiving

  Girlfriendology

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:25 am

  Without the Pilgrims, would we show gratitude for all the wonderful people in our lives? Would we say stop and say THANKS? Would we ponder our blessings? I would hope so. I’d hope that would be part of our nature -…

• WANT TO BE FRIENDS?

  Girlfriendology

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:31 am

  We know - Friendship can be a risk. We’re trusting another person to be trustworthy. We’re hoping this woman has our best interest at heart. And, we want to invest our time and friendship efforts in someone who will be around…

• Daily Inspiration - Good Intentions

  Girlfriendology

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:28 am

  One week from today is Thanksgiving - the day of gratitude. We’re celebrating by making a it a month of gratitude - actually of GIRLFRIEND GRATITUDE. Do your girlfriends know how much their friendship means to you? Do you show or share …

• Daily Inspiration: Getting even was never so Friendly!

  Girlfriendology

  18 Nov 2009 | 3:05 am

  Who owes you? Or, who do you owe? Being in debt is a tough situation but today’s Daily Inspiration newsletter takes a little different slant on that and on the whole ‘fairness thing.’ In fact, it’s okay to get even ……

• 
  Girl Power: Female CEOs

• Small Businesses Speak Out on Healthcare

  16 Nov 2009 | 3:08 pm

  There’s been a lot of talk in the news about how important the small business community is to the economy as they are the source of 65 percent of all new jobs created in the U.S. in the past 15 years. This week is set to be another important one for small businesses. Reuters says the Obama administration will hold a small business forum with lenders, lawmakers, regulators and business owners this Wednesday, November 18. The aim is to “define a new initiative to boost lending to smaller firms and help reverse U.S. job losses.” I usually try to leave the politics at the door in my small…

• The Best and Worst of Female Bosses

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:40 am

  I don’t know what kind of boss I am at VerticalResponse—you’d have to ask my staff about that. I think they’d say I’m fair, fun, I like to cut to the chase, and will use fewer words than most to try to get my point across. They’d probably say that as long as they’re getting their jobs done, I don’t interfere too much, and I’d like to think I try to remove obstacles for them. I hope that they’d say I believe in growth from within a company. I like to think I learned this from a few bosses in my past that just happened to be women. Cut back to the early 90’s and my second…

• How Training Employees Can Boost Sales

  16 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pm

  When I started VerticalResponse we had just four employees. With such a tight knit group there wasn’t really a need for company or product training. We all knew everything that was happening, who our customers were, how our product worked, and how to sell it. But what happens when a company starts to grow and the tight knit group starts to unravel? Inevitably you hire people you don’t know and people that might not know your product or market as well as you. I can tell you that we waited way too long to start formally training our new employees, and for a while it showed. We didn’t take…

• Inc. 500 Conference: Stay Small or Go Big?

  1 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pm

  Last week I was at the Inc. 500 Conference listening to Doug Tatum, CEO of Tatum LLC, an executive services consulting firm. He’s also the author of No Man’s Land, What to Do When Your Company is Too Big to be Small but Too Small to be Big. I didn’t really know what I was in for, because I haven’t yet read his book, which was the basis of this session. Since there were over 200 people in the room, it seemed there was a lot of interest in what he had to say. Doug defined No Man’s Land as “fatal” for many businesses. Let me see if I can illustrate his graph with words. The left…

• Inc. 500 Conference: How to Get Your Message Right

  30 Sep 2009 | 2:00 pm

  Last week I was at the Inc. 500 Conference and caught a session with Michael Sheehan, CEO of Sheehan Associates. His company helps businesses, people, and government officials craft messaging. At this session he was discussing how hard it has become to get your message right and get it understood by your audience in a world where we all have information overload. Michael stressed that your message isn’t your brand. I’ll admit, at first I was a bit confused by this. But he went on to give a couple of great examples, one of which was Nike. When Nike got bad press for working with overseas…

• 
  The-F-Word.org

• Oprah to mauling victim: Blind? Disfigured? At least you won’t get fat

  Rachel

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:01 pm

  You’ve heard of the Connecticut woman who was mauled by a 200-pound chimpanzee, right?  Charla Nash, 65, was visiting a friend last February when her friend’s pet chimp attacked her, tearing off her nose, lips,  eyelids and hands before being shot dead by cops. Nash later lost her eyes to infection and her facial disfigurement [...]

• Is Newsweek’s cover of Palin in short shorts sexist?

  Rachel

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:12 am

  Even I was kind of shocked by Newsweek’s cover this week of Sarah Palin — not for the image used, which on first glance seemed both puzzling and irrelevant, but for the blatantly biased headline of “How do you solve a problem like Sarah?  She’s bad news for the GOP — and for everybody else, [...]

• Taking the diet out of “diet foods”

  Rachel

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:15 am

  I'm sitting at my favorite local indie coffeehouse staring at a large plate of cottage cheese and fresh fruit atop a bed of leafy greens paired with a side of steaming spiced apples and wishing I had my camera because the presentation is as much artistic as it is yummy. That its menu is vegetarian-friendly is one of the reasons why I love this coffeehouse so much, but despite its array of veggie offerings, I sometimes find myself craving the delicious synergy of pineapple and large curd cottage cheese. Cottage cheese has gotten a bum rap in the past few decades. For too many, its pebblelike…

• Guest Blogger Michal: To be or not to be a mother

  Rachel

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:54 am

  Reader Michal picked up on my oh, so subtle childless-by-choice vibes here and wrote to tell me about an awesome project she's working on called "Motherhood Schmotherhood," which examines "women deciding whether, and when, to have kids, and the pressures they face from their families, peers, and society at large." The project consists of a one-hour documentary -- view the site and trailer here -- and a blog that features webisodes and contributions from others similarly undecided on motherhood. The question of motherhood is a decision most, if not all, women encounter at some point in their…

• Help fill my Big Fat Rolodex of media contacts

  Rachel

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:35 am

  As the media contact for The Fat Rights Coalition and a personal blogger who writes on issues of eating disorders and body acceptance, I field lots of public relations requests from media outlets worldwide, from international luminaries like CNN and The New York Times to small town papers looking to make a local connection on a larger issue. I've participated in some of these public debates in the past, but because I am a journalist myself, I have made the decision to limit my involvement to helping my fellow journalists out behind-the-scenes and referring them to other activists who will…

• 
  In Women We Trust

• Promoting healthy eating causes the corn syrup folks to come-a-calling...

  InWomenWeTrust

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:29 pm

  Over the past three years, this blog has connected me to many world-changing women. One of my favorites is Taiha Wagner who lives near Minneapolis. Like many of us, she's tried on several business projects centered on helping women have better lives and found her biz-soul-match with www.Just One Bite.net. Even the Minneapolis Star Tribune recently took notice with this article including Taiha and other local women on the same track. Taiha's a nurse by education and a caretaker by choice. Just One Bite is the blend between her profession, her mission and her passion - organic food. She's…

• Recycling never looked so good on our countertops

  InWomenWeTrust

  15 Nov 2009 | 9:49 am

  Recycling never looked so good on your counter

• Does Maria Shriver's Women's Nation Lack a Massive Segment?

  InWomenWeTrust

  23 Oct 2009 | 5:34 am

  It's been a long while since I've tapped into my inner women's circle of pals. Work has consumed me and I've had to put this blog in simmer mode. This morning, however, Yvonne DiVita's blog post cranked up the burner. Yvonne is a long-time blog pal and my publisher, she's also been a long-time voice for the everyday gal who's just trying to make a mark in a world that generally ignores her contributions. In her post, she takes on Maria Shriver's Women's Nation Report for two reasons: 1. Her site focuses on Maria's pals who are only women at...

• A Mindful Momma is more than "Practically Green"...

  InWomenWeTrust

  20 Oct 2009 | 8:44 pm

  Micaela Preston intro's Practically Green - a book of fun-tips to help your family live lighter and greener.

• Sustainable Standards: What are the Consumer's Opinions?

  InWomenWeTrust

  13 Oct 2009 | 8:13 pm

  Women bloggers question why consumers aren't allowed to be at the sustainability index table... at least at an affordable price.

• 
  The Downtown Women's Club womensDISH blog

• The Evolving Manager Stereotype: Do More Women Managers Make For Less Stereotypes?

  Vivian Liu-Somers

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:04 pm

  A study in an upcoming issue of Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ) looks at how men and women leaders are evaluated differently based on the the gender-typing of the industry in which they work. The results show that expectations are...

• Working Now To Enjoy The Holidays Later

  Crissy Herron

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Believe it or not, we are only a week and a half away from Thanksgiving. The holidays are about to hit, and as they usually do, they will hit hard. We are going to be busy. We are going to...

• The year of living nicely

  Diane K. Danielson

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:42 am

  Last year at this time I made a pledge to live "nicely." That meant: Be nice on the internet. Be nice to telemarketers. Be nice to people who don't drive exactly the way I'd like them to. And, even be...

• Beating the boys - filly style

  Diane K. Danielson

  10 Nov 2009 | 7:08 am

  It was another tough week for women, we (and our daughters) have been once again put in the position of sacrificing our rights for the good of others. But, I'm not going to write about that - other than to...

• Why your picture is worth a thousand words on social networks

  Diane K. Danielson

  9 Nov 2009 | 8:22 am

  Most of us put off having our picture taken because we never really like the results. Yet, not having a professional photo is a bigger mistake now than it was several years ago Why? Because when it comes to Facebook,...

• 
  The Crone Speaks

• Less Mammograms, Less Pap Smears, and a Serious Problem with Reading Comprehension

  archrone

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  At the beginning of the week, the United States Preventative Task Force issued a set of new guidelines for use of mammography. And the storm hit — OMG, the government will be rationing health care; OMG! the gubmint wants women to die! “I do believe that women will die” if they’re followed, she said. Not once in the ensuing storm of criticism, did anyone bother to look at the statement that these new guidelines are NOT for ALL women, and will actually promote doctors to spend some time with their patients and give them some individualized time deciding on the most…

• Watered-Down Health Care Bill Passes House With a Huge Pricetag on Women

  archrone

  8 Nov 2009 | 5:43 am

  64 Democrats voted for the Stupak amendment — you know, the one that says woman’s uteri are not their own, especially poor women’s uteri. 64 Democrats have completely disregarded one of the core tenets of the Democratic party – guaranteeing personal liberties for all. Women deciding with their doctors whether a pregnancy carried to term would be the best thing for them (whatever the reason) falls under personal liberties. What the hell are these 64 thinking? If that wasn’t bad enough, the Goopers, during debate of the House Health Insurance Bill, were…

• More TN Women Infected

  archrone

  22 Sep 2009 | 5:22 am

  The reason for the rise in STD’s in women between 2002 – 2007 is “difficult to pinpoint.” I guess it’s too hard for Dr. Katherine Hartmann to look at the other speed humps in this state regarding women’s reproductive health. It’s not difficult to extrapolate that the problem lies in abstinence only education; conscience laws denying women the morning after pill and basic birth control. And then we have the more recent study linking religiosity to high teen birth rates, which we find this statement from researcher Joseph Strayhorn: “We conjecture…

• TN a Gun-Crazed State or a NRA Patsy?

  archrone

  13 Sep 2009 | 5:38 am

  One might have thought so, when the legislative session ended earlier this year. The republican-controlled legislature focused on numerous gun laws, at least one of which is showing a backlash the NRA and TN legislators did not expect. That would be the Guns in Parks bill. Interestingly, it is the New York Times that points out how TN’s legislators have not and do not listen to ALL of their constituients, and that lobbists (particularly the NRA’s lobby) carry more weight (and money) than the citizens the legislators are representing. Safety-minded localities in gun-friendly…

• Obama Wants Kids to Learn: Living in the land of stupid

  archrone

  5 Sep 2009 | 5:36 am

  On Tuesday, Pres. Obama is going to address school children nationwide, urging them to stay in school and get an education. But, as Media Matters has documented, there is a fringe element on the right that feels this is un-amurrukin, starting with the talking heads that are whipping up this frenzy. So, here in Tennessee, teh stupid are leaking out of the woodwork, calling into school administrators demanding that their children be safe from the un-amurrukin. Teh stupid started in middle Tennessee and has spread to east TN, as we can see from this quote by Loudon County schools instructional…

• 
  Prefers Her Fantasy Life

• Why I Prefer My Fantasy Life #78

  9 Nov 2009 | 7:16 pm

  In my fantasy life my sons wouldn't argue with one another. And in my fantasy life, if they did, they'd adopt my brilliant methods of persuasion. Younger Brother: Mom, Older Brother just told me there were 7 spider legs in each taco from Taco Bell.Me: (giving Older Brother the Sustained Evil Eye)Older Brother: Well, I had to think of a comeback. We were fighting over which was better Taco Bell or McDonald's, and Younger Brother said the chicken at Mickey D's was made from the gross parts of the bird and held together by edible meat glue.Me: (wishing my kids ate health food like they do in my…

• Transvestites, Transgenders and Transitive Verbs

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:51 pm

  As I mentioned I'm teaching at a two-year college that offers an associates degree in Medical Administrative Assistance. We have a strict dress code where students are required to wear scrubs and white sports shoes. Their hair must be a "natural" color--no bright reds or blues--and they must cover all facial piercings and tattoos.Our security guard gets a bit overzealous in issuing dress code violations to the students. Funny thing is, he's a "by-the-books" security guard by day. But by night, he's a flaming red-haired cross dresser. Yes, he...ur...she's brought me my coffee at Big Boy on…

• An Open Letter To My One Finger-Typing Student

  27 Oct 2009 | 4:42 pm

  I am so sorry I leaned over you and began typing words to your email sign-up questions.I felt it my obligation to get the class over with by Thanksgiving.I also apologize for grabbing the mouse from you. I assumed everyone knew that you had to position it on a field and click in order for it to work.And when you couldn't create your email address because of the common name "Floyd Jones," I thought you knew I was kidding when I told you to try "Pink Floyd Jones."In spite of our getting off on the wrong appendage, I greatly admire you. You have 8 kids and two day jobs, and you're spending your…

• Nothing Comes Between Me and My Jeff Tweedy

  19 Oct 2009 | 7:10 pm

  Not even the fact that soon-to-be-ex took his girlfriend to the concert,or that my date, 6 foot and gorgeous, was my 14-year old daughter.Not the fact we had to sequester ourselves from our mutual friends at dinner so no one felt awkward. And if I sound bitter here, that's because I am, you mutual friends.Or the Noodles and Company restaurant which Daughter picked out of all the great places to eat in Ann Arbor.Or the fact that Noodles and Company doesn't sell alcohol.Or that Hill Auditorium in The Peoples' Republic of Ann Arbor, home of the Hash Bash, does not sell alcohol.Nor the fact that…

• Why I Prefer My Fantasy Life #119

  13 Oct 2009 | 6:19 pm

  Did I mention I hate English teachers?Did I mention I am an English teacher?Last week I was hired as a full-time instructor at a small two-year college. I don't mind the teaching so much. But in my fantasy life I'd have students that didn't come late, leave early, and talk on their cell phones the short amount of time they were in class.In my fantasy life, most of my students would have a high school diploma. And know how to write a simple sentence. And use a computer. And not have kids. Or criminal records.In my fantasy life, I'd be on a campus where they didn't have two security guards, one…

• 
  Pink Lemonade

• California Milk Advisory Board on PBS

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:49 pm

  Most Americans consume dairy products on a daily basis, but have they ever stopped to think about how their ice cold milk or the cheese on their pizza made its way from farm to table?California, the nation’s dairy leader, will hit the "small screen" on November 21st as local dairy producers and their herds star in PBS' Emmy-nominated series Chefs A' Field. The series showcases America’s best chefs who, with family and friends, visit local farmers to learn about where their food comes from and new ways to prepare delicious food with healthy ingredients.In Season 4, Chefs A’ Field pays…

• Holiday Stress, Holiday Health

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pm

  Thanksgiving can be one of the most joyous holidays of the year, but it can add tremendous stress, not to mention a ton of calories, to your already stressful (and calorie-laden) life if you don’t prepare ahead.To avoid being one of the average Americans who consumes an extra 600 calories daily between Thanksgiving and New Year ’s Day (that is over 6 extra pounds), here are some tips for avoiding the stress and extra pounds without losing the holiday spirit:How to be the Hostess with the Mostess:Plan AheadThe Menu – Think Thin: Remember, there is always a way to make it healthier!The…

• Kid-friendly Thanksgiving Foods 101

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:46 am

  Families come together at Thanksgiving to celebrate, catch up and feast. While you may be looking forward to seeing your favorite relatives and eating Aunt Caroline's famous pumpkin pie, the crush of people and unfamiliar foods can overwhelm children. Bring the holiday down to their size with a kid's table supplied with familiar favorites and kid-sized versions of traditional Thanksgiving dishes.Let Them Eat SnacksIt's hard to be patient and good-natured when you're hungry, especially when you're only about waist-high. Rather than ask your juvenile guests to wait for the turkey and trimmings…

• Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget 101

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:36 am

  The holiday season is all about excess. But in this financial climate, simple meals and décor can seem tastefully elegant instead of Dickensian. This year, it's de rigueur to forgo the fancy spread and get back to basics. Here's how:Plan Ahead -- Open your day planner and circle Nov. 1 with a red pen. This is when you should start planning your menu. The turkey will account for nearly 40 percent of the cost of Thanksgiving dinner [source: All Recipes]. Buy it early, and get a frozen bird -- it'll store easier, defrost better and roast up juicier. A week before Thanksgiving, commit an…

• How to Streamline Thanksgiving Dinner Cleanup

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:25 am

  Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends and to express gratitude for the year's accomplishments. Don't let the after-dinner dishes put a damper on your holiday. Follow these tips to make Thanksgiving dinner cleanup a less burdensome task.Pace YourselfPlanning and preparing certain foods ahead of the big day smoothes the cooking and cleaning processes. Cookbook author and TV cooking host Nathalie Dupree suggests making and freezing your gravy a month in advance of Thanksgiving Day [source: Dupree]. You can also put casseroles together two days before the feast, and…

• 
  Heroine Content

• Blood: The Last Vampire (2009)

  Skye

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:17 am

  The live action Blood: The Last Vampire was released on Blu-Ray October 20th. It was never released in theaters in Austin, and I did not manage to see it when I went to Chicago in July, so I felt like I had been waiting a loooong time for that red Netflix envelope to show up in my mailbox. The film is set in Japan during the Vietnamese War. South Korean actor Gianna Jun plays Saya, a vampire-human hybrid whose mission in life is killing the demon who destroyed her father. Onigen, the demon, is played by Koyuki, who is Japanese. Aiding Saya in her pursuit is Alice McKee (played by white actor…

• Whip It

  Grace

  18 Oct 2009 | 4:02 pm

  At Adventures of a Young Feminist, Laura writes "I'm not even going to try to pretend I didn't love this movie, because I did." You and me both, Laura. It's been a long time coming, my friends, but the Hollywood woman-hating machine has presented us with something that is both fun and not an insult to our collective intelligence. Whip It is really good. Juno it-girl Ellen Page plays Bliss, a small-town Texas misfit stuck between her own quirkiness and her mother's (the amazing Marcia Gay Harden) insistence that she fulfill her potential as a beauty queen. She's sarcastic, confused, and…

• Jennifer's Body

  Grace

  10 Oct 2009 | 7:01 pm

  Jennifer's Body was not on my must-see film list. I saw the previews, was skeptical, and agreed to take it on because I love Heroine Content. Then I started reading other people's reviews--lots of mentions of Heathers, even a few of Buffy-implications that it was self-aware, if a bit thin, farce. I can handle that, I thought. I liked writer Diablo Cody's Juno well enough, and loved director Karyn Kusama's Girlfight (reviewed here). By the time I actually saw Jennifer's Body, I was almost excited about it. That excitement was so very misplaced. This movie is terrible. The Willamette Week…

• What's Coming Up in 2010?

  Skye

  23 Sep 2009 | 8:26 am

  I thought I'd take a look ahead at 2010 and see what may be coming down the pike. IMDB's list of action films slated for 2010 is undoubtedly a hazy look into the future, but I did find some items of interest while going through it. Here are some notes, and I'll probably check the list again late this year to see what else has emerged. If you know of anything I missed, let me know! Films with a scheduled release date: The Book of Eli, January 15th: Post-apocalyptic. I think I saw a woman wearing a sword in the trailer, so I'm putting it on the list. Here's the official site with the trailer.

• Whiteout

  Grace

  15 Sep 2009 | 10:24 am

  I saw Whiteout by myself, in a nearly empty theater, in the afternoon. My perfect film-viewing experience. I'm likely giving it a more positive review than it's getting in most forums, and that may be why. Whiteout's main character is U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko, played by Kate Beckinsale. That would make her the heroine (it also makes her the only woman in the film). Her first scene, for absolutely no plot-driven reason, features her stripping out of full cold weather gear and taking a shower. Not exactly an auspicious beginning. It does get better. The beginning shower scene is very much in…

• 
  Boudoir Mon Cheri

• Boudoir Holiday Specials! {Houston Boudoir Photography}

  admin

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am

  (Imagine a pretty picture here – I don’t have one on my laptop to add to this post, so I’ll add one later! Every post is better with a photo!) Boudoir season is upon us! Not just Christmas, but all the way through Valentine’s Day! So I am kicking off the latest round of specials that will cover both! All sessions are available at your home, the hotel of your choice* -or- at the studio! And to kick it off RIGHT — book your session between today and Black Friday (Nov 20-27, 2009), and take $100 OFF! All right, lets get to the good stuff! Sweet & Sassy Session!

• 2009 Holiday Specials – What do YOU Want?

  admin

  21 Oct 2009 | 6:25 pm

  I was working on the Holiday Specials for 2009, and I realized it might be even more fun to get your feedback on what you are looking for! So here is your chance — complete the poll below between now and Monday, October 26, 2009 and we’ll listen to you and build the new round of specials around YOUR wishes! What would you like to see for the 2009 Holiday Boudoir Specials?(poll) I can’t WAIT to hear what you’re looking for!

• The White Sheet Sessions!

  admin

  8 Jun 2009 | 3:12 pm

  In the past year of Boudoir sessions, I’ve discovered that some of my absolute favorite photos are the most simple, the most pure – ones that involve nothing more than a white sheet or towel. No outfits. Just beauty. (Makeup in the above photo by Jennifer Aronson.) In honor of this, I’ve decided to add a White Sheet Session to my package lineup! THE WHITE SHEET SESSION 1 hour photo shoot at the studio in the Heights. No outfits photographed – just a white sheet. Your choice of one of the following: 20 page coffee table book, 8×10 or 10×10 in size, in our artistic…

• Ms. E’s Maternity Session – Boudoir Inspired Photography, Houston TX

  admin

  11 Mar 2009 | 7:11 am

  I’ve been offering boudoir sessions for eight months now, and in that time I’ve had a lot of sessions that are somehow related to babies — several of my clients have talked about how they are trying to get pregnant. One of my clients was just a few days pregnant when we did her session – she didn’t even know it yet. Ms. E came to me shortly after she found out she was pregnant and asked if she could do a boudoir session because she wanted to capture how she looked before her baby was born. I immediately asked her if she would be willing to pose for me when she…

• Laughter is the Most Fun! Boudoir Photography in Houston, Texas

  admin

  15 Jan 2009 | 5:17 am

  I always try to find something that will make us laugh at our boudoir session. I have my arsenal of stupid jokes – I can never remember jokes, so the ones I do remember are all very lame and therefore hysterical. Fortunately, Mrs. L liked to laugh just as much as I did, so we had *so* much fun at her session! She opted to do her session at her house, so we could incorporate things from their everyday life into the shoot. It was a ton of fun! Especially when we started imagining what the neighbors must be thinking if they were looking through the windows. I end up standing on things to…

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  finslippy

• Once again, here's more rambling about stuff I'm doing that's not here

  Alice Bradley

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:21 am

  I have an essay in the December issue of The Sun! It's called "Eighteen Attempts at Writing About a Miscarriage," and it's about how much I love unicorns. I can hear some of you grumbling, is she still talking about that miscarriage, for Pete's sake? or probably that's my Inner Critic bashing me again, but anyway I actually wrote this quite a while ago. Now shut your mouth, Inner Critic. Anyway, this essay was originally accepted at another magazine, and they were incredibly gung ho about it and it was amazing to see my work get that kind of reaction, and then…

• Processing

  Alice Bradley

  10 Nov 2009 | 8:33 am

  So it turns out that I can write a book and also do other things, but writing a book plus anything else equals total disaster for the rest of my life. The last couple of weeks, I’ve been working on the new column for Redbook (the first one will appear in the January 2010 issue), so I neglected some other matters. Like remembering to eat, or talking to people. Also writing in this here blog. And. And I just stared into space for about fifteen minutes while I tried to think of something else to write. Listen. I know you didn’t need to know that. I realize you are not reading this as I…

• Ladies and gentlemen: we have a book deal.

  Alice Bradley

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:57 pm

  I am more than a little excited to announce the following bit of news: In the fall of 2010 (probably), St. Martin's Press will be publishing LET'S PANIC ABOUT BABIES!: How To Endure and Possibly Triumph over the Adorable Interloper Who Will Ruin Your Body, Destroy Your Life, Melt Your Brain, and Finally Turn You into a Worthwhile Human Being (Actually, that's the entire book. There you go!) The book will, naturally, be written by Eden Marriott Kennedy and myself. If you're wondering, "Hey. Didn't Eden and Alice just launch that website? How did this happen so…

• Learning opportunities are everywhere

  Alice Bradley

  29 Oct 2009 | 12:00 pm

  Henry and I got on the subway and sat next to a man who was, it soon became clear, mentally unwell. Specifically, he was railing against people who were not there, and using all manner of bad words. So I suggested that we move, and we got up and moved, and that was that. Henry was chatting with me and anyone who'd look at him about Bionicles and I was sure he didn't notice a thing. A few minutes later he asked, "What was wrong with that man?" So I went on to explain how sometimes people are sick in their heads, and how sad and upsetting is for them. Henry: Why did we move? Me: Well, he seemed…

• Elsewhere

  Alice Bradley

  27 Oct 2009 | 7:16 am

  I and many of my fellow parenting Federated Media authors are working with sponsor Microsoft Office to highlight how we use Office in our everyday parenting-type duties. In the Finslippy household, we’ve recently discovered the Joys of PowerPoint for creating storybooks. Kid's Storybook in Powerpoint by FinslippyView more presentations from Alice Bradley. I've written a longer post over on Slideshare about the why and the how of such a project, so I encourage you to check it out. More here as soon as I can. I’m sitting on some news that’s so good it is actually physically impossible…

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  Petunia Face

• Said Cheese

  Petunia Face

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:57 am

  Much of what I love about motherhood (other than the actual child) was at some point sold to me wrapped in convention and tied with a cliche. Shrinky dinks, matching mother/daughter aprons, the two of us walking on the beach talking about that not-so-fresh feeling (which hasn't happened yet but probably will in 20 years, of that I am pretty certain). In a world in which I rarely know what I am doing I find safety in string cheese. Which is why I love Zoey's school picture--her first. Good old dorky school pictures, soft focus frizz, just check out those hands! Clasped, all with an envelope…

• Warmer Colder Cold.

  Petunia Face

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:09 am

  Sometimes I forget what I want and what I feel. What I did or didn't do. Like maybe I'll be standing in my kitchen feeling discombobulated and I don't quite know why, my tummy kinda' slippery. Did I forget to pay the cable bill? Is there a new ding on my bumper? Did somebody say something off to me? And I run through the possibilities right there like a grocery list. When I was little we had a cat named Dumb Darryl. I don't know why except that when he entered a room he often looked as if he forgot what brought him there. Dumb Darryl Chicken Liver Whip Whap Sick Sack, like a song, and we…

• Because Inside of Me Lives a 12 Yr. Old Boy, His Ambition to Become Dungeon Master Vying with His Desire to Spend More Alone Time in the Bathroom.

  Petunia Face

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am

  If you had to (the best sentences start with if, n'est ce pas?), would you make out with this guy...(I mean, this is verging on racist black face here, right?) The make up/make out must be full-on grinding, or as the kids say, macking. Or maybe the kids only said that ten years ago like on Degrassi High, or something. I don't know. The point is your faces are mashed together, tongues down each other's throat, humdidah humdidah for the 81 minutes it takes you to watch From Justin to Kelly out of the corner of your eye. And the whole time the guy is sporting this jacket: Or would you rather…

• Mostly True Tuesdays

  Petunia Face

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:34 am

  I was wearing the outfit he got me for Christmas at Contempo Casuals which was a big deal because 17 year old boys don't usually buy their girlfriends clothes and my friends, they all squealed when they heard. The top was orange and the pants were printed. I did not like the outfit but I wore it and we sat outside of school while he held the slip of paper with the phone number in his hand.I want my car back, he said, so I gave him ten cents and he called the guy who he'd sold it to. I sat on the curb in the parking lot. I remember the gravel around my shoes but I cannot remember the print of…

• What I Did This Weekend (In Addition to Inventing Sliced Bread)

  Petunia Face

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:16 am

  All weekend long I have been writing this post in my head and laughing--oh, how I laughed! God, I'm good, I thought, and maybe popped another Tylenol Cold and Flu. Next thing I knew I would open my eyes and it would be 5 hours later, me struggling to breathe out of whatever nostril had an airway opened one millimeter. Quite frankly I'm surprised I didn't rub my nose down to a nub, what with all that blowing and hacking and blowing and blowing. Seriously--in my head this was funny. The flu? A freaking hoot. I had some good ideas this weekend, courtesy of a fever. Like this one: I want to…

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  Our Bodies Our Blog

• New Mammogram Guidelines Are Causing Confusion, But Here’s Why They Make Sense

  New government guidelines recommending that women start screening for breast cancer at age 50 instead of 40 set off a round of criticism this week and caused much confusion for women who for years have been told that early detection saves lives. But a number of women's health organizations, including Our ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]

• CDC Officially Reverses HPV Vaccine Requirement for Immigrant Women

  Last week, the CDC issued revised vaccination criteria for U.S. immigration which will reverse the requirement that female immigrants seeking permanent residence or entry to the U.S. be immunized against HPV. The new criteria require that any mandated vaccine must be age-appropriate for the immigrant applicant, and must either protect against ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]

• Judy Norsigian Featured on “Liberadio(!)”

  OBOS co-founder and executive director Judy Norsigian has been in Nashville, TN, for the weekend, and this morning she was a guest on  Liberadio(!), Mary Mancini and Freddie O'Connell's local political radio show. Topics covered include the history of the organization and the need for its work (including the landmark book ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]

• Searching for Credible Health Information Online?: Ask Rachel

  In our second self-referential moment of the week, I wanted to point to several posts by OBOS blogger Rachel Walden that are featured in this month's MedLib’s Round, a monthly blog carnival that highlights some of the best writing on medical librarianship. From the carnival intro: A 2008 study by the Center ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]

• If the Shoe Commercial Doesn’t Fit, Don’t Buy It: Reebok Ads High on Objectification, Low on Value

  by Meg Young Our Bodies Ourselves intern Reebok recently launched a new ad campaign for its women’s “Easy Tone” sneakers that is definitely not focused on feet. The shoe's selling point is that the sole is supposedly constructed in such a way that it works the wearer’s hamstrings, calves and glutes ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]

• 
  Feministing

• What We Missed.

  Samhita

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:41 pm

  Sexual harassment is a big problem on the NYC subway. Just a sad story about a young man released from prison after wrongfully serving 17 years for a murder he didn't commit. Students at UC Berkeley are striking because US Regents has approved a 32% tuition increase. A study from UNFP about why women are hit hardest via climate change. Latoya on what is being taught in college rape protection programs. A ten year old in Arkansas is refusing to stand up for the pledge of allegiance until gay marriage is legal. In solidarity my brother.

• Friday Feminist Fuck Yeah: National Women's Studies Association Conference

  Samhita

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

  **Also, something I didn't mention-a shout out to my undergraduate adviser at the Women's Studies Department at SUNY Albany, Vivien Ng, who I saw after 10 years and facilitated me in finding my feminist courage to speak on intersectionality. This weeks Friday Feministing Fuck Yeah goes out to the National Women's Studies Association Conference which was last weekend in Atlanta, GA and I was there with Miriam and Courtney, and we have a really good time. I had a really transformative experience this year meeting several really well known feminist theorists that have influenced my work over the…

• Suicide ends transgender lives too

  Jos

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pm

  The focus of Transgender Day of Remembrance is on those killed by others because of anti-trans fear and hatred. However, it is worth noting that too many trans folks lose their lives to suicide as well. The number of trans folks who have attempted suicide ranges from about 30 percent to over 50 percent in studies. One study found that 83 percent of trans folks have considered suicide. According to another study: the risk factors associated with attempted suicide among transgender people were younger age (under 25), depression or a history of substance abuse, forced sex, and gender-based…

• Precious, my Precious: Black Female Citizenship, Complexity, and the Politics of Unrelenting Survival

  Samhita

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:53 am

  [Editor's Note] I haven't seen Precious yet, but I have read about it endlessly and already cried just reading reviews. One of the most powerful interpretations I have read so far on Precious comes from my good friend, colleague and mentor Malkia Cyril from the Center for Media Justice. With her permission I am posting it in full here (cross-posted from the CMJ blog). It was also posted at WIMNblog. As I sit against the florescence of the television screen, watching the conservative Fox News pundit Glenn Beck drive political nails into progressive leaders using the fear of U.S. blacks and…

• Kate Moss, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels..."

  Samhita

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:44 am

  What a sad state of affairs. Well, I disagree Kate! But then again, I don't make millions off of being thin, so I guess starving does feel good for her, since she is paid to do it. Seriously, sad! Food is good and we need it to survive. This makes me feel sad for Kate Moss, I mean, even though I know she is rich and famous and got to make out with Johnny Depp, but she is the product of a system that values thinness over her other attributes. And a pretty high value at that, since she is one of the top paid super models. It would be nice to think that maybe privately her self worth is not also…

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  blue milk

• There is a reason why I have an entire category dedicated to ‘motherhood sux’

  blue milk

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:01 am

  Because sometimes motherhood really does suck, and not just the times when the patriarchy is ganging up on you either. Crafty mothers make spectacularly beautiful blogs but something about the unrelenting beauty gives me pause, because really, day in and day out, no break in sight, giving and giving and giving, and no sign of a struggle. Are you alive in there? It makes me twitchy, though I realise the point of these blogs is to give their authors and readers a place to celebrate the beauty not the agony of the home-maker experience. And so my friend, who loves her crafty blogs, was pleased…

• The co-sleeper’s sex life

  blue milk

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:45 pm

  I want to preface this piece with this and my response to it, which is I Have No Idea How. When you’re a co-sleeping parent nosey parkers want to know about your sex life. Not judging, I understand the whole nosey parker thing. How do co-sleepers manage to have sex? How does baby number two or three or four even happen? Nosey park no more. Depending on the age of the child and how discrete your style is, co-sleepers can have sneaky sex in the bed while the baby sleeps nearby – tricky, yes. Or they can tiptoe into the bedroom and remove the sleeping child, placing its sleeping self…

• The free pass for judging parents

  blue milk

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:24 am

  Kate Harding’s piece Screaming toddler on a plane is looking for a free pass to do some parent judging. Harding doesn’t want to be a shit about it, so could you cut her some slack? By the time she lists her caveats you probably can. No judging child outbursts in public if they also involve harried mothers, tired and cranky kids, children with special needs, children who might be in pain, children who are frightened, mothers who are at least trying, parents who are in the process of teaching their child something, even if that process is not obvious to you the observer etc etc. I…

• Sixth

  blue milk

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:56 am

  The Sixth Carnival of Feminist Parenting is up over at Mothers for Women’s Lib. This is a carnival with quite a few blogs I am not familiar with so happy clicking for me. You can click too. Yes you can. And here’s a picture for you. A belated Halloween photo. Halloween was my pumpkin’s third night and it was starting to collapse a little, thus the sticks inside halting the cave-in. But check out how gorgeously wizened the cat was getting by that time. Oh those spindly legs. Nice.

• It is alive.. and still spreading misinformation

  blue milk

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:51 pm

  Aww nostalgia. I heard that old blue milk myth again (sometimes the story changes to ‘green milk’), it was in the context of being given ‘advice’ for New Year’s Eve. You know, in case I was considering drinking alcohol and endangering my precious, precious baby. I didn’t correct them. I couldn’t be bothered, we’d already disagreed on so much.

• 
  Big Fat Blog - The fat acceptance weblog.

• Like talking about fat rights?

  CarrieP

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:21 am

  Rachel of The-F-Word.org needs your help! As the media contact for The Fat Rights Coalition and a personal blogger who writes on issues of eating disorders and body acceptance, I field lots of public relations requests from media outlets worldwide, from international luminaries like CNN and The New York Times to small town papers looking to make a local connection on a larger issue. I’ve participated in some of these public debates in the past, but because I am a journalist myself, I have made the decision to limit my involvement to helping my fellow journalists out behind-the-scenes and…

• Fat Studies Reader event in NYC!

  CarrieP

  16 Nov 2009 | 1:25 pm

  Those of you in NYC, get in there! I wish I could go... Published by NYU Press, The Fat Studies Reader is a milestone achievement, bringing together fifty-three diverse voices to explore a wide range of topics related to body weight. From the historical construction of fatness to public health policy, from job discrimination to social class disparities, from chick-lit to airline seats, this collection covers it all. Edited by two leaders in the field, Esther Rothblum and Sondra Solovay, foreword by Marilyn Wann, The Fat Studies Reader is an invaluable resource that provides a historical…

• Fat Studies on Colbert

  withoutscene

  13 Oct 2009 | 10:10 am

  According to the wonderful Susan Stinson, Amy Farrell, a contributor to the upcoming Fat Studies Reader, is going to be on The Colbert Report on Wednesday at 11:30 pm. She will make arguments against charging higher insurance rates for people with higher BMIs. She also has a book coming out soon called Fat Shame. How exciting! In my letter to Jon Stewart after the fat suit debacle I encouraged him to bring fat activists and scholars on his show. It is great to see Colbert is willing to do this; however, he is known for heckling his guests, keeping true to his satire of conservative talk show…

• Dear Weight Watchers, I have two letters for you.

  CarrieP

  12 Oct 2009 | 9:51 pm

  I intended to write about this article by Japanese scientists that says fat people are more likely to live longer than thin people (yay fatties!), but I got sidetracked by how annoyed I was that we are still wasting so much time, energy and cash trying to figure out what size our bodies need to be so we can live the longest, healthiest, happiest life when millions of people in the world are genuinely suffering. Which led me to this: You know what I would like to see? I would like to see Weight Watchers STFU about fighting your body's own signals of hunger and actually do something to FIGHT…

• Shining a light on Fat Love

  CarrieP

  28 Sep 2009 | 8:21 am

  Are you or your significant other Fat? Are you in super magical love? Go here and send your story and photo to Lesley for inclusion in The Museum of Fat Love! If, like me, you are perpetually single and every so often wonder if being fat might not just disqualify you from love altogether, check out the gallery. It will restore your faith in the possibility of love for every body. Srsly.

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  Pam's House Blend - Front Page

• Vicki Estrada: Transgender Day Of Remembrance Speech, San Diego

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:15 am

  My very, very close friend, Vicki Estrada, gave the keynote address at the International Transgender Day Of Remembrance memorial event, held at the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Community Center. Below is the video of her speech (recorded by Vicki's wife Lynda), and the prepared text for the speech. She begins her speech with the present reality that some hate us all in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and she ends her speech with a vision of hope. Oh how I wish that this day was not necessary. We just heard some trans hatred personal stories that we…

• Signer of Manhattan Declaration wanted to jail gays and lesbians

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:58 am

  crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters By now we have all heard about the Manhattan Declaration put out by various religious right figures and groups urging, among other things, non-cooperation with laws that in any way recognize same sex couples. It has been condemned in many circles and for good reason. Wayne Besen of Truthwinsout.org said the following: “This is a disturbing call for anarchy from a group of radical clerics and activists who believe they don’t have play by the same rules as other taxpaying Americans." And according to the blog Instaputz,…

• Colorado car dealer's sign tries to tie Obama with terrorism and Ft. Hood tragedy

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:30 am

  The 2008 campaign was great for armchair psychologists as we saw a good slice of color-aroused America that had been hiding its true feelings about the prospect of the country being led by a man of color. Is it me, or have the out-and-proud racist bigot stories have continued in a steady flow post-Inauguration as well? With Barack Obama now resideng at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, these same people have now created a rag-tag bunch of overlapping groups clearly untethered from reality and fact-based discourse -- teabaggers, birthers, death panel wailers, flat-earthers, womb controllers,…

• Blogmistress SOS: vote for your favorite progressive blogger to go on Air America's cruise

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Regulars at the coffeehouse know that I'm burned out, fried and literally fighting all sorts of health BS of late, from the inevitable inability to balance the demands of my day job (hey, at least I have one to be thankful for), writing for the blog, along with travel to blog-related events, interviews and such. So here's a chance for my dear readers to force me into taking a vacation! The good folks at Air America have let me know that I've been queued up for this:You've been nominated by Air America readers as their favorite progressive blogger in the Air America Cruise Contest. You've…

• Tackling Dummy - "Christians are the new Negro"

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:41 pm

  Cross-posted from: http://www.tips-q.com/1620540-tackling-dummy-christians-are-new-negro The rabidly anti-gay Ken Hutcherson, a former Seattle Seahawks linebacker, is pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington.  I have speculated that "Hutch," as he likes to be called, took too many hits while wearing an ill-fitting helmet. Hutch has now turned to the stimulating pages of WorldNetDaily in order to proclaim; Church: Stop being 'evangelly-fish.' The main theme of Hutch's polemic is that gays are hijacking the struggles of African-Americans:It has been said loudly and…

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  Simply Stated By RealSimple.com

• Shop Prismera For The Holidays

  juleewilson

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm

  I had the most amazing meeting this week with the creative force behind the company Prismera--a jewelry, stationary and beyond collection that is both beautiful and original.  The company's founder, Laura Su, designs everything she creates. So you know you're getting an original piece of art work...no copying or stock patterns here. Su graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration--and if you know anything about RISD, then you know it's one of the best art schools in the world with amazing alumni. Su's vision: "The word 'Prismera' comes from a combination of…

• Giving Thanks - A (Very Big) Family Affair

  kateparker

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pm

  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. In addition to all the yummy food that comes with it, I'm a fan of any occasion that makes me stop and think about all the things for which I am so very thankful. This year, it's all about family.  This year, I'm particularly thrilled because my entire (gigantic) extended family (on my mother's side) is going to be celebrating Thanksgiving together - dozens of aunts and uncles and cousins and even a few new babies that have arrived this year are all flying down to Florida, and my mother (being the saint that she is) is hosting Thanksgiving…

• The Art of Racing in the Rain: Chapters 27-40

  kathleenharris

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:34 pm

  This is a tough section of the book for Denny; and when his will is really tested. Eve’s passing happens so quietly—were you prepared for it? I have to admit I still got choked up even though I knew it was coming. The other big plot event was the beginning of the custody battle with the Twins. I wasn’t surprised—it was obvious that’s what they were trying to do from the moment Eve’s sickness came to light. And I sensed that something with the cousin was going to come back to haunt Denny, but I can’t believe how far they took it. I do feel like Enzo gets a little lost in this…

• What Are Your Family Rituals?

  corynne_corbett

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:43 am

  This holiday season I'm looking forward to my extended family gathering in Connecticut on Christmas Day. For the longest time it was the ritual that we celebrated as an extended family and it could be relied on like clockwork. There was no question that everyone within a healthy driving distance would be in attendance. As our family has set up outposts across the country (and others have passed on), the guest list constantly changes from year-to-year. So now when we are all together it is that much more special. I come from a family where our grandparents spent a lot of time telling us…

• When shopping online, do you use live chat?

  kristinbrandt

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  With the holidays fast approaching, my thoughts turn to gifts. Or, more to the point, how to get all of my shopping done with everything else that is on the to-do list. The answer, of course, is that I'm going to be doing most (all?) of my shopping online. And while shopping from the comfort of my living room may be the greatest invention known to a time-starved mom, that doesn't mean it is without problems. Problems, that often can be resolved with the help of another great invention – live chat with a customer service representative. The first time I tried live chat was while…

• 
  BlogHer

• Putting the Thanks Back Into Thanksgiving

  Alanna Kellogg

  21 Nov 2009 | 1:22 pm

  Last year, Sandy from the food blog "Eat Real" noticed that November was the invisible month tucked between October's Halloween and December's Christmas. She resolved to change that. "Last week I was shopping in Target, when I was struck by the odd juxtaposition of aisles hung with Halloween costumes and home decorations next to aisles twinkling with displays of Christmas lights. Christmas . . . already? I thought. It wasn't even Halloween yet, and I was already in a position to worry about whether I'd get my Christmas cards out on time. Leaving Target, I swung by one of the large…

• Five Steps to Making a Holiday Memory Scrapbook

  debra roby

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

  One sure thing about the holidays: as the family gathers together there will be a discussion -or worse argument- about something that happened at a past holiday gathering. The kids received duplicate gifts 2 years ago -or was it three? Uncle Joe hit the eggnog a bit too hard and ended up sleeping it off under the tree when?? A simple way to help provide evidence of all the fun-filled events of holidays past is start NOW to document the evidence -uhm create a holiday memory scrapbook.  But how shall you do this? 1.  Decide on theme for the book.  YES, these are holiday books…

• Breast Cancer Screening: Are women just too emotional for mammograms before 50?

  Catherine Morgan

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:43 am

  Unless you've been under a rock all week, you have probably heard about the government task force that has recommended new guidelines for breast cancer screening.  It goes something like this... If you're younger than 50 or older than 75, you no longer have to worry your pretty little head about breast cancer, or getting those pesky boob squishing mammograms. Hallelujah!  I wonder how long it will be before we go back to giving women Valium for chest pain?  Who needs preventative care when it's not 100% effective anyway?  Hell, just go ahead and give us anti-anxiety meds…

• Winter Skin Tips

  Kelly Wickham

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:15 pm

  Every year around the same time my skin starts to change. I don't seem to notice it until I'm trying to apply makeup and it doesn't quite "sit right" on my face. It's not that this sneaks up on me. It's more that I'm thinking it's always other environmental changes and work becomes so busy in the fall months that it appears that I've not been taking care of my skin.In order to combat these changes I've found it helpful to stick with a skin care regiment that is consistent, right for my skin, and full of moisturizer. It's the moisturizer that is one of the tricks for me. Here are my hard and…

• Step away from the rough stuff for a minute and smile with me

  Mata H

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:19 pm

  You know the feeling. There you are, waist deep in the troubles of the world, the stress of your life, and you just need to change the channel! Even for a minute! It has been a long week. The news has not all been good. I was haunted by images of tragedy and violence and hatred this week. The news seemed so full of hard things. I needed to "lift my eyes unto the hills" and find some higher ground, some inspiration, some sights and sounds and blogs that made me feel uplifted, encouraged. I found myself going back to this video, a recording of "Stand By Me". You Tube says: "From the…

• 
  Gizmodiva.com

• Win a HP ENVY 13 notebook

  deepa

  23 Nov 2009 | 11:22 pm

  Feeling lucky today? Then here’s your chance to arouse the envy of all by winning the HP Envy 13. Laptops are no more a subject of envy, I agree. But finding the perfect notebook with looks to match is not that effortless. And HP is out to woo us by giving away its hottest 13 inch notebook preloaded with Windows 7 to a lucky reader. We want our readers to participate with vigor to win a HP Envy 13. Only a fool will let go of a chance to own this slim and attractive notebook worth $1,700 and more for free. Grab the opportunity by simply telling us about “The first thing that makes you…

• Nene Anegasaki, a video game character gets married to a real man

  Shruti

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:41 am

  Many a times we have come across Dating video games but we have never taken them seriously. A man from Japan recently traveled to Guam in order to legally marry his virtual girlfriend in a dating simulator game called Konami's Love Plus for Nintendo DS. The character's name is Nene Anegasaki. This happy couple will hold their reception in Japan on the 22nd of November which will be broadcasted live on the Internet. [therawfeed]

• Calvin Klein's Euphoria fragrance comes with gourmet chocolates this holiday season

  kim

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:20 am

  If you like Calvin Klein and chocolate, you are going to be one happy soul. This 2009 holiday season you will find a complimentary box of Lake Champlain gourmet chocolates with Euphoria fragrance purchase. That's such a tempting offer. It's desirable in every way possible. Chocolate is euphoric, so this is pretty apt. You can also try the new Euphoria Edt fragrance which is a hit with celebrities like Giuliana Rancic, Molly Sims, and Kara Dioguardi. [Fragrantica]

• Artist gives his house the checkered Burberry look

  kim

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:15 am

  The check design is a big hit with me, but that only extends to my clothes and maybe some upholstery. I wouldn't dream of painting my entire house in this design. However, Jens Werner has spent thousands of pounds painting his house in checks. He has converted his home, a former public toilet building in Larvik, Norway into a "gathering place for happy people". He covered the outside of his house in this design over several weeks. I must say, the finished result is quite appealing and eye catching. It looks like a Burberry house. [TheSun]

• Chill Pill spells convenience for your notebook

  kim

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:08 am

  Most notebooks have a heating problem, I know mine did. I'm always on the look out for a solution to this problem. The Chill Pill which is a universal notebook stand that provides a more comfortable typing position and better air circulation while still being small enough to fit in your pocket is a good option. All you have to do is pull apart the two non-scratching anti-slip rubber halves and place them on the desk under your notebook. You can type more easily and your laptop stays cool as well. It is extremely convenient and a mobile option. [Everki]

• 
  Feministe

• Your Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

  Jill

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:58 pm

  Thanksgiving is coming up and I am hosting for the first time. This means I have no idea what to make. Any great recipe suggestions?

• Transgender Day of Remembrance 2009

  Cara

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:45 am

  Today is the Eleventh Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Today is a day to remember the transgender people (or people perceived by their killers to be trans) who have died as a result of hatred and violence, and as a result of the hateful and violent cultures that support the perpetrators. Today is a day to remember those whose deaths authorities and media attempt to sweep under the rug, whose identities are devalued and erased once they are gone, whose murders usually go unsolved. Today is a day to read their names, and not forget. Here is a list of the 162 known trans people who were…

• Is taxing plastic surgery sexist?

  Jill

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  Part of the funding for the Senate’s health care bill will come from a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery. The tax would generate $5 billion over ten years, and would only tax procedures where surgery “is not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.” It sounds fine and good on its face to tax unnecessary procedures — especially those that are primarily accessed by the upper middle class. I couldn’t find statistics on the average income of…

• The Abortion Compromise in the Senate Health Care Bill

  Jill

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am

  As you have probably read by now, the Senate introduced its version of the health care bill yesterday. As expected, it’s good and bad — it includes a public option, but leaves a lot of people out in the cold, and opens up the healthcare debate to an other four years (at least) of what FDL aptly calls “partisan football” (and I would recommend reading their take on the bill — it’s the most comprehensive and critical I’ve seen). 31 million more people, though, would gain health care coverage, and there would be expansions of Medicaid and CHIP. The good…

• Recollecting and collecting ourselves

  Chally

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

  I watch how those around me do activism, and I wonder about how to serve ourselves and the world better. I so often see people hurtling along, trying to cram in as much as possible, falling apart, hitting the dust. I have no problem with trying to do as much social justice work as possible; what an immensely valuable thing to do. But I think we can do it better, and leave ourselves a little more intact at the end of the day. How often do you stop and reflect on what work you’ve done? I think it’s not only important to do so in terms of assessing how well you’ve been doing, but as a…

• 
  Breakup Girl

• (No) Call to Action

  Getting back out there on March 9, 1998... Dear Breakup Girl, It's been almost a year, and I still feel sick to my stomach when I see the answering machine with zero messages. I know we can never bet back together, but I keep waiting for him to say he made a ...

• Trying to disconnect

  Unlimited calling on March 9, 1998... Dear Breakup Girl, I am turning to you to get another viewpoint -- hopefully one from someone not so closely involved in this mess. My friends and family all say "just hang up on the sucka!" Yes, you've guessed it, I'm getting divorced from my husband of ...

• Talk to the hand

  According to former FBI agent and flashy author Joe Navarro --“the nonverbal expert”-- two major body-language indicators can hint at whether your mate is “still into you” (Navarro’s words, not mine -- can we please retire this expression? Also, “cougar”? Thanks) or whether your relationship is headed south. As Navarro explains ...

• Barbie, eat a sandwich!

• Get engaged by Christmas? (Christmas 1954?)

  When will he pop the question? Many straight women in long-term committed relationships begin to ask herself -- and all of her friends -- this question. (Every straight woman, if you believe the hype.) When will he do it? Why hasn't he yet? What can I do do make this ...

• 
  Tango Diva Featured Stories

• Yellowstone, USA: Elderhostels Good Option for Mature Solos

  If you are a physically fit baby-boomer like me, you might be thinking that you are still too young for Elderhostel. Or maybe you’ve never even heard of Elderhostel. Sounds like “youth hostel”—right? The founders purposely chose the name “Elderhostel," because they were inspired by the youth hostel concept—safe, affordable lodgings and opportunities to meet fellow travelers.

• Kenya: A Walk on the Wild Side in Loita Hills

  On most African safaris, the “Big Five” of African big game—including Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino—is the main attraction.

• Divas Love Sam's Sassy Sweatsedos!

  Samantha Berman is currently one of two head honchos at Sweatsedo.com, the premier purveyor of the leisure lifestyle and one-of-a-kind loungewear. Before this, she worked for a handful of years in film and commercial production.

• Stephanie's So-Must Holiday Haves!

  Oprah has her favorite things, and I have my So-Must Holiday Haves, for you or your lesser halves! These hand-picked products run the gamut from family items to adults only, and they just might make those special people on your list smile.

• Kauai, USA: Magical Hanalei Bay

  Kauai has always held an allure for me. Although I’ve visited the better known Hawaiian Islands, I had yet to visit Kauai, the Garden Island.

• 
  Latest entries from leahj.blog-city.com

• The Shidduch Crisis for Liberal Jews

  Leah Jones

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:54 am

  I was on instant messenger with a good friend this morning and we were lamenting the state of dating for liberal Jews in Chicago. I commented that the shidduch crisis in the Reform movement is that nobody is doing any matchmaking. We're left to our own devices - aka Jdate - and we struggle through alone. Okay, some background.Shidduch dating in the orthodox Jewish world is dating specifically to find your future spouse. When people make a shidduch, as I understand it, they are matchmaking. Making an introduction between two singles they think might hit it off. There's a bunch of talk…

• Did I mention that I'm in Israel?

  Leah Jones

  8 Nov 2009 | 10:32 pm

  After I got home from Israel this summer, I had it in my head that I would return in November. Not for any particular reason, just that I would return. I started keeping my schedule clear and talking to friends about planning a trip. Finally a friend nudged me into "buying the damn ticket." That night I found one on Turkish Airways for $700 and booked the ticket.Here I am. In Tel Aviv for the month. I was able to sublet an apartment with a great location. I've got a few workshops planned and a lot of free time. I hope to write a lot, see friends, cook a few good dinners and just…

• We Live In Public

  Leah Jones

  24 Oct 2009 | 11:14 pm

  "About two years ago, I looked around and realized that what I had documented back then was a physical metaphor of how people would react to the Internet, which Josh predicted would eventually take over our lives." Ondi Timoner, Director, We Live In Public  Let me repeat that..."a physical metaphor of how people would react to the Internet..."Today I went with 7 others (5 Twitter friends, one client introduced via a Twitter connection and a friend of the client) to see the documentary We Live In Public at the Music Box Theater. We Live In Public covers the two final…

• Trip Number Five, Chapter Number One

  Leah Jones

  22 Oct 2009 | 9:28 pm

  While I was at The Conversation in Baltimore, I read the few existing chapters from the novel I hope to write. The feed back was very encouraging, so I'm planning on working on it while I'm in Israel. Yep, I'm going back. I have a few webinars and workshops to attend to while I'm in town, but a big part of the trip will be writing. It isn't NaNoWriMo, because I'm not starting from scratch, but I do hope to add serious amounts of text to my draft.Here's chapter one of my as of yet unfinished novel. The Matzah Holiday“Why didn’t you tell me this was the…

• "I'm nobody special."

  Leah Jones

  13 Oct 2009 | 10:46 pm

  "Please don't blog about this." I said or he said or we both said to each other. We agreed and then went to our blogs and made obtuse references to what we'd promised each other we wouldn't blog. That was years ago, but as I tweeted to my friend Evelyn today, I blog very little of the deeply personal these days in an effort to keep a private life while I live publicly.  I am both flattered and embarrassed when I meet someone that has read my blog or, more likely, follows me on Twitter. It connects immediately to a moment when I was a few years out of High School and…

• 
  Notes to self

• Telling the Story

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:22 am

  Notes for the last chapter of my memoir, Ring of Fire: our emails from March to June, 1995. The end is —and was—the beginning.

• Dream Girls

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:32 am

  One of the amazing things about having my dad for a dad was watching him pick up a piece of blank typing paper (or a No. 9 envelope, or a cocktail napkin), pull out his black ballpoint pen, and start scribbling notes. It was amazing, because you knew something was taking shape on that scrap of paper that was going to gather people and energy to it, until it became real: a book, a television show,

• Winning Tomorrow

  11 Nov 2009 | 6:27 am

  In the middle of our Saturday afternoon in St. Louis, I logged into our checking account, and had a mini anxiety attack upon realizing that the actual balance was somewhat shy of my estimate, my estimate being based on a complicated algorithm of optimism and denial. Patrick had made a deposit earlier in the week, and instead of getting out a pen and paper, and budgeting the money, which is a very

• Dance Me to the End of Love

  8 Nov 2009 | 3:29 pm

  I plan to live to be a very old lady, with a great many grandchildren. They'll think I was always ancient, but one day I'll show them these pictures, and they'll know that my hair was once dark, and I knew true love, and in the last fiery sunset rays of my thirties, I sat in the Fox Theatre, and heard Leonard Cohen sing.

• Diving In.

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:58 am

  While this video of my friend Thomas Hudson was airing all over national television last weekend, Thomas himself was off with his chainsaw, cleaning up tornado debris in a nearby county, wondering what all the fuss was about. THE APATHY OF KIDS TODAY, I TELL YOU. He put out a statement today, in response to both the overwhelming positive accolades and the inevitable analysis by armchair heroes.

• 
  Immoral Matriarch

• Not much to say, but something has to be said.

  Maria

  18 Nov 2009 | 4:19 am

  Anissa. If you know her, you love her. It just cannot be helped. She’s one of those people whose spirits suck you in and hold you hostage. She’s my girl. The first time I physically met her, this past July, we grabbed each others tits. That was our handshake/hug/hello/nice to meet you in person. And for the rest of the weekend, they gravitated towards each other. [via.] Tell me that’s not special. (There was no alcohol involved) Anissa had a stroke yesterday and she’s in ICU. I am hoping and wishing and if I wasn’t blatantly atheist I’d be praying my…

• This is child abuse. In my opinion, at least.

  Maria

  10 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  My head hurts just watching it. And the language that she is using towards her child – I mean, I curse around my girls but I don’t curse AT my girls. All of it is just indicative of a bad situation. That mother needs parenting classes, among other things. I flagged this video on YouTube months ago. Apparently, they don’t think this is wrong or cruel or disgusting. So, I’m asking you – do you think this is child abuse? If you do, I suggest you flag it as well. If you don’t, pleaseeeeeeeee tell me what your thoughts on it are. Copyright © 2009 Immoral…

• “If he loved you, he wouldn’t have hit you.”

  Maria

  9 Nov 2009 | 6:32 am

  Bullshit. It’s such a common thing to say, but it’s not true. Not always. All relationships are different, just like the people in them are. It is very, very possible to hit someone that you love. Love and violence are not mutually exclusive. Just because a person is not capable of handling their anger in a proper way does not mean they do not care for you, and while I almost understand why someone would say this, I don’t. Not quite. They need to get help. It is never ok. But just because they did it, doesn’t mean they don’t. Maybe they don’t enough. Maybe…

• Rented: There Were Two

  Maria

  26 Oct 2009 | 9:00 pm

  This is an anonymous post from a dear blog friend of mine. My daughter was a miracle. I don’t mean that in the religious sense or even in a devoted parent sense. She was a scientific miracle. For a year my husband and I tried to get pregnant with her. We went to many doctors and had more tests than I can enumerate. I was diagnosed with “unexplained infertility”and put on the infertility treadmill. Nothing worked. Then six months later, while we were on vacation and had no medical intervention I got pregnant. If you have any inclination to say anything related to relaxing, shut your…

• Oh, you.

  Maria

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

  You are the perfect child. Now normally, when it comes to me doling out praise in braggadocios raves to strangers, it’s The Bella that gets most of it and you’re left with a “Oh, she’s just like me.” And you are, but that’s not what makes you perfect. It’s that you embody everything of a child there is to love: in every one that’s ever been adored on television and in movies, in every one that’s been described as ideal in pregnancy and parenting books, every bit the sweet happy child with the balloons floating just off the ground in the…

• 
  Outblush

• Marimekko Tuuli Pillow Case

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:40 am

  We're not about to pretend that all of our pillows match very well - which is probably because we have more of them than there are pillowcases in any normal...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Ginette_NY Mini Milky Disc Necklace

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  This highly unusual piece of jewelry leaves us guessing what the 'right' way to wear it is. This Ginette_NY Mini Milky Disc Necklace ($635) is a great two-charmed necklace that...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• E.L.F. Candy Shop Lip Tins in Frosting Fanatic

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:25 am

  We keep those who lip lock with us coming back for more by dabbing on E.L.F.'s Candy Shop Lip Tins in Frosting Fanatic ($2). We love the delicious taste of...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Kova & T Wolfy Blouse

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:20 am

  The Kova & T Wolfy Blouse ($160) is a great throw-on piece that will make you look pulled together in a fancy boho way. The cute frilly detailing on the...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Charlotte Ronson Zip Skirt

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  We love the multicolored Aztec pattern on this Charlotte Ronson Zip Skirt ($130) because we can pretty much get away with wearing it with nearly everything! A cute denim jacket,...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• 
  Splendicity » Accessories

• Handbags for the Younger Crowd

  Star Stevenson

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Are you at a loss as what to give your younger fashionista counterpart? If you want to give them their first designer bag or add to their handbag collection, any of the following bags would be a fantastic choice. They’re playful, trendy, stylish and the price points are pretty reasonable. Images: Bloomingdales Harajuku Lovers Paper Dolls Candy Tote ($78) Harajuku Lovers Kanji Dessert Hobo ($78) Images: Bloomingdales L.A.M.B. Signature Baron Artsy Shoulder Bag ($178) L.A.M.B. Ultraviolet Etoile Lambskin Hobo ($495) Images: Bloomingdales Juicy Couture Dreamin’ of Juicy Velour…

• Sass, Style & Substance

  Chloe Findlay-Harder

  21 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  For this week’s best of Sass, Style & Substance beauty & fashion news! Beauty Match Free Trial Offer: Clear LiftUltra Wrinkle Cream. A Touch of Blusher A Touch of Blusher reviews blushers from Lily Lolo. eye4style Things are getting “curiouser and curiouser” this season. eye4style tells all on the Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows! Splendicity Accessories Shoe designers have been combining some interesting materials to create booties & boots that are as stylish as they are warm. Have a stylish weekend! image: Stock.xchg Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new…

• Save on Gorjana Jewelry – Today Only!

  Chloe Findlay-Harder

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:28 pm

  Why wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to get  a great deal on some lovely jewelry? Gorjana Jewelry wants to treat you today! Until midnight tonight, you’ll save $20 off your order – as long as you enter the code “SPOILME20″ at the checkout. So what kind of goodies can you find at Gorjana?  Let’s browse through their only shop… The “Diamond Petal” necklace is available in their fine jewelry shop.  The necklace is made from 18kt yellow gold and features a single .025 kt diamond with a 16 inch chain. The “Madison” is a set of…

• A Stylish Bag for Busy Moms

  Star Stevenson

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:44 am

  Gone are the days of pastel coloured and cutesy printed baby bags. You know the ones with a billion pockets and pictures of baby bottles, animals and such all over – the ones that scream “I’m a diaper bag!“.  Now we’re seeing a lot more stylish options that can double has regular handbags when your kids grow up. Amy Michelle designs baby bags, travel bags and backpacks that are chic and modern. Image: Amy Michelle The Amy Michelle Sweet Pea Baby Bag Tote ($135) is a perfect bag for busy moms. This hobo is a great size at  14″L x 6″W x 12″H…

• Get Twisted With Esmerelda!

  Chloe Findlay-Harder

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:46 pm

  Are you happier if your jewelry is as flexible as you are? How about a necklace that can be turned into multiple looks – or even worn as a belt or bracelet? Then you’re definitely going to want to check out Twisted Silver’s latest necklace and matching earrings – the Esmerelda. Esmerelda is a combination of antiqued silver chain, the signature “Twisted” medallions and lots of feminine details like pearls, faceted crystals and a delicate crystal rondelle.  The necklace is a generous 62 inches long – which means you can wear it as one long lariat or…

• 
  ELLE News Blog

• Lights, Camera, Action!

  ELLE.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

  Victoria's Secret Angels get ready to walk the runway!      All Photos: Kelly Stuart          

• Daul Kim (1989-2009)

  ELLE.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:10 pm

  Runway and editorial regular, Daul Kim, was found deceased in her Paris apartment yesterday. The South Korean beauty was only 20 years old. In April 2007, Daul posted her first piece on what was one of the few blogs (I Like to Fork Myself) that tracked a model’s glamorous comings and goings with real honesty, insight, and for lack of a better word, heart. What kept her readers coming back day after day wasn’t the promise of an insider peek at a show or a photo shoot but the random, often silly, sometimes very dark manner with which she delivered those glimpses. In her signature…

• Fendi Fêtes New John Baldessari Book

  ELLE.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:51 pm

  On Wednesday night, Fendi hosted a party at its Fifth Avenue store to celebrate the launch of Sharon Coplan Hurowitz's new book on conceptual artist John Baldessari: A Catalogue Raisonne of Prints and Multiples, 1971-2007. Baldessari is known for his black-and- white portraits obstructed by blocks of color, and the book is the first comprehensive account of his work. At the party, pianist ELEW, who in May played for President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, performed orchestral covers of alternative rock songs like "Mr. Brightside" by the Killers,…

• Mario Badescu Salon and Spa Helps Combat Dry Skin

  ELLE.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:34 pm

  The cooler temps have thrown me off my game, causing my combination skin to suddenly become dry and flaky. To get to the bottom of it, I took a trip to Mario Badescu Salon and Spa for a consultation and facial (hands down, best.facial.ever.) and was lucky enough to meet aesthetician Laden (her clients include the cast of Ugly Betty) who gave me some great tips to bring my skin back to normalcy. Lucky for you, these tips apply to all skin types, too. Tip 1: Exfoliate. “Healthy skin produces dead skin cells every second of every day,” said Laden. To gently buff them away and prevent…

• Volcom Brand Jeans Partners With National Coalition for the Homeless

  ELLE.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:19 pm

  Volcom Brand Jeans is teaming up with the National Coalition for the Homeless, issuing a call to action to give jeans, and those less fortunate, a second chance. Bring your unwanted, ill-fitting, last season’s denim to a participating local store and help those in need. If you donate a pair of jeans, you are automatically given a chance to win a year supply of Volcom Brand Jeans. Kyle Anderson, Senior Accessories Editor   Follow ELLE on Twitter. Become our Facebook fan!   

• 
  Vancouver Doula (...and Slow Birth)

• Pauline's Words

  Jacquie Munro

  27 Oct 2009 | 3:59 pm

  We had a beautiful nurse for the birth yesterday.Pauline, originally from Togo, is a mother of five, and a grandmother of two. Her last child was born on her own bed, birthed into her own hands. She birthed this baby on her own, with joy.Our time with Pauline was magical. She spoke to us like she was taking us on a spiritual journey. She spoke low and slow, rolling her R's. Her words were like poetry...or a prayer...As she was speaking, I copied her words onto paper...hear her...The woman's body is so uniqueIt is well made.Birththe body knows this storyI don't write this storyThat's how it…

• Slowly...While Waiting for Baby...

  Jacquie Munro

  25 Oct 2009 | 3:32 pm

  My daughter just asked me why I haven't been posting to my blog for some time. Well, like my mum, who just can't seem to read an entire book since dad died, I seem to be having trouble writing. Oh, I could write and write about all the amazing encounters that I've had with my father's spirit, especially in France (that time in Shakespeare and Company in Paris was extraordinary!)... But, write about birth? There's been a block...So, I thought that I'd best just sit down and start writing while I'm waiting for another baby to come - a baby girl. Her mum and dad were supposed to be moving today,…

• Slow return from madonnas, pilgrims, sunshine, walking...

  Jacquie Munro

  12 Sep 2009 | 8:55 am

  Six weeks in England, Scotland, and France...walking miles to ruined castles, riding bikes through Paris, climbing Munros, hiking through hidden valleys, reading good books, exploring pilgrim's paths and spiral staircases, swimming in the sparkling Mediterranean...then returning to our own cottage to create wonderful thoughtful meals (and eat those French pastries!)...now that was slow travel at its best!The families in France gave us such joy. New fathers with babies in buddha wraps, toddler in hand...laughing. Families standing by the trunk of the car, then pulling out (Mary Poppins style)…

• Slow Travel to the Goyt Valley, Schiehallion, Dordogne, Mediterranean, Mont Ventoux, Paris...

  Jacquie Munro

  28 Jul 2009 | 2:49 pm

  On Friday, we're off for six weeks of slow travel in England, Scotland, and France...and I won't be back attending births until mid-September (try calling me on September 14th!)I'm leaving all current clients in the capable hands of my brilliant backup doulas, who will be providing expert chats and doula support while I'm away.For any potential clients looking to hire me while I'm away, I will still answer your email requests...but very slooowwly. We're staying in remote places - a hillside cottage, a farm, a former monastery, a restored convent, and a former weaver's stone cottage...very few…

• Slow Birth...Slow Medicine

  Jacquie Munro

  20 Jul 2009 | 12:35 pm

  It's been a long time since I wrote a new post...but so much has happened. The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows.I took this photo while sitting and crying in a bathroom stall at the hospital, while my dad was in Emergency with a subdural hematoma caused by Acute Myeloid Leukemia, just ten days before his death. So much to take in...so little time. The positive graffiti really helped me.We sprung my dad from the hospital after a few days, with the support of his doctors - he really wanted to be home in his artist's studio. With 24/7 nursing care from the Palliative Home Service (angels…

• 
  CrazyAuntPurl

• Behind the scenes at the messatorium

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:35 am

  I got a great email yesterday from reader Ellen talking about the pictures I posted yesterday of my living room: Thanks for writing about having friends over before your new place is perfect. I'm dealing right now with the anxiety of having invited people from the three knitting groups I participate in to come to my "new" condo to do their stealth knitting in just two weeks. It will be the second party I've had. The first was in the spring right after I bought the place, when it was unfurnished except for a dining table and chairs left by the previous owner's real estate agent. People brought…

• Comfort food and Christmas, which is only 37 days away....

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:50 am

  Roast beef, mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables. That was the dinner I made for a weekend get-together I had with Amber and Jennifer. They are two of my favorite people on the planet, it was so much fun to have them over to my new place. We had dinner and drank champagne and made Christmas cards all crafty-style, with glitter and paper and cuttings from magazines and little scraps of ribbons. I wanted to have the apartment all decorated for Christmas but I got mired in work and only got a few things up, but it was enough to be festive. There's my sequin tree I got at Target a few years ago…

• It's scarf weather until at least 10 a.m.

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

  One thing I love about the Valley is that it gets cold in the mornings. It's only 52 degrees outside right now! That's downright wintery for us. I have a stomach ache. I ate too many tortilla chips last night. Or maybe it was the salsa. Either way, I fear there may be spewing. I hate to throw up more than anything else so I may be able to avoid it by sheer force of will. This is how my morning is unfolding so far, and it does not bode well for the day ahead. So here are my three good things: 1) With all the H1N1 flu news I thought this was a good time to re-read The Stand by Stephen King.

• Friday the 13th and then just some blabbering

  13 Nov 2009 | 9:58 am

  As superstitious as I am, I'm not really that interested in Friday the 13th. Though I won't fly on a Friday the 13th, so I guess I do still have my little trepidations. Not that I am flying anywhere. Many months ago I posted a link to this video: The first time I saw it, it made me go into the ugly cry. You know that part where everyone suddenly starts to come down the stairs and sing? I just started sobbing like a weirdo. At first I couldn't figure out why that was my reaction. And I got a lot of email from people telling me the same thing happened to them. It took a while, but finally it…

• Love in the Time of Crochet

  12 Nov 2009 | 10:27 am

  I wanted to write a book called, "Love in the Time of Crochet" except that I am not in love (well not with anyone who is aware of my existence, yet ... looking at you, Al Gore) and there is the small issue that I can't crochet. I can chain like nobody's business, though. I could chain around the world. I'm feeling much more inspired to crochet since Drew released his latest batch of books: Drew's new books are Must Have Handbags, In All Caps!, All Washed Up and Sweet Pet Comforts. The project I really love and want to make is this plaid pet bed, because I think it would be so cute to see a…

• 
  Sizzle Says

• Being Real

  Sizzle

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:33 am

  “. . . I have tried to take care of my needs by indirectly projecting them on those around me and then acting as if I am taking care of the other person. This indirect way of trying to get what I need by planting my feelings as needs to be attended to in those around me has been a way to hide my vulnerability, while still managing to appear as a kind and other-centered person. I realize I am not alone in this malady. It is often so subtle and so close to our healthy way of relating to others that we seldom realize the manipulation and deceit involved. . . .the energy wasted in trying to…

• No Rest For The Weary

  Sizzle

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  I’m feeling a little wrecked, you guys. I am tired despite sleeping 8 hours. I feel uninspired to make plans and when I get home, overwhelmed with too much to do having come from a job where I feel that way all day. I have three blemishes on my face. And wrinkles. And bags under my eyes. This month launches my busy season at work with fundraisers in November, December and then once I return from holiday break, go-go-go time for my March fundraiser. Add to that two open apartments and very few takers, things breaking and needing repair constantly around the building and some pretty nasty…

• Letters & Soda

  Sizzle

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:16 am

  The thing about dating is I have to constantly reaffirm what I want to myself. It’s easy to get sidetracked by something shiny. Oh he’s attracted to me! Oh he contacts me daily to hang out! Oh. . . but hanging out means going over to his place to be naked in bed. That? That’s not what I want. I mean I WANT that eventually but not as the main criteria for a “relationship.” I am not looking for a fuck buddy. Anyone can find a hook up. I want something deeper. I want something special. I want to find My Person. Maybe this makes me sound like a prude? I’m not.

• Tracking

  Sizzle

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:06 am

  Dear Self, You have lost your focus. We said we weren’t going to start dating until we had reached our goal weight but then we hit the 30lbs loss marker and our confidence was boosted. So instead of keeping our eyes on the prize, we set up a distraction and put up an ad and started dating. And then instead of focusing on us, we started to get lost in the external validation of other people. There’s a fine line between internal and external validation and, let’s face it, ours got blurry. We haven’t really worked out in a month. A MONTH! It’s been a lame attempt…

• Alligator Tastes Like Chewy Chicken

  Sizzle

  12 Nov 2009 | 7:33 am

  Sunday I went to a new restaurant opening thanks to Double B who was the craftsman artist behind the interior of the restaurant. It is gorgeous inside and if you live in Seattle, you should definitely go check it out when it officially opens. The opening included small plates of menu items for tasting and an open bar. I don’t know about you but I firmly believe two of the most magical words in the English language when put together are OPEN and BAR. So of course, I got a little drunk. My sister’s friend J was there and since she and I are both single, we were checking out the eye…

• 
  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

• SSRIs and PPHN: A Review of the Data

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  10 Nov 2009 | 7:57 am

  In 2006, Chambers and colleagues published an article linking SSRI use during late pregnancy to an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn (PPHN). Since that time, several other reports have been published which have examined the association between SSRI antidepressants and PPHN.  Here is a summary of the findings to date: Chambers et [...]

• Paroxetine (Paxil) May Affect Sperm Quality

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  1 Oct 2009 | 7:22 am

  Within the field of psychiatry, there is a growing body of literature studying the use of antidepressants in women in the context of pregnancy and the postpartum period.  However, much less attention has focused on the impact of these drugs on fertility, particularly in men.  Because major depressive disorders affect about one in 10 American [...]

• Pregabalin (Lyrica) for the Treatment of Hot Flashes

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  21 Sep 2009 | 7:04 am

  Although estrogen is highly effective for the treatment of hot flushes, many women are reluctant to use hormone therapy to manage these symptoms, given recent concerns that estrogen may carry certain risks.  Several studies have demonstrated that gabapentin (Neurontin) and certain antidepressants, including paroxetine (Paxil) and venlafaxine (Effexor), may be useful non-hormonal treatments for the [...]

• Hot Flashes or Depression: Which Comes First?

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  14 Sep 2009 | 6:37 am

  Hot flashes and depression are both common symptoms of the menopause transition.  Several studies have found a relationship between depression and hot flashes: depressed women are more likely to experience hot flashes and women with hot flashes are more likely to have depression.  Other studies have found no association between hot flashes and depression.  The connection [...]

• Examining Modifiable Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  31 Aug 2009 | 6:52 am

  Approximately 10-15% of women will experience mood symptoms that meet criteria for a Major Depressive Episode during the postpartum period. However, as many as 50% of women may experience some level of depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. Recent evidence suggests that even depressive symptoms that do not qualify for a diagnosis of postpartum depression [...]

• 
  flutter

• You know you want to hear me pontificate…

  flutter

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:26 pm

  Over at the beautiful Danielle’s.  c’mon. you know you do

• The Great Interview Experiment: Ozma

  flutter

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:27 pm

  Neil is hosting his Great Interview Experiment, being curios as I am, I thought it would be great to jump in. The following is my interview with Ozma. Read this when you have enough time to read her answers thoroughly. Ozma is many things, funny, smart, interesting and TOTALLY WORDY. Enjoy 1) When you envisioned your blog, in the beginning, what purpose did you think it would serve? My blogging has no deliberate purpose but in spite of that I plan to blather on and on about this question. Blogging is often ridiculed as useless and narcissistic because people assume that the primary purpose…

• Turning point

  flutter

  7 Nov 2009 | 10:25 pm

  This blogging thing has been a part of my life since 2006. I started at a little typepad blog, writing about knitting. It came at a time when my whole world was changing. We’d left Flagstaff, we were working out the future of our relationship. We lived separately for a couple of weeks while he finished his last college class and I started my new job. Weekends were spent with my driving up to our sleepy little mountain town, packing up the boxes of our apartment in the pines and getting ready to start our adult lives in this hot city. I felt very alone in this apartment without him, our…

• Commiserating with the ceiling fan

  flutter

  20 Oct 2009 | 10:06 pm

  As I fail to sleep, for the depth of my nightmares, I watch him. He has impossibly long eyelashes, that catch the beauty of sleep with  a devastating beauty. His closed eyes, slightly swollen from the intensity of his rest, undisturbed and perfect. He sleeps. I try not to wake him when I jolt myself awake. Dreams thick with oddly yellow eyes and fat, blunt fingertips bruising my skin. My heart hammers in its clumsy rhythm against my ribs, fragile with the weight of my breasts that shake when I cry. I turn into his back, or his shoulder, or close to his sleeping face and listen to the white…

• Just Farking say good luck, a’ight?

  flutter

  13 Oct 2009 | 10:36 pm

  I feel that we are close enough, you and I, that I can admit that I have a problem. *big breath* My name is Christine and I am a Farkleholic. Farkle is a dice game, I play it on Facebook and it is HIDEOUSLY addictive. The first time I played against an actual, live human being they wished me luck in the chat window. I wished them the same and thought it very sportsmanlike conduct. I’ve noticed, however, that not everyone adheres to sportsmanlike conduct. My interactions with many other farkleites, upon receipt of my hearty “good luck!” leave something to be desired. To wit:…

• 
  iVillage Diet & Fitness

• 5 Ways to Master Your Emotions

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• Give your grocery cart a makeover

  Discover new, healthy, delicious foods to add to your shopping list.

• What's your body type?

  Take our quiz to find your type and the appropriate diet and exercise plan for your shape.

• Do you know your ideal weight?

  Find out the optimal weight range for your height and frame size.

• Behind the Scenes of

  Find out what the lastest kicked-off contestant has to say about the show.

• 
  Scale Junkie

• Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 46, 2009

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:20 pm

  Happy week 46 check in! I hope you're all having a great week. I've already heard a few rumors that some of you are already decorating for the Christmas holiday. I won't name names :-)  I have another very busy week coming up but I'll try to blog when I can and catch up with all of you when I can. Have a great week!WELCOME!The Hippie Mommy with Kaleidoscope Eyeshttp://www.hippie-mommy.com/

• cold toes

  12 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am

  Last night we had this conversation:Him: is it Wednesday today?Me: No, its TuesdayHim: are you sure?Me: yes I'm sure, I posted the HYC last nightHe turns on the TV and brings up the guideHim: We watched V together last night and its on Tuesday night so today has to be WednesdayMe: I think I lost a dayHave you ever had that happen when you feel like you lost a day? I blame it on the pills, those happy little pink pills. My happy little pink pills that help me sleep aren't heavy duty sleeping pills, they are over the counter Benadryl and not only do they help me sleep, they help with my…

• Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 45, 2009

  9 Nov 2009 | 4:09 pm

  Welcome to another wonderful week! I hope everyone is having a good, no make that a GREAT week.I just want to confirm that I will be going forward with the HYC in 2010. To keep my stress levels low. I'm debating a few tweaks, I'll keep you all posted. WELCOME!suck it up princesshttp://princess-jeniffer.blogspot.com/Gettin' Slimhttp://girlgettinslim.wordpress.com/A Single Stephttp://asinglestepjourney.blogspot.com/Love My Cacaohttp://lovemycacao.wordpress.com/ Operation: LOSE IT!http://operationloseit.blogspot.com/

• little bits of joy

  8 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

  I'm happy to say that my body seems to be responding and healing. Gluten seems to be a big irritant for me and just limiting it has helped tremendously. I'm not back to 100% but I"m getting there. Slowly but surely. Overall I haven't felt like my normal cheerful self. I've felt down and dark. Being sick will do that to you. Gaining weight will do that to you. I'm the first person to tell others to get out there and live their lives but here I am wanting to hibernate for the winter.I recently had a few pretty major disappointments. I had been planning a trip for the weekend of my birthday for…

• Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 44, 2009

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:12 pm

  Hi everyone! Welcome to week 44 HYC check in. First week of November, 2009, hard to believe there are less than 2 months left in 2009.You can tell its getting later in the year, less people are focused on starting a healthy lifestyle because for the first time this year we have no new people to welcome. I plan on using the time left in the year to work on getting back some of what I've lost. What about you? Any end of the year goals or plans?

• 
  BettyConfidential.com

• Daily Dish: A Peek into the Finale of Jon & Kate Plus 8

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am

• Result: If You Knew Your Best Friend's Guy was Cheating, What Would You Do?

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am

• Betty on the News: Real-Life Story of a Dog Named Nubs to be Made into a Movie

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am

• Daily Dish: Heidi Klum is Back on the Runway

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am

• Betty on the News: Depressed Woman Loses Benefits Because of Facebook

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am

• 
  Twenty Four At Heart

• Camera Fever

  Twenty Four At Heart

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:05 am

  I've already remembered/relearned so much from my long lost photography days.  I'm loving my new camera.  I've been so busy I haven't had nearly enough time to play with it yet, but I'm sneaking in a few minutes each day as I brush up on my skills.  It's probably better for my arm to take it slow anyway.Blog traffic is always lighter on the weekends so I thought I'd bore you with post a few more of my first photos with the 7D.  It's only been a week since I took these, but I already look at them and think about what I would do differently given the…

• Don't Eat Bambi - Santa Might Need Her

  Twenty Four At Heart

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:05 am

  Yesterday afternoon I decided to have a quiet lunch out on my patio.  It was a beautiful, warm, afternoon.  I took my new camera with me.  I thought I'd read through some of the camera instructions and maybe even shoot a few photos while I was outside.  I had the feeling I was being watched.  You know that feeling when someone is staring right at you?  I tried to shrug it off.  I've had a stalker harassing me lately so I *might* be a little on edge.The feeling would not go away.  It started creeping me out.  I glanced at my retrievers.  They were snoozing nearby and…

• Facebook

  Twenty Four At Heart

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:05 am

  I'm still on pain meds - but I *think* I'm making more sense today.  Honestly?  I was drugged out of my mind yesterday!  I have never, ever, before attempted to write with that level of drugs in my system.I apologize.  (Even though a lot of you wrote to tell me you laughed quite a bit at yesterday's post!)By tomorrow I, hopefully, won't need to be taking pains meds anymore.  Today I'm still a little looped, but I'm only taking one pain pill at a time ... which is still a lot because they're very strong, but not as much as yesterday.Rambling much?Last…

• Please Excuse This Interruption ...

  Twenty Four At Heart

  18 Nov 2009 | 12:05 am

  **  This post was written under the influence of serious narcotics.  My pain meds had not yet kicked in when I began writing ... but then they hit me full force.  Really, really, full force!  Can you tell at what point in my writing I became a druggy?  It's all a bit of a blur.  **I am temporarily out of my fucking mind in pain sidelined.  I mentioned to a friend yesterday, when my pain levels get out of control like this, it makes it impossible to think clearly enough to write.  On the other hand, when I take pain meds I can write ... but I just never know what might come out of…

• Fake Butts and Tattoos For Eyebrows

  Twenty Four At Heart

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:05 am

  A reader sent me an email asking me what the latest trends are in Money Town.  I have to admit, a lot of time I don't really see my surroundings.  I've become immune to the "bubble" I'm living in.  Sometimes I have to be reminded to look around with a fresh set of eyes.For instance, a lot of women around here have fake butts now.  I saw a woman with a very obvious fake butt at PT just yesterday.Do women where you live have fake butts?The concept is strange to me, although I can see the allure of having a perfectly formed, uplifted, firm, round ass.   I see the…

• 
  Latest entries from leahj.blog-city.com

• The Shidduch Crisis for Liberal Jews

  Leah Jones

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:54 am

  I was on instant messenger with a good friend this morning and we were lamenting the state of dating for liberal Jews in Chicago. I commented that the shidduch crisis in the Reform movement is that nobody is doing any matchmaking. We're left to our own devices - aka Jdate - and we struggle through alone. Okay, some background.Shidduch dating in the orthodox Jewish world is dating specifically to find your future spouse. When people make a shidduch, as I understand it, they are matchmaking. Making an introduction between two singles they think might hit it off. There's a bunch of talk…

• Did I mention that I'm in Israel?

  Leah Jones

  8 Nov 2009 | 10:32 pm

  After I got home from Israel this summer, I had it in my head that I would return in November. Not for any particular reason, just that I would return. I started keeping my schedule clear and talking to friends about planning a trip. Finally a friend nudged me into "buying the damn ticket." That night I found one on Turkish Airways for $700 and booked the ticket.Here I am. In Tel Aviv for the month. I was able to sublet an apartment with a great location. I've got a few workshops planned and a lot of free time. I hope to write a lot, see friends, cook a few good dinners and just…

• We Live In Public

  Leah Jones

  24 Oct 2009 | 11:14 pm

  "About two years ago, I looked around and realized that what I had documented back then was a physical metaphor of how people would react to the Internet, which Josh predicted would eventually take over our lives." Ondi Timoner, Director, We Live In Public  Let me repeat that..."a physical metaphor of how people would react to the Internet..."Today I went with 7 others (5 Twitter friends, one client introduced via a Twitter connection and a friend of the client) to see the documentary We Live In Public at the Music Box Theater. We Live In Public covers the two final…

• Trip Number Five, Chapter Number One

  Leah Jones

  22 Oct 2009 | 9:28 pm

  While I was at The Conversation in Baltimore, I read the few existing chapters from the novel I hope to write. The feed back was very encouraging, so I'm planning on working on it while I'm in Israel. Yep, I'm going back. I have a few webinars and workshops to attend to while I'm in town, but a big part of the trip will be writing. It isn't NaNoWriMo, because I'm not starting from scratch, but I do hope to add serious amounts of text to my draft.Here's chapter one of my as of yet unfinished novel. The Matzah Holiday“Why didn’t you tell me this was the…

• "I'm nobody special."

  Leah Jones

  13 Oct 2009 | 10:46 pm

  "Please don't blog about this." I said or he said or we both said to each other. We agreed and then went to our blogs and made obtuse references to what we'd promised each other we wouldn't blog. That was years ago, but as I tweeted to my friend Evelyn today, I blog very little of the deeply personal these days in an effort to keep a private life while I live publicly.  I am both flattered and embarrassed when I meet someone that has read my blog or, more likely, follows me on Twitter. It connects immediately to a moment when I was a few years out of High School and…

• 
  moosh in indy.

• dear baby gage,

  Casey

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:58 pm

  Dear Gage, Happy birthday little man, today was a good day to be born. And not just because you were one cheese stick away from weighing nine pounds. No, today was sunny and warm for November. Also? 2009 has been kind of a crappy year for a lot of us who were already here so your arrival was a welcome delight to everyone who’s lucky enough to know your parents. OH YOUR PARENTS. Such lovely people. Obviously I’m a huge fan of your mom, but your dad is pretty amazing as well. And your big sisters? I’m pretty sure given that you’re already 12 hours old you’re…

• our! first! house! (during. part II)

  Casey

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:08 pm

  the moosh has a crush on the guy doing the work on our house. She says his name all drawn out and flirty. She draws him pictures and asks him “whatchadooin?” Really? Can’t blame her. Because as of today my bathroom went from looking like this: To this: This utterly weird built in desk has been changed from this: To this beautiful pile of rubble which will be changed into: A CLOOOOSSSEETTTT!! Oh, and then there’s this crap: We knew there was a serious leak in the ceiling, after that was fixed turns out there were two serious leaks in the ceiling. And then when those…

• anissa.

  Casey

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:10 pm

  “Peyton was so bummed when she found out they didn’t have an Asian American Girl doll. And then when they finally come out with guess what? She lives in San Francisco, is a gymnast and her dad owns a restaurant. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s also really good at math and a horrible driver.” This is Anissa. Currently Anissa is lying in a bed in the ICU after suffering a major stroke yesterday. Anissa is funny, universe? You are not funny. Anissa has three little kids. For updates on her condition go here. For ways to help her family go here or click the link in…

• birdies and bellies.

  Casey

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:56 pm

  Good luck getting that big thing out of you darling. Copyright © 2009 moosh in indy.. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact mooshinindy (at) gmail (dot) com so we can take legal action immediately.Plugin by Taragana

• probably the best. contest. ever.

  Casey

  15 Nov 2009 | 7:34 pm

  Shh! I have a secret to tell you! There’s this contest going on, and only a few people know about it, you’re one of them because you read my blog. (LUCKY YOU!) In September I gave away memberships to Maghound, like Netflix only for magazines. Well the giveaway just got sweeter. They’re offering you, as a reader of moosh in indy, the chance to win a MAGnificent makeover in NYC. Basically any human being’s dream come true. If it’s not your dream come true? You may not be human. But I’m sure you could make something work. You and a guest, two nights paid trip…

• 
  Blogger For Hire

• Genetic Testing for Children: Would You Do It?

  MomGrind

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  I received an interesting email on Friday. At first it looked just like any other PR pitch, those pitches that never really bother to answer the very basic question of WIIFM, or “What’s In It For Me?” But the email I received on Friday was different. It was from a company called My Gene Profile, who offers genetic testing for children. The PR pitch actually did try to answer the WIIFM question by claiming that by becoming their affiliate I would be able to earn some pretty decent money. But what was especially interesting in that email was the suggestion that parents have…

• Restaurant Salads Scare Me

  MomGrind

  10 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Most of us are aware that salads are not always healthy, and this is especially true for restaurant salads. If by “salad” you mean a small plate of fresh leafy greens, a few slices of tomato, and a drizzling of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, then yes, that’s healthy and low calorie. But “salad” at restaurants often means a huge plate filled with lettuce, croutons, chicken cubes, cheese, and half a cup of full fat dressing. That’s not healthy, and the calorie count for this type of salad can be higher than even the most nutrition savvy among us can…

• Stupid Beauty Trends

  MomGrind

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  After writing last week about stupid fashion trends, it occurred to me that during recent years, we’ve seen several beauty trends that were/ are just as stupid. Here are five of them: Trout Pout This beauty trend is about filling one’s upper lips to the brim with collagen, or whatever it is they use to augment lips these days. Meg Ryan is one of the celebrities who are most often criticized for her “fish lips.” The photo above provides a perfect example of what seems to be an overzealous “lip work.”   Huge, Round, Hard Breast Implants on a Tiny Frame…

• Ten Stupid Fashion Trends

  MomGrind

  27 Oct 2009 | 10:00 am

  Despite the stupidity of a few male fashion designers, I love fashion. When it’s not about starving oneself to fit into a size zero or saying that Barbie Doll’s ankles are too fat, fashion is about self expression, creativity and beauty. But over the years, there have been several fashion trends that were, er, stupid. Here are ten of them: Knee Warmers Featured by French designer Vanessa Bruno in her Spring 2010 collection. If fashion these days is about looking long and lean, then this does exactly the opposite – it visually cuts your legs to make them look shorter and…

• Women Love Pink

  MomGrind

  22 Oct 2009 | 10:00 am

  I mean, I don’t KNOW that women love pink. I am a woman and I do not love pink at all (I do love purple, though. Is that a feminine enough color?) However, manufacturers of all types of products seem to feel strongly that women do love pink, should love pink, and must love pink, and so any product specifically marketed to women is almost always pink colored. In a previous post, we already explored pink products for women such as a power drill, a laptop, and even ear plugs. Today, allow me to introduce the most feminine product of all: a laxative for women. Its color? Pink. Duh. © All…

• 
  Contented Me

• spotlight: k studio

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am

  These customizable Family Series pillows from K. Studio are adorable.And what a great gift idea, too!Be sure to check out the rest of the shop for totes, wall art and more!

• design inspiration: white fireplace

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am

  A lovely image for your Thursday...(via Home Sweet StyleI really like the arrangement of white pieces on the mantle. And very much wish I had a mantle so I could copy. ;)

• a small miracle

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:47 am

  Dinner. A well-rounded dinner. With a meat, a potato and a vegetable.This, my friends, may seem like nothing, a what's-the-big-deal-? to you. But to me? A new mom to nine (going on ten!) week-old twins? Well, this is a miracle. A delicious, nutritious miracle.I can't believe I actually had the time to make and eat dinner last night. With my husband eating at the same time. At an almost leisurely pace. And we almost finished our whole plates, too, before we were interrupted by Little Man. He wanted to eat too. It's the little things, you know? ;)In case you're wondering what's on the plate, we…

• book club: weekend retreats

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:10 am

  We went out for a walk this morning, and as we were walking up Southport, I couldn't resist the pull of Anthropologie. So we stopped in just for a bit.I took a minute to page through this book, and now I definitely want to get it. From what I can tell, it's full of lovely photos that are the perfect inspiration for creating cozy rooms.(Weekend Retreats by Susanna Salk; available at Amazon

• design inspiration: child's bedroom

  12 Nov 2009 | 10:04 am

  As a little girl, I always wanted a daybed. I begged my parents, but despite my persistence, they were not convinced that a new bed was better than the bed I already had. That matched the rest of my furniture. That I later sawed the headboard off of in an a-ha moment of design inspiration. (I'll explain that another day.)Well, it's now many many years later, and here I am thinking about that bed that never was.Because I spied this... (via Dwellings and DecorThat blue! Those pillows!I would love nothing more than to give my little girl a daybed just like this. Oh yes, this WILL be going into…

• 
  Viva la Feminista

• There will never be closure in the Nicarico case

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:03 pm

  Originally posted at the AWEARNESS blog There will never be closure in the Nicarico case as long as Jim Ryan continues to run for public office. The Nicarico family never missed a court date. For years they sat in courtroom after courtroom listening to the lies from Attorney Jim Ryan's team as they refused to admit their mistakes and consider Brian Dugan as a suspect. Instead, Ryan kept the case rolling along to wrongfully convict two innocent men and send them to death row. Jim Ryan is now running for Illinois Governor and "spent a decade as DuPage state's attorney, previously had said he…

• Book Review: Impossible Motherhood by Irene Vilar

  14 Nov 2009 | 10:50 pm

  The book is traumatic with a capital, bold T. At one part about 1/3 of the way thru, I threw the book down in disgust and decided I was done. You are warned. Impossible Motherhood by Irene Vilar has received a lot of press and been a topic of debate on many a listserv due to the subtitle "Testimony of an Abortion Addict." When I first found out about this book my first thought was "Oh shit." Many people, including Vilar, believe that this book will be used by anti-abortion activists as proof of women using abortion as birth control and thus a reason for the procedure to be banned outright.

• Aren't Latinas women too?

  14 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am

  Originally posted at the AWEARNESS blog The Stupak amendment is the disappointment that just keeps on giving. Monday morning, my inbox was flooded with emails from many organizations appalled by the passage of the House healthcare bill. One email stood out from the rest (including a few celebratory emails) and that was from the National Council of La Raza. It was celebratory and failed to mention the Stupak amendment, which would ban abortion coverage in public and private insurance plans: "The health care reform bill passed by the House is a fundamental step toward making health care more…

• Interview: Lise Eliot, Ph.D. Author of Pink Brain, Blue Brain

  11 Nov 2009 | 8:54 pm

  Lise Eliot, Ph.D., has been getting a lot of media attention about her latest book, Pink Brain, Blue Brain, and it was a pleasure to chat with her over the phone and an honor that she did it despite one of her sons being sick that day.This is far from a transcript of our conversation, but a summary of what we discussed. VLF: Why did you write this book?  LE: The size is reflective of my compulsive nature. My first book was on brain development and it was inspired by my pregnancies and children. I kept running into brain development stories and began to wonder what do we really know about…

• Living in a culture of rape - From AWEARNESS

  11 Nov 2009 | 7:24 am

  Originally posted at the AWEARNESS blog: Our culture is still in a state of shock over the gang rape of a 15-year old girl outside her homecoming dance last week. But what is even more upsetting to me than the news of this crime is the type of responses I have seen regarding her attackers and the victim-blaming. Fellow students (and administrators, and people who don't know the victim or have any real information on the subject) are saying the rape is the victim's fault because she was drinking, and that the rapists themselves are not to blame for their actions. What should shock us is not…

• 
  WIMN's Voices: A Group Blog on Women, Media, AND…

• Precious, my Precious: Black Female Citizenship, Complexity, and the Politics of Unrelenting Survival

  mcyril

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:32 pm

  As I sit against the florescence of the television screen, watching the conservative Fox News pundit Glenn Beck drive political nails into progressive leaders using the fear of U.S. blacks and immigrants of color as his hammer, my memory harkens back to the year in which the book Push was set, 1987. During that time, [...]

• Event: WIMN’s Jennifer L. Pozner presents Project Brainwash on women and reality TV at Central Washington University, 10/28

  varreola

  27 Oct 2009 | 9:16 am

  WIMN Executive Director, Jennifer L. Pozner, haven&#8217;t been blogging much in recent months as she&#8217;s been working on her forthcoming book, Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV. Tomorrow night, on behalf of WIMNs multimedia lecture series, she&#8217;ll be presenting: Project Brainwash!: Why Reality TV Is Bad for Women (…and men, people of [...]

• If Ellen Goodman doesn’t need her $250 from Social Security, let her give it to an old lady

  mgullette

  24 Oct 2009 | 8:08 am

  Ellen Goodman is usually thoughtful but in “The $250 donation to elders” (Boston Globe, Oct. 23) she doesn&#8217;t understand Social Security. The average woman receives only $896 a month. She would get an additional $22 a month if Congress actually passes Obama’s proposed bill, intended [...]

• Where “Wieners” Go, Media Follow

  mspencer

  11 Oct 2009 | 12:39 pm

  Sex scandals in fact and fiction.

• WIMN event TONIGHT: “White Male Electile Dyfunction” lecture on media coverage of women in politics, Devil’s Lake, ND

  jpozner

  8 Oct 2009 | 3:11 am

  On behalf of Women In Media &#038; News, I&#8217;ll be doing a multimedia lecture presentation tonight on media coverage of women in politics, in Devil&#8217;s Lake, ND. WHAT: &#8220;White Male Electile Dysfunction: Media Coverage of Women in Election 2008&#8243; With multimedia clips, commentary and humor, this lecture uses media coverage of Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and [...]

• 
  Parent Talk Today

• Journalism: The Next Generation

  Kathy Sena

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:56 am

  Tyler Green, a sophomore mass-communications major at Towson University in Maryland, got in touch with me recently and asked if he could interview me, about my use of Twitter in my work, for his blog. I was jazzed to answer his excellent questions. But halfway through the process of thinking about my answers, it occurred to me that I've apparently hopped over some sort of invisible fence. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was in journalism school at Arizona State University. Asking people for interviews. Trying to impress my editing professor, Bruce Itule, whose voice I still hear in my…

• Wordless Wednesday: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Halloween!

  Kathy Sena

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:36 am

• Stand By Her — A Breast Cancer Guide for Men

  Kathy Sena

  26 Oct 2009 | 9:47 pm

  Every three minutes in the U.S., a woman learns that she has breast cancer. Fortunately, most women quickly learn about the support systems that can help them deal with what lies ahead: friends, sisters, support groups...But what about the man in that woman's life? How does he deal with his own fears and frustrations? And how can he best help his wife? Sister? Mom?John W. Anderson had four women in his life go through breast cancer: his wife, mom, sister and his mom's best friend. He chose to use what he learned through this difficult journey to help other men who are going through the same…

• Giveaway! Join Me For a VIP Experience at Disneyland! (Contest now closed)

  Kathy Sena

  25 Oct 2009 | 2:54 pm

  I'm so excited! And you will be too. Disneyland has invited one lucky Parent Talk Today reader and three guests to join me, along with other selected parenting bloggers and their guests, for a special VIP day at Disneyland on Saturday, November 21. That's right! A family of four. For free. You'll get the VIP treatment while previewing Disneyland's holiday happenings. What a great way to get in the holiday spirit!If you've never been to Disneyland at the holidays, you're in for an amazing experience. Sleeping Beauty's castle and It's a Small World will be decked…

• Put Your Kid on the Cover of Mother Jones

  Kathy Sena

  23 Oct 2009 | 4:23 pm

  Concerned about climate change? Want to get your kids involved in the conversation? In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to hash out a climate treaty that will shape our planet for generations to come. The time is now to speak up about your family's concern about climate change.Tomorrow is International Day of Climate Action. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Change Kids' Site for kid-friendly info, games and links.And to help spread the word, Mother Jones magazine has created a fun way to put your child, your pet, even your entire family on the cover of…

• 
  Sarah Bellum's Tales of Wit and Charm

• Someone owes me $17… I just need to decide if it’s the University or Maybelline.

  Sarah

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

  My life is a series of embarrassing moments. Today’s embarrassment is brought to you in part by a tube of lipstick. Normally I’m not a lipstick person. If you open my purse you’ll find Hello Kitty glitter lip-gloss and my standby Dr Pepper Lip Smacker. Shut up, it tastes good and the color is pretty. Today, however, I wore real lipstick. Not necessarily because I wanted to, but because my DP lip-gloss was missing. I forgot about my heavily made-up lips and went to school. As I was leaving the paid parking lot I put the parking slips between my lips. I needed both hands to rummage…

• That’s What She Said… About Dating Doctors

  Sarah

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Read this week’s “That’s What She Said” for details on dating my doctor. Sad, I know… except I bet I’ll save so much money on co-pays. Money that can buy shoes and booze. Related Posts:The Dating Years, In Utah This Week--Issue#73That's What She Said... about Sugared Cereal BoysThat's What She Said... about Rhett Millerdefining the relationship--column 4.27.07That's What She Said... about Dating and Math.Related posts:The Dating Years, In Utah This Week–Issue#73Dating is a Bitch, Part 2Death Sentences: Want to keep online dating alive? Write well, and…

• Gingivitis may not kill, but soup does. For real. SOUP IS A SILENT KILLER. Warn your loved ones.

  Sarah

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:52 pm

  Waiting to die is sort of anticlimactic, don’t you think? I mean you wait for that big moment where you walk towards the light, but then bam you’re dead and it’s over. I’m waiting to die right this very second. It’s nothing serious like cancer, or swine flu. I cooked dinner. Like from a recipe, not a box. There was nothing pre-packaged about this meal, which is why I’m waiting to die. I’m certain I gave myself food poisoning. Sure, a little case of food poisoning doesn’t kill the normal person. But I’m not normal. I’m an overachiever. Not for the important things in life…

• 
  ConfessionsOfAnITGirl.com

• Frank Pepe’s Yonkers Review

  Ellen

  10 Nov 2009 | 6:00 pm

  The opening of the newest Frank Pepe’s Pizzaria in Yonkers has been a most eagerly-awaited event in the IT household.  You see, we’re pizza geeks.  Can’t get enough of the stuff, carbs, South Beach and Atkins be damned.  We love a lot of kinds of pizza, where it’s Chicago style, NY style, thin crust, thick….the only common demonator is that it be GOOD PIZZA. We first went to Pepe’s in Fairfield last year and loved it.  For a die-hard born-in-the-Bronx girl to be raving about New Haven style pizza, it has to be good.  So when we heard they were coming…

• Book Clubbing

  Ellen

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:35 am

  All of a Kind Family I got an email from another parent a few weeks ago alerting me to the fact that our girls and others had been discussing starting a book club.  What did I think, and was I willing to help run it, she asked.  I was thrilled.  I thought it was a great idea.  I was so happy that the girls wanted to read more and to talk about what they were reading.  I’ve never been in a book club before (shocking I know) nor have I run one.  But I read – can there be more qualifications to head a discussion than that? We talked a bit amongst ourselves about what books we…

• Disney on Ice Ticket Offer and Giveaway

  Ellen

  28 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am

  Most people who know me know I’m a Disney freak.  Inherited from my mom, and now passed down to my kids.  Soccer Girl’s favorite place on earth is Walt Disney World and she has written many a school paper on her experiences at the park.  IT Boy too is a fan, albeit on a smaller scale.  He’s obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney Channel.  It’s become his favorite show, surpassing that old standby,  class=”hiddenSpellError” pre=”">Spongebob Squarepants.  He loves doing the Hot Dog Dance - I think he’s emulating…

• Are you ready for some REAL football, aka soccer?

  Ellen

  27 Oct 2009 | 4:38 am

  Another fall transition this year occured with Soccer Girl starting to play at a club team level.  She’s on a team in a new club that was formed by our local AYSO, called ADFH United.  The initals are for the three Rivertowns that comprise the club, namely Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry and Hastings.  No, I didn’t pick the name.  ADFH United is a part of Westchester Youth Soccer League. She’s been having a great season so far, playing with many girls she played with last year on her AYSO travel team.  We love the old girls as well as the new girls.  Heck, the families are…

• Transitions

  Ellen

  26 Oct 2009 | 4:20 am

  *Not his actual bed I freely admit I am no fan of fall.  Sure, apple picking, pumpkin carving and stunning foliage are nice, but they hide a bitter reality – winter.  I would be perfectly accepting of fall if it didn’t signal the return to dark days, scraping off my car in the morning, and snow and ice.  Sure, there are fall junkies out there who suck up the chill in the air just like it was a glass of freshly-pressed apple cider.  That’s not me, sorry.  But as the seasons change, we have transitions.  In our family, IT Boy has been going through the most changes this…

• 
  Formerly Fun

• He Said, She Said

  formerly fun

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:22 pm

  He Said, She SaidMe(wistfully as I watch our two girls frolic in the tub): I wish I had a sister.Him: I can pretend to be your sister.Me: It's not the same.Him: Come on, try me. Tell me something you'd tell your sister if you had one.Me: Ok, rambling, dissecting, analyzing, feelings, blah, blah, overwhelmed, blah, blah, more feelings.Him: (using his hands to mime pigtails on the sides of his head) Let's make out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Do It YourselfSo we had a rare free Saturday without the kids(thank you Grandma) and I had to work until about 2pm. I was running down…

• Picture This

  formerly fun

  29 Oct 2009 | 4:47 pm

  Photographic Evidence Found of First Gay Couple AdoptionMarvin Teslavich and Samuel McSmiley announced the adoption of their fourth child this weekend at the monthly meeting of the town elders held at the local one room schoolhouse.Mr. Teslavich took a moment to remind everyone that "it is love that makes a family and not simply a mother and father."The elders broke early for an impromptu surprise shower for the couple, both longtime residents of Hollow Falls.

• My Life in Slow Motion

  formerly fun

  29 Oct 2009 | 10:51 am

  I have been reading nonstop, so thank you for all of your recommendations. I finished Nick Hornby's Juliet Naked, have read several stories in the Stephen King short story collection, Just After Sunset and I have digested the first few chapters of The Outliers. The best part is I have a big stack from which to pick the next.It's been an interesting week so far, it's only Thursday and I've already told an inexplicable whopping lie to a kind Mexican purveyor of produce and I took a funny pill and almost had to spend a little time in the "bad trip" tent. Is your curiosity piqued yet? I'll start…

• Read Between the Lines

  formerly fun

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:58 am

  I think I know why I haven't been writing so much. Yes, I have been very busy lately with a new location, closing down the old location, kids acclimating to school, husband at tail end of huge time-sensitive project, Grandma coming to visit in a few days, Halloween, Mom and Stepdad coming to visit Thanksgiving.........................But usually these things don't get in the way of pumping out some prose here and there.I think my problem is I haven't read a book for months. Even my short story anthologies have gone uncracked in the bathroom. Reading fuels my writing. I need to read. Books. No…

• Would I Lie to You?

  formerly fun

  8 Oct 2009 | 6:34 am

  I don't dabble in chain mail or chain posts or whatever they are called online or even blog awards for that matter and yet, every once in awhile I will get picked for something that is actually insightful and interesting. The Well Read Hostess(and she is and her dad wrote a book and was on The Daily Show so that makes her kind of famous and she teaches 9th graders so she should be given a bunch of humanity awards and probably a big fat raise, she has very nice toes and runs a virtual book club if you haven't heard of it.) picked me for a "Be Honest" post which either means she thinks I am a…

• 
  Women on Business

• 7 Easy Ways to Retain Customers

  Susan Gunelius

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Guest post by Michelle Strassburg (learn more about Michelle at the end of this post) Winning new customers is often easier than keeping them. Not too dissimilar from other types of relationship business or personal you must work hard on the relationship to make sure the other party is content. When it comes to retaining customers, keeping the other party content will directly influence revenue and should therefore be considered as a key objective for the business. Here are 7 ways to retain new customers which I have picked up during the years. Hopefully it will point you in the right…

• Draw To You Want You Want

  Susan Gunelius

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:19 pm

  Post by M.J. Ryan, contributing Women On Business writer Last time I wrote about the danger of  focusing on the problem rather than the solution. There’s another reason why focusing on the road instead of the hole is important. It’s got to do with what The Secret is about. Say what you will about that massive bestseller, but there is a kernel of truth there as far as I understand. We all have the ability to use our energy in three ways—dynamically, to create the forward momentum of action, receptively, to become aware of what is available around and within us, and magnetically, to draw…

• Do You Have Passion for What You Do?

  Susan Gunelius

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:14 pm

  Guest post by Anna Dworaczynska (learn more about Anna at the end of this post) Do you wake up each morning with a clear picture of what you want to accomplish today and can’t wait for the day to begin? One of the ways to find out if you are pursuing the right career is to ask yourself whether you would you continue working for free or with little compensation.  In 201 Trump Secrets of a Rich Mindset, Donald Trump said  ‘‘Follow your passion. You are much more likely to became rich by doing something you love.’’  I could not agree with that statement more. You need to be…

• The Economic Power of Women in Relation to Women Owned Businesses

  Susan Gunelius

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:54 pm

  Post by Amy Blais, contributing Women On Business writer As a women’s business organization we are constantly getting questions about the relevance and importance of women owned businesses.  And, as an organization with a mission to connect women owned business with business opportunities, access to contracts and relationships with corporations, there are many different questions and many different answers. A common question that I receive is “why”.  Why do corporations care about doing business with women owned companies?  What is their incentive?  Why is it seen as an advantage?

• Is Speed of Service an Added Value?

  Linda Smith

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm

  Customer service sometimes means how we approach our business…how we “do” our business.  For our businesses to be profitable, we need customers and clients so we devote much time and attention to promotion and advertising.  Another big percentage of our business is our interaction with our customers and clients in the buying and selling or product and service interface.  A third percentage, just as large, is the after-the-sale time, the customer service time. In defining our businesses we decide on what the added value elements will be.  For instance, if you were to own…

• 
  Mama Manifesto

• FRIDAY GIVEAWAY: Swaddle Designs

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  SwaddleDesigns recently expanded their Organic line to include hooded towels, wash cloths, bibs, and wearable blankets. One lucky mama will win a beautiful GOTS certified organic Ultimate Receiving Blanket.Any reader can use the promo code "MadeinUSA" at eSwaddle to receive 10% off regularly priced items by clicking this link.To enter, leave a comment answering the following question:Are (or were) you a swaddling mama?How to earn additional entries:1.) Become a follower on our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or let us know if you already are).2.) Subscribe to the Mama Memo by…

• if you play it, they will come

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:40 am

  Further proof of the magnetic properties of the television . . .For the last month, I've been letting Karis watch a Baby Signs DVD every day. Both Jafta and India watched this when they were babies, and they really did learn some sign language from it so that they could communicate before they were verbal. And also so that we could make them perfom party tricks like signing "poop" in front of a large audience. Because poop is funny, ya'll.However, every time I put the video on for Karis, Jafta and India stop what they are doing and sit and watch it, too. Even though it is a TOTAL baby show,…

• sweeping generalizations

  18 Nov 2009 | 4:54 am

  Karis is officially crawling now. At six months, this is earlier than either of her siblings learned to crawl. To be honest, I'm not that thrilled about the early milestone. I've always loved the stage when babies are old enough to be really playful, and yet young enough to sit where you plant them. She seems to have skipped that phase altogether. Every time I turn around, she is booking it across the room, with her eyeball on some small speck of something that she wants to put in her mouth. And judging from the still-intact Spiderman sticker I discovered in her dirty diaper today, I'm…

• Talk Back: mixing it up old school

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  I got one of those random spur of the moment urges today to clean out my kitchen cupboards. You know the one - when you absolutely do not have the time to take on a task, but you have the overwhelming urge to dive in anyway. The end result - me rushing out the door to pick up my kids from school with my kitchen's contents scattered throughout the room. sigh. But, the positive side of that is I was reminded of how many great cook books I have that I so seldom use. Cooking with me is one of my daughter's favorite things to do, even if it is just getting to mix up the batter, tear the herbs,…

• Pumpkin Brownie Dessert

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  If you are looking for a great Fall dessert that screams "home-made" but does not demand a "martha stewart" chunk of time to prepare, I have a great recipe for you. ** For those of you who do not have a Trader Joe's nearby, I am so sorry! You could substitute other mixes in for this recipe, or go the extra mile and prepare pumpkin bread from scratch. We love Trader Joe's because their mixes use whole wheat flour, and they refrain from using any partially hydrogenated oil in their products.Ingredients:1 box Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread mix (check the box for needed ingredients)1 box Trader Joe's…

• 
  Corporette

• Weekend Open Thread

  C

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:58 am

  Something on your mind? Chat about it here. Pictured: Set of 6 Chai Mugs,on sale for $29.99 $19.99 at SmartBargains. Share and Enjoy:

• Weekly Roundup

  C

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:37 am

  Liking these posts? Follow us on Twitter or fan us on Facebook — this is the edited version of what we’re reading! (We also Tweet if we hear about a good sale.) - The WaPo’s Robin Givhan discusses Madeleine Albright’s pins, now on exhibition in New York (pictured).  Meanwhile, the NYT snags an interview with Sarah Palin’s stylist, Lisa Kline. - The WSJ examines different time-management systems.  (We’ve been fans of David Allen for a while, and are also going to try the Pomodoro Technique.  We found a Pomodoro timer you can download to your computer, which seems…

• Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Cashmere-Blend Multi-Layer Wrap

  C

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:59 am

  Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. White House|Black Market has a ton of cute things on sale, including this lovely cashmere-blend wrap.  We like the size of it, a well as the three layers of very workable colors:  black, gray, and ecru.  We’d add it to our office stash, or wear it with a turtleneck, as pictured.  It’s $30 from White House|Black Market (was $58). Cashmere-Blend Multi-Layer Wrap If you’ve recently seen a great work piece you’d like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com…

• Reader mail: What to do with an ultrafine turtleneck?

  C

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am

  Today’s reader mail comes from reader E, who asks how one dresses up an ultrafine turtleneck… The thought of wearing turtlenecks hasn’t crossed my mind since I was in high school, but then I saw the ultrafine turtlenecks being sold at Gap. I was wondering how one would go about creating an outfit or dressing it up for work. We like to wear turtlenecks beneath things — it helps us stay warmer, raises the neckline of otherwise questionable items, serves as a protective barrier between us and the clothes (less drycleaning = good) and also lets us get more use out of items…

• Thursday’s TPS Report: Semantiks Stretch Wool Skirt

  C

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:01 am

  Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Today, we’re liking this paneled wool skirt from Nordstrom’s.  We like the knee-grazing length of it, as well as the flattering A-line shape — it’s a perfect basic for the winter.  It’s $78 at Nordstrom’s, available in sizes 2 through 16.  Semantiks Stretch Wool Skirt If you’ve recently seen a great work piece you’d like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise,…

• 
  Thirtysomething Reality

• Celebrating Our 4th Anniversary!

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:45 am

  On October 28th my hubby and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. We went to a bed and breakfast in Stone Mountain, Georgia the weekend before. We stayed at an inn called The Village Inn.The inn was nice and had a Gone With The Wind theme. The innkeeper put us in the Rhett room. I kept hoping to hear a ghostly spirit sometime in the night as the place was rumored to be haunted. No such luck. Only thing I heard was hubby's ghostly snoring in my ear.A cool part about the trip was we got to see the laser show at Stone Mountain. Awesome!! If you get a chance to see it, consider it a must do…

• Charlotte True Crime Examiner for Examiner.com

  8 Oct 2009 | 11:50 am

  Two of my favorite things...true crime and writing! I just got the position of Charlotte True Crime Examiner for Charlotte, North Carolina. I have worked in the legal position for over ten years, my husband is in law enforcement and I have other family members in law enforcement. I am so excited about the opportunity. Granted it only pays by page views, but I figure local and national exposure on the subject is always good. Plus I am still happily working on my first novel, a suspense/crime/paranormal book. Figure this will give some credibility when submitting to an agent whenever that…

• Suite101 and Current Projects

  2 Oct 2009 | 4:05 am

  Photo By Kristian D./Flickr.comThe past three months since I quit my paralegal job to work full-time as a freelancer have been hectic to say the least. One of the interesting things that I started working on is as a writer for Suite101. I actually got accepted as a writer there a few months ago but for some reason did not submit any articles. I finally saw an email from Suite101 reminding me about my account and figured I would go check it out. Writers in some other forums have indicated that they are making a decent income from revenue from Suite101 every month. Granted "decent" is relative…

• Football!

  16 Aug 2009 | 4:19 pm

  My son is going into 9th grade and is on the JV football team. They had their first pre-game scrimmage last night at the high school. It was just the JV team and they showed off what they have been practicing all summer and then had a short scrimmage against each other.It was fun watching them and as I looked around the stadium, I could not help but think that the next four years were going to fly by and I knew I would miss the frantic scrambling to get to the games, making sure Dylan had everything and realizing last minute he had left something out of the bag or at school...I really hope…

• Meeting the Neighbors

  27 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

  Over the weekend one of the neighbors had a little get together at his house and we were invited. It was a lot of fun meeting the other neighbors who had moved in recently. I felt bad because we have lived here for four years and have only met one or two people.How is it that several years can pass by and you only have time to exchange a quick hello in the driveway or just wave to people going down the street? It seems like when growing up even though our closest neighbors may have been a half mile down the rural road we lived on and the next maybe a mile away, we knew everyone! I lived out…

• 
  DuchessOmnium - Island to island

• In medias res

  Duchess

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:33 pm

  I. I am on an island 8000 miles from home, looking after my mother’s house, a bulimic cat, and two toy poodles.  A wind storm has knocked out the power all over the island.  The wind blew so hard that it broke the brand new dock, and the ferry captains are refusing to carry cars after dark. My one telephone that actually plugs into the wall seems impossibly old fashioned, but it allows me to receive “power updates”.  A message assures me that personnel have been despatched to assess the damage and that if I see power lines on the ground I should assume they are energised and keep…

• A happy Halloween

  Duchess

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:55 pm

  In the UK they don’t really understand the US version of Halloween, and for a long time politicians, the police and the church all regularly denounced it as a tradition that encouraged a combination of juvenile delinquency and devil worship.  At best it was described as an “unwelcome American import”. Nevertheless, it is catching on, bit by bit, and in many neighbourhoods these days children go trick or treating.  Sometimes they are met with surprise and occasionally with anger, but usually sweeties are doled out and everyone is happy.  It doesn’t always work the way you expect,…

• Spent storms

  Duchess

  27 Aug 2009 | 12:12 pm

  Huricane Bill has made his way over the Atlantic, and what is left of him is blowing the trees about in an ineffectual sort of way.  Bill’s rain is what the Brits like to call “wetting” rain.  I know what they mean: the effort feels half hearted, but it doesn’t half soak you. I knew Bill was coming, so this morning I lugged up the tow path my two toilet cartridges – what the boaters call, “shit suitcases”.  I thought I’d do it early because I prefer to stay dry when I sluice my effluent. The cartridges were surprisingly heavy, and their contents were all mine. …

• There will always be an England

  Duchess

  20 Aug 2009 | 1:56 pm

  Just as soon as I find out where I have packed my knickers, I promise to describe the last hours at Hedges and my move to Pangolin. Did I say? Pangolin is the name of my boat and Hedges is the name of my house, rented as of yesterday.  In the days when my ex husband and I were trying to run a business from home I thought the house - and hence the business - ought to have a more grown up address.  I knew there wasn’t a lot I could do about the lines “Buckland, near Faringdon” but I was sure I could at least get a house number.  With some difficulty I found out who…

• Concrete art, conceptual art, or a big mess?

  Duchess

  10 Aug 2009 | 3:33 pm

  I am thinking of entering my house for the Turner Prize.  In just 8 days my tenants move in.  Do you think it is time to start panicking?

• 
  drowning In kids

• i push, i pull, the days, go slow

  drowninginkids

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:36 pm

  i am so tired of this loneliness then answer your phone asshole. i can't. i can't. i don't know what to say. i'm afraid of what i might say. he said you're making it hard for him there is nothing i can do about that. all i can do these days is sleep, work, parent and sit in my bed and participate in this endless void of both heady and lowly banter. i don't have the mental capacity to even begin to address those words, the audacity of them. you put your angel wing necklace on again i need it. i feel at the end of my rope. i can't take another single thing. i still have so many things to deal…

• random thoughts while laying in bed/lying in bed

  drowninginkids

  13 Nov 2009 | 10:47 am

  I have been sick with the flu for three weeks. It has been really yucky. My oldest daughter has been sick that long too. (We each felt better for a few days and then it came back even worse.) My youngest daughter caught it on monday and i put her on TamiFlu and she was better in two days - get yourself some TamiFlu if you get sick. I weighed myself this morning when i picked up the kids and i have lost 15 pounds since the last time i weighed myself which was probably back in march when i lived in a house with a scale. I weigh the same as the day i got married. I think i might try on my…

• The Great Interview Experiment

  drowninginkids

  9 Nov 2009 | 10:13 pm

  Neil is brilliant. He is a master of getting people to his blog. He is funny and charming on twitter. He writes and links to lots of people. He starts small little scurries of opinion. All of it makes him someone that everybody knows. I do know him, i spent a few hours hanging out with him in Chicago last summer and found him charming and gracious and kind. Anyway, he is doing his yearly Great Interview Experiment and i am taking part. I was interviewed by "D" at Decoy Betty and here is what i had to say: Why is believing there is magic in this world so important to you? I think, if i am…

• another wasted night

  drowninginkids

  9 Nov 2009 | 1:04 am

  I have been having a rough time lately. I think it's like a coming down. I have had many hours alone. I'm not sure why i didn't in september and october. I think my kids are sick too often and there are too many professional days. I have spent a lot of time in bed over the past two weeks. I have felt myself unraveling. A losing of footing. Things could have been so well, they were going well back in july. I had a house, i had a life. I was feeling happy and confidant. One by one everything has gone to shit. You know all that. In the past week i have expertly removed every single person who…

• grace in small things: part 44

  drowninginkids

  7 Nov 2009 | 3:03 pm

  ~ i continue my love affair with London Fogs - especially with Mighty Leaf tea. ~ wandering around the house with the kids this morning, explaining to them where everything is going to be. ~ tuna melts on squirrely bread topped with cucumber and pepper. ~ red converse high tops on my daughter. ~ flash fried capers.

• 
  OMG. OMG! OMFG! Digital Meets Analog, by AV Flox

• What’s Happening?

  AV Flox

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:07 pm

  I can’t remember my first tweet, but I do remember one thing–it did not answer the question “what are you doing?” Conceived originally as a mobile status service, for years Twitter operated under that prompt. “People, organizations, and businesses quickly began leveraging the open nature of the network to share anything they wanted, completely ignoring the original question,” writes co-founder Biz Stone. Users were “seemingly on a quest to both ask and answer a different, more immediate question, ‘What’s happening?’ A simple text…

• The Web Moves Toward Inclusion

  AV Flox

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

  The Associated Press is reporting that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has approved the use of scripts other than the standard Latin characters for web domains. After years of debate, the decision to make the web more inclusive in this way by the nonprofit board’s 15 voting members received a standing ovation after a week-long series of meetings in Seoul, Korea. This will allow governments to submit requests for specific non-Latin domain names, as soon as mid-November, and we’ll start seeing them used early next year. Non-Latin versions of…

• Internet! You’re OLD!

  AV Flox

  30 Oct 2009 | 9:05 am

  The question of when the internet was born is a matter of some debate, but if you go by PC World’s version of things, then the web turned 40 yesterday: On October 29, 1969, the Internet came in not with a bang, but with a “lo.” Letter by letter, UCLA computer science professor Leonard Kleinrock sent a message from his school’s host computer to another computer at Stanford Research Institute. Kleinrock was trying to write “login,” starting up a remote time-sharing system, but the system crashed after two letters, and lo! The Internet was born with the first…

• When Digital And Analog Don’t Coincide

  AV Flox

  25 Oct 2009 | 3:43 pm

  Ali: Are you usually this friendly with strangers? She: Always. Ali: Any particular reason? She: A stranger is a safe place. You can tell a stranger anything. Ali: Suppose I put it in my book. She: You write fiction. Ali: So? She: So you won’t tie me to the facts. Ali: But I might tell the truth. She: Facts never tell the truth. Even the simplest facts are misleading. Ali: Like the times of the trains. She: And how many lovers you’ve had. Jeanette Winterson, The Powerbook If there is any phrase that summarizes what enabled us to advance as far as we have, it’s…

• Life After Print: Journalists Crawl to Digital

  AV Flox

  25 Oct 2009 | 4:38 am

  The Media Management Center recently released a study of journalists’ attitudes in regard to digital media. The verdict? Journalists in a cross-section of 79 newsrooms across the nation feel the transition from print to digital is too slow. Many of the nearly 3,800 responders said the shift was taking too long, with only 20 percent longing for the good old days of print. The breakdown looks like this: 12 percent are “digitals”, meaning they spend most of their time online. They are the youngest group, with an average age of 38. 11 percent want a more major shift, and could…

• 
  Heather Goodman's Blog -

• My Nemesis, Or Why My Next House Will Be a Tent

  hgoodman

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:53 am

  My Twitter friends may remember that sometime in September (or was it August?) I began degrouting our shower. The grout is original, which, while a high status in the art and fashion world, here means it's sometimes missing and sometimes moldy. I felt I had to shower after stepping out of my shower. And my Twitter friends may recall that this project may indeed be the death of me (see--I can pick up a good southern phrase). Classic tweets regarding the project include: off to de-grout my shower! (2:20 PM Sep 16th) wow. degrouting so much faster after Chris fixed the tool and showed me I could…

• Shades of a Leaf, a poem

  hgoodman

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am

  The red has been in the leaf since its conception waiting for the bright sun to dim for the right amount of rain. Waiting. Then. Then. On a certain day not long before the leaf will fall not long before it returns dust to dust to mulch. Then the green fades giving way first to yellow then to orange. Then the red that has always been there waiting emerges along the veins and the edges pushing to the rest of the leaf. Pushing and bleeding until the whole leaf shines with waxy red brilliance.

• Making an Ordinary Jog into a Mary Poppins Afternoon o' Fun (Tactic #48)

  hgoodman

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

  For your afternoon jog, create a playlist on your iPod (or other mp3 player) of, say, Jamie Cullum's "I Could Have Danced All Night," "La Vie Boheme" from Rent, Chopin's Etude #5 ("Revolution"), and U2's "Elevation." Human nature demands you incorporate dance steps into your jog. Sure, you may incur odd looks from parents walking their children home from school (the children will understand, of course), but your heart-rate will double, you'll extend your run for the fun of it, and you'll actually look forward to your next jog.

• "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying."

  hgoodman

  13 Nov 2009 | 7:03 am

  Let me preface this with two statements: 1. Evangelism and social justice are necessary and normative to the Christian life. 2. Art has a place in shining light on and practicing in both these issues. For years, Christian writers have been decrying the idea that every book by a Christian author must be evangelistic. I don't think anyone means that a book necessarily can't have an evangelistic idea in it. After all, conversion is central to story, whether that conversion be Christian or not (meaning, the conversion could be that someone realizes something about themselves or solves a murder or…

• Trendy Archaeology

  hgoodman

  11 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am

  In Israel, I was trendy. I saw some of the latest archaeological digs. We passed a main street in Jerusalem from Byzantine times, drove by a sanctuary recently unearthed in Magdala, stepped into the believed house of Peter (the apostle of Jesus), peeked into the palace of Queen Helena (from first century AD), and walked through King David's Palace. In 2005 through 2008, a woman named Eilat Mazar (who happens to be the granddaughter of the archaeologist who unearthed the Temple Mount) excavated the area just south of the Temple Mount. Her team found remains of a foundation wall underneath…

• 
  JPD Mom

• Does Surviving Mean Succeeding?

  Jamie R Lentzner

  10 Nov 2009 | 7:29 pm

  November 9, 2009. The expression,  ignorance is bliss holds true for most major life changing events.  I can say that in my life it has been true; marriage, child birth, parenting, aging, starting a business - that stupid sappy Rod Stewart song about, If I knew then what I know now....ya I may need to download that song before I get too old.  What good ol' Rod is saying is,  us youngin's be dumb, or at the very least blissfully ignorant to what the future has in store for us.  I am a firm believer that had I known what life had in store for me I might have taken a pass…

• A Review of a Peek

  Jamie R Lentzner

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:22 pm

  October 29, 2009 So.....I am not big on reviews of products, I am not one to get free products and then claimlie that I loved it.  I already made it pretty clear how I would NOT be doing many more (if any) reviews with bloggers.  I was actually thrilled to hear that there would be some crack down on the reviews and the blogger would need to fess up and explain that the review was just an advertisement.   Any hoo, I did myself a little review...and I will disclose what I got and how it became to be. Flattery Will Get You Everywhere Yes, like everyone else I love me some compliments.....I…

• The Whole Dr. Phil Truth, the whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth

  Jamie R Lentzner

  15 Oct 2009 | 10:18 pm

  October 15, 2009. It has been almost 24 hours since I saw myself on the Dr. Phil Show last night.  In Northern California it airs at night, but I had already heard from friends across the country what was said, and how I looked.  I can't even begin to explain how surreal (and very uncomfortable, even after a glass of wine) it is to watch yourself on TV, hear your voice and to know  the show was edited.     Behind the Scenes at Dr. Phil After the make-up artist, the hair person, the handlers and the producers all got us guests gussied up and wound into a total heart-beat…

• My Claim To Fame - Dr. Phil Show October 14, 2009

  Jamie R Lentzner

  11 Oct 2009 | 2:48 pm

  October 11, 2009 So if you have nothing going on this Wednesday or you are totally into the Mommy Wars you may want to catch the episode of Dr. Phil.  It is titled Stay at Home Moms vs. Working Moms (dun dun dun dun) that was me doing scary ominous music.  And yes, I am a guest on the show, and I am hopefully not making an ass of myself...tune in for yourself to see.  I know what happened, I know what I said, I know what was said....and I know that editing can change reality.  I am going into this with both eyes wide open, and all fingers and toes crossed.  If you miss the first 10 or…

• Here We Go Again......really?

  Jamie R Lentzner

  14 Sep 2009 | 9:28 pm

  September 14, 2009. In just two short months I will have been in business for 7 years, 7 painful , no I mean wonderful years.  I can notbelieve it has been that long - I don't mean that in a bad way.  Some days I actually do little air pump, laugh and giggle and thank my lucky stars I get to do this job....other days, you know tears, stomping and banging my head against the wall and I shake my fist in the sky and scream, "whhhhyyyyy?" Been Around the Block What I find so amazing, or shocking I guess is even though things change, laws come into affect, the industry changes,…

• 
  5 Resolutions

• 30% Off Beyond Yoga Online Purchases

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:56 pm

  One of the biggest body image dilemmas women encounter during pregnancy and after childbirth is the question of what to wear. No matter how excited you might be about the prospect of becoming a mom, outgrowing sizes can lead to a lot of appearance-related insecurity. It's not always easy to find affordable maternity wear and "transition" pieces, not to mention that saying good-bye to certain go-to wardrobe items can be an emotionally draining process.Mourning the loss of too-small-to-squeeze-into-'em pieces and obsessing over "getting your body back" when everything else around you is moving…

• Friday Roundup: News, Reviews, and Giveaways

  13 Nov 2009 | 9:37 am

  This week you can find us in the New York Times, across the pond in the Daily Mail, and on a few other great websites and blogs. Here are all the latest links and book contests:Blacktating (a blogger who was interviewed about breastfeeding and body image for our book) reviewed Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? and is giving away a copy. Leave a comment to enter. The contest ends November 18th."Breast-feed the Baby, Love the Calorie Burn" [New York Times]. We weigh in about the "breastfeeding diet.""The Baby Weight Obsession: Lose it Quickly and You're Selfish. Keep it On and You're a…

• "The Baby Weight Obsession: Lose it Quickly and You're Selfish. Keep it On and You're a Failure"

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:32 pm

  We're quoted in this Daily Mail article about the baby weight obsession. The piece is written by Sarah Hughes, a mom who worked to overcome her own body image issues.

• Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? NYC Reading and Panel Discussion Tonight!

  29 Oct 2009 | 8:32 am

  If you're in the NYC area, Claire will be reading from Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? tonight and moderating a panel discussion about body image, pregnancy, and motherhood. The event is hosted by Momasphere and Bump. All the details are right here. Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009Time: 7-9pmPlace: The Old Stone House, 336 3rd St (bet. 4th & 5th Ave), Brooklyn, NY 11215Price: Tickets are $10 online & $15 at the door A portion of the proceeds will benefit Girls Incorporated, a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

• Kendra Loves Her Pregnant Body. Now Begins the Countdown to her 'Postbaby Body' Reveal.

  27 Oct 2009 | 7:49 am

  Former "Girl Next Door" Kendra Wilkinson is on the cover of the new issue of InTouch Weekly dishing about how much she loves her pregnant body. Now we love a celebration of the curves, but forgive our cynicism when we predict that along with that little bundle of joy, there is another cover in the making that will appear in a few months--one with bullets outlining how Kendra shed the baby weight.Let's also pause for a retouching reality check. Forget stretch marks and cellulite, there's not even the tiniest blemish to be found on this photo! In other words, the body that Kendra feels…

• 
  Women For Hire

• Tory on Boomers: Tough in a Rough Economy

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:19 am

  Women For Hire CEO Tory Johnson is impressed by how baby boomers have dealt with the recession: they won't give up. "With the 20- and 30-somethings, the attitude is, ‘No one is hiring, what’s the point of going to a job fair?’ ” Tory tells The New York Times. “With the boomers, it’s, ‘Even if there’s one job, I’ll try.’ ”

• New Hair Tests Spot Drug Use at Work

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:50 am

  Newer workplace drug tests using hair samples reveal 10 times as many job applicants and employees taking cocaine and methamphetamine than had been found in urine tests. Quest Diagnostics hair data for the first time shows that in the first half of 2009 cocaine was found in three of every 1,000 urine tests performed on job applicants and employees, whereas hair testing found cocaine in 32 of 1,000. For every 1,000 tests, methamphetamine showed up once in urine and nine times in hair. But overall since 1988, drug use in the workplace is down sharply. USA TODAY.

• Big Brother Watching at Work? Not so fast

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:24 pm

  In past years, courts showed sympathy for corporations that monitored personal email accounts accessed over corporate computer networks. Generally, judges treated corporate computers, and anything on them, as company property. But now, courts are increasingly taking into account whether employers have explicitly described how email is monitored to their employees, The Wall Street Journal reports.

• Raises on the Rise?

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  Many employers are planning to reinstate merit increases in 2010, The Wall Street Journal reports. But some experts say base salaries are unlikely to return to pre-recession levels anytime soon. Of 555 large U.S. employers polled in October, 83% said they will give out raises next year, while only about half did so in 2009, reports Lincolnshire, Ill.-based Hewitt Associates Inc. None anticipate pay reductions next year, after 10% cut salaries in 2009.

• Holiday Jobs: Get in Line

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:18 am

  With the unemployment rate hovering at 10% and with already employed people looking to make money by taking second jobs, competition for retail, movie theater, package-delivery and other holiday posts is fierce, USA TODAY reports.

• 
  Woman Tribune

• Elisabeth Hasselbeck Says Waiting Until Your 50’s to Get Routine Mammograms is ‘Gendercide’

  Holly

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:15 pm

  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recently come out advising women that they should not get regular mammograms in their 40’s, as women have been told that they should do for quite a number of years now, and that they should wait until their 50’s. They have also advised that self breast exams do not work, therefore women should not worry about giving themselves self breast exams. As soon as I heard about this new information I was instantly skeptical. Whose best interests are in mind here, those of women or those of the medical profession working in a recession and eager…

• Don’t Become Another Recession Statistic–Know How to Avoid Home Foreclosure

  Holly

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:14 am

  I don’t have to tell you the amount of home foreclosures that happen every single day across the country; you see them on your daily news every day and you see the impact of the massive amount of home foreclosures when you drive down the street and notice that there are more houses for sale than there are homes for families. The recession has had a devastating impact on an unfathomable amount of families across the country, but those who have been lucky enough to weather the storm are asking themselves one, big question–What can I do so my family doesn’t lose their home?

• What You Didn’t See During Oprah’s Interview with Sarah Palin

  Holly

  16 Nov 2009 | 8:40 pm

  Sarah Palin appeared on Oprah on Monday. She talked about her marriage and life in Wasilla, Alaska, about being “tapped” by John McCain to run as vice-presidential candidate, her trials and tribulations on the campaign trail and her interviews with Katie Couric, who she dubs as the “perky one.” They also spoke about Bristol and her pregnancy, how she feels about Levi Johnston today and much more. We also got to see a side of Sarah Palin that we were not already familiar with, being a mom as she shares some moments with youngest son Trig, working out and taking her…

• Alice Makes it Easy to Shop for All Your Home Essentials and Save Money!

  Holly

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm

  I just recently met Alice, a wbesite that will help you take and keep stock of all the household products you use and need on a daily basis. Alice will remember the products you have in your household from bathroom and daily care needs, kitchen and pantry items and items your kids expect to be in the house at all times, even if you’re running behind on your weekly shopping. And that is where Alice comes in… Alice will notice when you are running low and remind you to re-order items you need. Alice will also give you coupons, saving you a bundle of money every time you shop and…

• Blake Lively: A Very Big Fan of the Plunging Neck Line

  Holly

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:47 pm

  As Blake Lively was seen at the premier of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, the sole thought that crossed my mind was ‘Wow, she is a big, big fan of the plunging neck line.’ Of course we all remember Blake Lively’s red carpet appearance at the 61st Annual Emmy Awards where she introduced the very, very low neck line… While she looked great on both occasions (with the exception of that horrendous hair-do at the Emmy’s), I hope she doesn’t keep falling into outfits with a plunging neckline because as a celebrity, she needs to change it up a bit every once in a…

• 
  Carrie and Danielle

• What Is Insurance Law?

  Matt Heman

  21 Nov 2009 | 1:11 pm

  Insurance law is a specific body of law that pertains to the insurance industry. The purpose of insurance law is the creation and regulation of standards that will govern the practice of: Insurance sales Policy writing Claims handling Laws are dual purpose as they are going to protect the consumer but also the insurance company through the setting of clear boundaries and the creation of methods for enforcement should there be any violations of the law. It’s a very complex issue just do to the content of it which is why you see it as a specific specialty as you do tax law. Specifics The…

• Fitness Health Clubs: What Benefits Can You Expect?

  Shue

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am

  90% Americans agree that fitness is important for them in their lives. Yet, only 13% are enrolled in fitness health clubs. Is it possible that the high cost of membership is the only deterrent? Experts tend to believe that being unaware of all the health benefits they can derive from the health club is likely to be the most important reason that keeps people away from them. If you don’t want to be part of the 87% populace that does not know the benefits of visiting a fitness center, read on to find out what health benefits you can expect from them. The most important benefit you can get…

• Fitness Membership: Is It Worth It?

  Shue

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:47 am

  Over 90% Americans believe that it is important to stay fit and healthy. But, you wouldn’t believe that by looking at the statistics, considering only 13% visit fitness centers regularly. It is common knowledge that a fitness membership is reasonably high, if not prohibitively so. So, the questions remains- is it worth it? There is no simple answer to that, as it is a deeply personal question. However, here is some light shed on what it is that fitness centers provide that may be worth your while or your money. No matter what your level of fitness is, it is important to have a fitness…

• Fitness Tips for Beginners

  Shue

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:47 am

  It is absolutely wonderful that you have decided on a fitness training program. Body fitness is important to be able to deal with the hectic pace of life in these modern times. Body fitness ensures that you can take life’s challenges in your stride. Body fitness also makes sure that you do not fall ill often and that you are healthy. In all, body fitness can ensure that you have a positive experience of life. If you are just starting out on your fitness training program, here are some fitness tips to help you ensure that you get the most out of your fitness program. Before starting any…

• Which Fitness Program Works Best For You?

  Shue

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:46 am

  Most people agree that fitness and health are important for a positive and productive experience of life. However, how to reach this fitness level is an opinion that differs from person to person. The fact is that there are literally hundreds of fitness programs out there which promise to promote good health, help you lose weight and ensure that you are absolutely fit and healthy. For somebody who wants to start fitness training for the first time in their lives, it can be a daunting task to choose any one fitness program for their requirements. Here are some tips on how you can narrow down…

• 
  My Inspiration Lounge

• Best travel sites on the web

  Misty Gibbs

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:48 am

  “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson Booking your next adventure or getaway just got a whole lot easier! All the best travel sites on the web are now at your fingertips when you visit the See The World section at MyInspirationLounge.com. I have mined the web for secret escapes, adventures you never thought of, tips for traveling on a budget, the best hotels and must-know info before you head out. I promise you will leave inspired! Click here to start your exploring: See The World at MyInspirationLounge.com. For more about…

• Pamper yourself inexpensively, here's how

  Misty Gibbs

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  When you think of getting a massage - it's usually an all or nothing kind of thing. If you don't have $80- $100 to indulge on one or have one-hour to spare, then you go without a massage for a long time. And you feel it. The knots and tension build. You get grumpy.

• Leftover food from holiday dinners: here's how long you can keep it

  Misty Gibbs

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:26 am

  No need to worry about having leftovers with this apple pie! YUM! We've all been there - staring at the leftover food pondering if it's still good to eat. Well, no more. In the November issue of Real Simple, I saw these very handy tips on how long you can keep leftovers. No more mystery - just the facts.

• We can never be too old to make a wish

  Misty Gibbs

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm

  Love this Make A Wish print for sale on Etsy I saw this Make A Wish print and thought it was the sweetest thing ever. I know little kids like to have fun making wishes but so do big kids :)  Where Verity, the artist, gets her inspiration from...

• The first widget ever to share inspiring thoughts from ordinary people

  Misty Gibbs

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am

  I'm starting a movement. It's called "Ordinary People Inspire!" Why? Because YOU inspire me. Every single one of you. Even on your bad days!  Since launching MyInspirationLounge.com and interviewing women for InspirationLounge.tv, I've seen how the chaos of life can zap us of our energy, mojo, confidence, and self-worth. So much, that we don't think we have one inspiring bone in our body! I have plenty of those days! I'm here to remind us that we all inspire in our own unique and beautiful ways! That you too have inspiration to share with the world!

• 
  Girlfriend Celebrations

• Girls Night for Chari-Tea

  Dawn

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:56 pm

  When was the last time you really felt relaxed? We had the opportunity to treat our local girlfriends to a melt-your-cares away, relaxation filled evening, and help out a great cause while we were doing it. Thanks to our friends at Johnson & Johnson, our Girls Night for Chari-Tea was a success. More stories at teas and toes Powered by Whrrl When Johnson & Johnson asked us to hold a cause party to help preview their new body care line, we were very interested. After all, Johnson & Johnson is a brand we trust and respect. They’ve been taking care of us since we were…

• Now Open: The Girlfriendly Goods Shop!

  Dawn

  15 Nov 2009 | 7:52 pm

  Do you believe, as we do, that Girlfriends Make Life Better™? Well, now you can proclaim it to the world with your t-shirt, water bottle, coffee mug, and more. Yes, our Girlfriendly Goods Shop is finally open on CafePress! Three cute designs let girlfriends of all ages show their solidarity with their gal pals. Whether you like chilling with martinis, cozying up with a cup of coffee, or sharing an ice cream sundae with your best friends, you’ll find the right way to make a fashion statement. You’ve been asking for t-shirts and we’re super excited to be bringing you so many…

• Need a Girlfriend Getaway? Win One of These!

  Dawn

  13 Nov 2009 | 8:21 am

  Wouldn’t you love to give your best friend (and yourself) a girlfriend getaway for the holidays? Now that would be the ultimate girlfriend gift—but it may seem way out of reach in the current economy.  To help girlfriends “get away,” our very own contributor Casey Wohl, founder of  the Girls Getaway Guide, has announced The Getaway Girl’s® third annual “12 Days ‘til Christmas” holiday promotion—a chance to make your travel wishes come true! Visit the Girls Getaway Guide online at www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net to sign up for more than $7,000 in fabulous giveaways.  The…

• You’re Invited to the Black Friday Preview Twitter Party!

  Dawn

  10 Nov 2009 | 7:52 am

  Hey girlfriends, you know, we love a good excuse to get together with our girlfriends, online or in real life.  And YES, sometimes this does involve shopping—especially for good deals! So, we were thrilled to be asked to co-host a “twitter party” on the evening of Friday, November 20, from 7 - 9 pm EST. Click here to read the official invitation, RSVP, and find out how to enter the first giveaway now simply by retweeting! We’re so excited to be taking part in this one-of-a-kind twitter event! Using the hashtag #BFParty, we’ll be hanging out on twitter and enjoying:…

• Top Ten Ways to Help a Girlfriend Get Well

  Tina

  9 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  get well soon With this season of colds, pneumonia and swine flu, someone in your circle of friends might be feeling under the weather right now.  Recently the Girlfriends-in-Chief themselves were shut-in for one illness or another and personally  understand “It’s really pretty sucky!”  So we’re here to remind you to take a minute out of your busy schedule, arm yourselves with love and compassion and let a girlfriend know you are thinking of her. Taking some time to nurture a girlfriend can make a world of difference not only in her life but yours as well.

• 
  My Inspiration Lounge

• Best travel sites on the web

  Misty Gibbs

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:48 am

  “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson Booking your next adventure or getaway just got a whole lot easier! All the best travel sites on the web are now at your fingertips when you visit the See The World section at MyInspirationLounge.com. I have mined the web for secret escapes, adventures you never thought of, tips for traveling on a budget, the best hotels and must-know info before you head out. I promise you will leave inspired! Click here to start your exploring: See The World at MyInspirationLounge.com. For more about…

• Pamper yourself inexpensively, here's how

  Misty Gibbs

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  When you think of getting a massage - it's usually an all or nothing kind of thing. If you don't have $80- $100 to indulge on one or have one-hour to spare, then you go without a massage for a long time. And you feel it. The knots and tension build. You get grumpy.

• Leftover food from holiday dinners: here's how long you can keep it

  Misty Gibbs

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:26 am

  No need to worry about having leftovers with this apple pie! YUM! We've all been there - staring at the leftover food pondering if it's still good to eat. Well, no more. In the November issue of Real Simple, I saw these very handy tips on how long you can keep leftovers. No more mystery - just the facts.

• We can never be too old to make a wish

  Misty Gibbs

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm

  Love this Make A Wish print for sale on Etsy I saw this Make A Wish print and thought it was the sweetest thing ever. I know little kids like to have fun making wishes but so do big kids :)  Where Verity, the artist, gets her inspiration from...

• The first widget ever to share inspiring thoughts from ordinary people

  Misty Gibbs

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am

  I'm starting a movement. It's called "Ordinary People Inspire!" Why? Because YOU inspire me. Every single one of you. Even on your bad days!  Since launching MyInspirationLounge.com and interviewing women for InspirationLounge.tv, I've seen how the chaos of life can zap us of our energy, mojo, confidence, and self-worth. So much, that we don't think we have one inspiring bone in our body! I have plenty of those days! I'm here to remind us that we all inspire in our own unique and beautiful ways! That you too have inspiration to share with the world!

• 
  Women in the News: News On Women

• Phyllis Wise Named to Nike Board

  Alice Krause

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:09 am

  NIKE, Inc. (NYSE: NKE), headquartered in Oregon, appointed Phyllis M. Wise, Ph.D., to the Company's Board of Directors. Phyllis is Executive Vice President and Provost of the University of Washington. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

• A List of Jobs in Media and Communications

  Alice Krause

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:32 am

  If you are interested in Media and Communications, this is no time to sit on a park bench. Check out these jobs: NBC Universal is seeking a Sales Planner - Telemundo Network. Located in New York. AT&T is seeking an Executive Director, Content Development and Production. Located in California. WSLS - NBC Roanoke, part of Media General, is seeking a Host/CoHost for live entertainment television. Located in Virginia. NBC Universal is seeking a Director of Universal Pictures - Accounting and Reporting. Located in California.

• Kathleen Reed Made Senior Vice President at Newbridge Securities

  Alice Krause

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:46 am

  Newbridge Securities Corporation appointed Kathleen Reed a Senior Vice President and Equity Research Analyst to cover the Consumer Products sector. Kathleen, who holds an MBA from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, had previously been an Analyst with Stanford Group for 5 years and Merrill Lynch for 6 years. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

• Deb Fitzgerald Made Chief Information Officer at Deltek

  Alice Krause

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:53 am

  Deltek, Inc. (Nasdaq: PROJ), a provider of enterprise applications software for project-focused businesses, appointed Deb Fitzgerald Chief Information Officer. Deb had been Vice President of Information Technologies at VeriSign. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

• Michelle Lantow made Chief Financial Officer at McCormick & Schmick's

  Alice Krause

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:49 am

  McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSSR) appointed Michelle Lantow Chief Financial Officer. Michelle had been President and Chief Financial Officer of Lucy Activewear,  a wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC). Read more in the Business Wire press release.

• 
  Rise of the Innerpreneur

• Samantha Brightwell: November Innerpreneur Spotlight

  Tara Joyce

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

  Samantha Brightwell Creative Entrepreneur Out of the Void and How to Build a Really Good Business Follow Sam on Twitter I am: …a writer, an artist, a teacher, a tree-hugging hippie, a mum, and an advocate for conscious living and new ways of doing business. I provide life & business advice. I am a girl with a dream, who is daring to do something about it. I’m a practical Virgo with a twist of chaotic Aquarius. I try to find a balance between walking my spiritual path and being truly grounded in the real world. For me, real world concerns should come first. And so, I am focused on…

• It’s My Birthday Today!

  Tara Joyce

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:07 pm

  I’m 28! Woo hoo! I’m writing this post late today as I spent the day with my family, eating and laughing. I’m off to dinner with my hubby in a few minutes too. My birthday is a day that I always treat myself on. Even when I worked for others, I took my birthday off and made it a priority to fill the day with all the things and people I love. I do hope that you do the same for yourself on your special day. You deserve it. photo by: Paco CTOther articles that might tickle your fancy: Slowing Down for the Holidays We Have a Problem with Business It’ll Never Be Fast Enough…

• It’s the Squishy Stuff that Counts

  Tara Joyce

  15 Nov 2009 | 12:28 pm

  When it comes to business, we tend to focus on the “hard stuff”. We believe with the right idea, coupled with equipment, know-how and a little money, we will be a success. We write business plans, take classes, invest in seminars, read books and magazines, and worry over and debate the nuts and bolts, the material resources and the fundamental idea, of our business. It’s not the idea, it’s you It’s not the “hard stuff” that will make your dreams come true, those things you can easily acquire. Having an idea does not make you unique, nor does having…

• You’re My Kind of Whackjob

  Tara Joyce

  12 Nov 2009 | 4:25 pm

  After a year and a half of writing this blog, it still seems odd to me that I share my most personal thoughts with world. See, I’ve always considered myself a private person, as I keep my feelings close to my chest, dealing them out only to those few, dear people closest to me. I’ve never really felt safe opening up to people, and I felt a sense of contentment with my story staying mine, alone. You actually care? When I first heard about blogging I couldn’t understand why anyone: Would think someone else cares enough about their thoughts to publish them Would want to read…

• 5 Tips for Finding Your Signal and Creating a Web Presence to Support It

  Tara Joyce

  9 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  I wrote this post for my friend and fellow Innerpreneur, Tim Bursh. He blogs on Social Impact, Social Media and Community. I encourage you to read the article in it’s entirety. 5 Tips for Finding Your Signal Accept that there is no demand for your message. Express your point-of-view. The more valuable your signal, the stronger it will be. It’s a table for two. Share. Looking for more guidance than this? Read the whole article. The context around these 5 tips is what really matters. photo credit: Andres RuedaOther articles that might tickle your fancy: What Tune Does Your Business…

• 
  Bloomacious Digs

• Creating A Home With Kathryn Ireland

  Carrie

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  Take a spin around designer Kathryn M. Ireland’s site and you’ll probably put her new book, Creating a Home, at the top of your wish list. Love the beautiful saturated color and casual bohemian charm.  Many of the photos in the book were taken at her home in Ojai which she just sold to Reese Witherspoon (including the cute kitchen below – that looks like a Reece room).  The all white mixed with just a couple of red pieces looks so cool and a really great showcase for all the pretty dishes and cups.  This is exactly my kitchen’s layout (sink and stove location) and I…

• What a Dish

  Carrie

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:23 pm

  OK – I’ll admit it…I’m a dish-aholic.  I just adore tabletop prettiness of all types, vintage, ceramic, fine china, melamine … I can look and be enthralled with patterns for hours.  As far as I’m concerned most designs are true works of art suitable for framing or at least hanging.  If I had room I’d have dish sets by the hundreds.  I’m seriously not exaggerating. I think the prettiest tables have gobs of different patterns all mixed and matched with just the right touch.  I’m indulging my fetish with the virtual table above made up…

• The Basement of Your Dreams Awaits

  Carrie

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:25 pm

  For various reasons I’ve been waging what feels like a war with my basement over the past few months – one that I’m fairly sure at this point that I’m losing. Where I come from on the West Coast we really don’t have basements unless they happen to be small crawl spaces or garages – everything is more or less built on slab.  So just the notion of descending into an underground cement bunker seems unnatural and a bit spooky to me. Then, to be frank, I have terrifying, unseen visitors down there that simply refuse to vacate.  And in their refusal they leave…

• Historically Inclined

  Carrie

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:55 pm

  When I first moved to New England I was really impressed with the area’s true commitment to historical architecture and design.  As a California native I came to view anything designed before 1980 as something from “olden times” – but here the residents take their antiques very seriously – even contemporary interiors seem to have a twinkle of the colonial somewhere just near the surface. So it’s no wonder that the country’s foremost designer and creator of faithful historical lighting is here in Yankee country. Scofield Historic Lighting has become a…

• Seeing Red! Red! Red!

  Carrie

  13 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm

• 
  Change.org's Women's Rights Blog

• Senate Begins Debate on Health Care: Eschews Stupak, Funds Abstinence

  Jen Nedeau

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  Debate on the Senate version of the Health Care bill opened yesterday with a mixed bag for those concerned about reproductive health. On the plus side, the Senate Bill avoids Stupak language, instead offering private insurance a separate means by which it can set aside monies that could be used in case of abortion that do not interfere with government spending. RH Reality Check reports that this approach closely mirrors the Capps language originally included in the House and Senate Finance Committee bills, with an additional provision tacked on obligating the Health and Human Services…

• For Health or Money: The Motivation Behind New Mammogram Guidelines

  Roxann MtJoy

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:40 pm

  Women and health care professionals are confused and outraged by the mammogram guidelines released by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Monday, denouncing the task force for prioritizing economy over health. Regular mammogram screenings have accounted for a 15 percent decrease in the rate of breast cancer. The new guidelines suggest that women start going for regular mammograms at 50 -- ten years later than previously recommended -- and get checked every other year, instead of annually, unless they are at high risk. Critics, such as the American Cancer Society,…

• Servicewomen Need Access to Plan B: Focus on That, Elaine Donnelly

  Brandann Hill-Mann

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

  Groups like the self-proclaimed experts at the Center for Military Readiness, headed by Elaine Donnelly (yes, that Elaine Donnelly), would have you believe that the possibility of unplanned pregnancies is a good reason to exclude women from combat roles and submarine service.  I have another idea for Ms. Donnelly and her ilk to help them focus their concerns:  Fight like hell to get Plan B included in the TRICARE Formulary (the standard list of drugs that must be stocked) and make it available in all Military Treatment Facilities (MTF). Right now, a servicewoman cannot walk into an MTF…

• Women-Only Travel Company Violates Men's Rights

  Sarah Menkedick

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:22 pm

  At best, women-only policies strike me as band-aid solutions. I see little merit in single-sex gyms, and am downright appalled by the idea of Mexico's women-only taxis --  bubble-gum pink cabs equipped with makeup mirrors -- as a real solution to sexual violence. We can't end sexual harassment and assault simply by carving out spaces where men don't exist. Poof! They're gone! No more worries! Except that eventually you have to leave the gym or get out of the taxi. So I was automatically skeptical when I heard about the proposal for a women-only travel company, Travel Sisters, geared toward…

• UN Operations In Congo: A Dangerous Strategy

  Jen Nedeau

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pm

  Compared with the energy and awareness surrounding the genocide in Darfur, the crisis in Congo is often known as the "forgotten conflict" -- despite the fact that over five million people have been killed since the war began 1998. After a brief flurry of headlines last year, the crisis has received little media attention. Meanwhile, the situation in Congo has only grown worse, especially for women and girls, who are the victims of mass rapes and mutilation This December, the United Nations will be renewing its mandate of the peacekeeping force in Congo -- a joint Rwandan and Congolese…

• 
  Secret Women's Business Network

• It’s Our Birthday! A Year of the Secret Women’s Business Network

  Lisa

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:25 pm

  It’s hard to believe that a year ago today (5th November 2008) the Secret Women’s Business Network blog was born. The SWBN itself was born from a germ of an idea a couple of months earlier, but the blog became our official public face and we’ve shared some interesting developments and events over that year; from competitions to crazies (you know who you are), fun stuff to special reports, Cool Tools to interviews with some great business people, and a lot more in between. To mark our blog birthday we’ve decided to share some of our highlights of the past year with…

• Due Diligence

  Allison

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:14 am

  The sad thing about this post is that it won’t be read by those that need it most. The newcomer to the internet who is looking for the goose that will lay the golden egg for them. We were all there once, shiny new in our ignorance, afraid and excited at the same time. Reminds me of the first day I opened the doors on my first business. Even though it was a well established existing business in a prime position that couldn’t help but make money, I was freaking out that I would do something wrong and mess the whole thing up. Along the way I did make mistakes (never hire family as a…

• Social Media: The Realm of Naughty Children and Their Mischievous Games

  Lisa

  19 Oct 2009 | 7:21 am

  Last Friday, thanks to Twitter, it came to my attention that a particularly nasty article had been written in the Daily Mail by Jan Moir about the death of singer Stephen Gately. I avoid reading newspapers for this very reason – slanted, biased and (as in the case of the Daily Mail which was our family’s newspaper during my formative years) often bigoted writing. I won’t go into great detail about the article originally entitled (and then changed after the complaints started to reach the Daily Mail) “Why there was nothing ‘natural’ about Stephen…

• What About GOOD Customer Service?

  Lisa

  16 Oct 2009 | 4:48 am

  We’re always quick to shout about bad customer service, so here’s some GOOD for a change. In the UK we have been experiencing a bunch of postal strikes, and many businesses (including Amazon) have sought out new ways to get mail delivered. LoveFilm is probably the UK’s biggest internet-based DVD rental company and rely on Royal Mail to deliver their DVDs to customers. I have been a HUGE fan of LoveFilm since the beginning and have always had great customer service from them. This latest offering to their customers is really the icing on the cake, and what makes a good…

• Making Our Little Dent

  Allison

  15 Oct 2009 | 2:43 am

  I just watched Chris Brogan’s second vidcast on being An Overnight Success and felt the excitement of being able to say “Yes we ARE doing something about spreading what we have learned with people who need help”. In fact we are sending out emails shortly to those who are joining us, to put what we know and what they can do, into ACTION. I challenge every one of our readers to go out and help one person this week using what you already know. Have a chat to your kid’s teacher, or the local petrol station owner, or the mailman. If you are reading this blog then you have…

• 
  Get Organized Wizard

• Do You Use Information as Procrastination?

  Michele Connolly

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:13 am

  What are your goals? Do you spend lots of time reading or learning about weight loss, starting a business, or getting your finances sorted, but never make any progress?Information as ProcrastinationCould you be using information as a form of procrastination – a way to trick yourself into thinking you’re doing something productive?Some people spend their time and energy on an unending quest to read more, ponder more, discuss more. But they never get around to taking the actions that would move them closer to achieving their goals.Focus on Motivation, tooGetting the information you need…

• Detox Your Fridge Before The Holidays

  Michele Connolly

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:54 pm

  Time to give your fridge a mini detox?Spend 5 minutes removing expired condiments, sprouting fruit and vegetables, and other noxious former foodstuffs from your fridge.Give the shelves a quick wipe down.Low on any refrigerated items? Pop them on your list.Now doesn’t that feel fresher? This was a popular Today’s Tip last week on my Facebook Professional Page. Please come and be a fan!Related posts:Get Organized Mission #6: Detox Your CarGetting Organized Quick Tip: How To Unpack Groceries For Freshness5 Home Organization Strategies for Busy People

• Create a Chore Chart [Organizing Mission #24]

  Michele Connolly

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:23 am

  One of the secrets to personal organization is to do a little every day. Unless you actually enjoy cleaning, filing and organizing (I sure don’t!), it’s more enjoyable and effective to focus on daily or weekly chores than massive, exhausting sprees.So this week we’ll create a chore chart for your weekly or daily home organizing tasks.Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below. If you’re new, you might like to start here: 52 Organizing Missions.  Get Organized Mission #24: Create a Chore ChartStep 1: Choose Daily or WeeklyIf you’re…

• 52 Organizing Missions Update – A Cool Tool & Awesome Prizes!

  Michele Connolly

  10 Nov 2009 | 4:16 am

  Hi there Mission-mates!I’d like to:Let you know about a cool new tool to help with 52 Organizing MissionsTell you about an opportunity to win awesome prizesAsk you what you think.1. NEW: Set The Get-Organized TimerIf you’re looking for a little extra motivation to get you moving, I’ve got just the thing: a 30-minute countdown.Here’s how it works. When you’ve read your organizing mission for the week and you’re ready to begin, simply click this link -> Start The 30-Minute Timer.Make sure you’re ready to go – the countdown will start as soon as you click.2. NEW: Send Before…

• Enjoy Good Relationships [Mission #23]

  Michele Connolly

  8 Nov 2009 | 1:57 am

  Good relationships have many health and longevity benefits, yet we rarely consider how we can improve our friendships.This week, over the next 3 steps and 30 minutes, that’s exactly what we’ll do.Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below. If you’re new, you might like to start here: 52 Organizing Missions.Get Organized Mission #23: Declutter Your FriendsStep 1: List Your Friends (10 minutes)Make a quick list of the main people who occupy your discretionary time – time and activities that are up to you.Check the past few months in your diary…

• 
  Champagne Living

• Give the gift that gives twice.

  Zippy

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

  I just wanted to alert the readers of Champagne Living about what American Express is doing to give back this holiday season, and how your gift can give to those in need.If you were planning on purchasing gift cards for holiday gifts, why not consider the United Way Charity Gift Card? This year American express is donating the $3.95 card fee directly to the United Way. In essence, you're

• Top 10 Ways to Curb your Spending

  Zippy

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:24 pm

  I tend to yack on & on about spending money. In reality, I am careful about what I spend. I believe in quality vs. quantity (well- except when it comes to shoes - that's my personal downfall). I like nice things, but I make a CONSCIOUS decision when it comes to spending my money.Would I rather have a new pair of jeans or would the money be better put towards that cruise that I've been dying to

• Mr. S at Marshall's

  Zippy

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:01 pm

  OK, so I'm a selfish shopper. I get so much enjoyment going to the likes of TJ Maxx and Marshall's and picking up something for myself. At their price points, who can resist?A few weeks ago I figured that it was Mr. S's turn to go, so we headed down to Rte. 1 in Jensen Beach to shop at Marshall's.Why Marshall's?Mr. S is over 6'2" and looks like one of those BIG football player types. As a matter

• A Luxury Handbag can make ALL the difference. - review & giveaway

  Zippy

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

  My wardrobe changes little from year to year. It's because I believe in investing in classic pieces that look as good today as they did five, ten or even thirty years ago. Just last week I was at an event in NY and I wore a Norma Kamali dress that I ADORE. Kamali's styles are a bit on the "edge" but they haven't changed a heck of a lot since I first started buying her pieces over 25 years ago.I

• Stay at a Romantic Bed & Breakfast

  Zippy

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am

  With all of the craziness of the season and the drain on our wallets, who doesn't want to take a little vacation for less? How does a stay at a charming B&B sound?I think it sounds like JUST the short getaway that Mr. S & I need. Oh I know that I just came back from my jaunt in the city, but now I need a little country time just to balance things out.If you're a tea lover, why not request the new

• 
  Empowered and Fit

• Running Faster by Slowing Down: The NYC Marathon 2009

  Ann Udofia, DPT

  It has been two weeks since I ran the most exciting race of my life, the New York City Marathon. With the incredible support of the ‘Empowered and Fit Running Group’, I ran this race faster and stronger than my previous two! When questioned about the differences in my training for this particular run, people are surprised when I tell them that I ran faster because I learned how to slow down! Let me explain. Marathons to me can be very exciting and extremely competitive. As the gun goes off and you cross the starting line, the goal becomes to run faster so you can get way ahead of the…

• Aromatherapy - Does it Work?

  Fred Krazeise

  In a previous post, A Little Bit About Aromatherapy, with the help of my dear friend Eagle, we laid out some of the basics about aromatherapy. Today, I want to follow that up with some information about how it is coming into the mainstream. As I wrote in Pragmatic Reiki and other posts, a wide range of Complementary Alternative Medicine practices are gradually coming into the mainstream. Aromatherapy is no different. Aromatherapy uses what are called "essential oils." Essential oils are pure concentrated substances steam-distilled from plants, roots, barks, fruit rinds, leaves, and grasses.

• Seven Ways to Manage Your Stress Hormones

  Fred Krazeise

  When I meet with clients for the first time, one of the questions I ask is 'how much stress do you have in your life?' Often, a client will respond by saying she doesn't suffer from stress at all. And I usually respond by saying, 'Oh really?' We usually don't realize how stress affects us, because our body does a good job of adapting to pressures put on it. And I think in our society (certainly here in the Washington DC metro area), we are often encouraged to wear stress like a badge of honor. We carry our Blackberry's with us at all times, we don't take vacation or time off, we work long…

• Meatless Monday - A Pair of Italian Inspired Vegetable Dishes

  Fred Krazeise

  I love Italian cuisine. Most people probably think of pasta when they think of Italy and Italian cooking. In the Tuscany region of Italy, vegetables have always been important. They are the principle ingredients of molds, omelets, soups and sauces, as well as some meat and fish recipes. In Tuscany, the Tuscan bean is always a part of the menu. Today, I offer you a version of Tuscan beans, cooked with tomatoes, or all'uccelletto. This is the most popular vegetable dish in Sienna and it's enjoyed all over Tuscany. In Sienna, this dish is always served with pork liver. Another of my favorite…

• Some Facts About Gluten Intolerance

  Fred Krazeise

  It is a condition that was once believed to be very rare, but is now thought to affect 1 in every 133 Americans, and the National Institutes of Health believe that 97 percent of cases go undiagnosed. Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance is an auto-immune disorder that affects portions of the small intestine. People affected by the disorder are intolerant to certain proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. These proteins can damage the small, finger-like projections called villi that assist in digestion. When damaged and inflamed, the villi are unable to absorb water and…

• 
  Fabulously 40

• A Little Goes A Long Way

  yana

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am

  Sometimes the little things in life make all the difference. Usually, those little things are trivial. When we are young we are taught to be kind to others, and most of all to be polite and caring to people around us. Yet when we move into our teens we find bullies, gossipers and users. Everyone learns to deal with it differently, but somehow we all survive the growing pains and move on with adult lives. Then life happens. We get busy with work, family, bills, responsibilities and chores. We find that we are overwhelmed and exhausted. We are running on low, trying to be all that we can be and…

• Kitchen Gadgets That Make My Life Easier

  yana

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:07 am

  Cooking for a family as big as mine was a labor of love?emphasis on the labor part. Thanks to technology and fancy new appliances and gadgets, love is now overpowering labor. ? First up, the fancy shmancy professional grade oven and stovetop. ?It?s recently become popular in the US to invest in the Cadillac of ovens, a trend that?s been seen in Europe and commercial kitchens for a while now. As professional and efficient as they come, the new and improved powerhouse ovens allow you a much more sophisticated control of temperature and heat emission, so that your kitchen doesn?t gain ten…

• Giving Birth On Line

  yana

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:17 am

  Every now and then I get overwhelmed by how dramatically times have changed. ?When I stop to think about how much of my life now revolves around technology, I can?t help but think about how different life was just a decade ago. ?I am grateful for how easy communication has become, which makes keeping up with my grown kids and long-distance friends much, much easier than before. ?But, like everything, the ease of communication speed and accessibility is a double-edged sword. ? I recently wrote a blog ?reminding everyone that the Internet isn?t a safe place for secrets. We love sharing…

• ?Winter Brats? - It Now All Makes Sense!

  yana

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:32 am

  Is it me? Or is there something fundamentally wrong with this study? ? " Children born in the winter months already have a few strikes against them. Study after study has shown that they test poorly, don't get as far in school, earn less, are less healthy, and don't live as long as children born at other times of year. Researchers have spent years documenting the effect and trying to understand it. ?" Now all of you Capricorns, Aquarius?s and Pisces have just been labeled. ? Economists Daniel Hungerman and Kasey Buckles from the University of Notre Dame examined birth…

• Do You Have A Question?

  yana

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:45 pm

  Hi Ladies, A few weeks ago I posted a blog ?about an exciting business opportunity that could potentially generate a generous income for our members. Today, October 28, at 8 EST and 5 PST I will be interviewing Patricia Makhulo, author of The Little Black Book Of Home Party Marketing and Allie Vayner, creative director for Mia Rose. Conference Dial-in Number: (269) 320-8200 Participant Access Code: 468409# I?m hoping to open the lines for Q & A, but it would probably be more effective if you post your questions below and I can ask all of the posted questions first, and then proceed to the…

• 
  Karin Manske's Weblog

• What Lights You Up? Life Coaching in Action

  Karin

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:55 pm

  Taking Off Sometimes what we want is not what we need to be happy. A few years ago a client came to me and told me that what she wanted most was a relationship. She was very successful in running her own business and somehow the romance department had been taking a back seat. After starting to work with her, one thing got very clear very fast: It was not the prospect of being in a relationship that excited her but the idea of taking a break from her business. She had been working in a high pressured industry for many years and was exhausted. As many of us would do in a similar situation, she…

• Live Everything - Rainer Maria Rilke

  Karin

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:04 pm

  … I beg you … to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in every foreign language. Don’t search right now for the answers, which could not be given you, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without ever noticing it, live your way into the answers.” –Rainer Maria Rilke If you are curious about finding some of your own life answers,…

• ‘What Lights You Up’ - Life Coaching Show

  Karin

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am

  Join me and David Rodriguez in this new episode of Coach TV LA, filmed in Santa Monica on October 31, 2009. Are you curious to find out what lights YOU up? Answer our ‘What Lights You Up Questionnaire’ or join us for “Translate Your Passion Into Business”, a one-day workshop in Santa Monica on November 21, 2009. Tweet This Post  Facebook

• Mistakes Men Make in Relationships with Women

  Karin

  29 Oct 2009 | 5:23 pm

  #5 Not Telling a Woman How Much You Appreciate Her We know that men have a hard time talking about feelings and that they show their affection through action. However, women love to hear how much you appreciate us. You probably did so when we first met. Keep it up, it does NOT get old. Here are a few good phrases you can use: * Darling, you are looking great! * Thank you so much for making dinner (breakfast, lunch, etc.) for me. * I am so happy to be with you. * You look beautiful in that new dress. * I love it when you smile like that. If it is hard for you to express your adoration in…

• Mistakes Men Make in Relationships With Women

  Karin

  23 Oct 2009 | 10:28 am

  #4 Ignoring Women’s Wisdom Women are wise, men are brilliant. While men are masters at planning, solving problems, creating innovative systems, and developing strategies, women are wise in a whole different way: We have the ability to ‘read’ our environment. Not only do we pick up on people’s thoughts and their intentions, we can also detect the mood of a room or the outcome of a meeting. While this sensitivity is developed to different degrees in each woman, we all have the ability to pick up on subtle clues in our surroundings. If a woman is skilled at this, she will…

• 
  Everyday Baby Steps

• Great Deals on Plus Size Clothing at TJMaxx

  marybabysteps

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:24 am

  Let me share with you the great deals I got at TJMaxx recently. I asked my online friend, Victoria, who does PR for TJMaxx and Marshall's, what she could tell me about their plus size clothing.She did one better than just telling me; she sent me a $25 gift card for each of the stores. I don't have a Marshall's store nearby, but it turns out that they accept each other's cards. I had a blast shopping the local TJMaxx store. I am a bit of an extreme bargain shopper, so I spent a great deal of time walking around the store trying to get the most for the money. It was sort of a challenge of…

• Fancast Is a New Way to Watch TV Online

  marybabysteps

  10 Nov 2009 | 5:08 am

  I've been seeing my blogging friends talk about this new site where you can watch your favorite television programs online. It's called Fancast. At first I didn'tthink I'd be very interested in Fancast because I don't watch very much TV. Then I realized that there's a reason I don't watch much TV. It's not that I don't enjoy TV, but I get so busy that I either don't have time to watch or I forget to turn on a program I was hoping to watch. Fancast totally helps me with that problem; it's great for busy moms! I finally gave in and checked it out, and I found out that I really can benefit from…

• L'Oreal Products You'll Want To Try

  marybabysteps

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:48 pm

  L'Oreal is a trusted brand in cosmetics. They've been around forever. I've been a fan of their eye shadow for some time, but I've never really tried many of their other products. In fact, I never knew L'Oreal had such a wide range of products until they sent me a box of goodies to try after I put out a query to HARO about fall makeup. I was introduced to a wide range of products. They have hair care and color, skincare, cosmetics, even men's and kid's products. Here are my absolute favorites! Collagen Filler Day/Night Cream I have to be honest and tell you that I didn't think I'd be swayed by…

• Give Yourself a New Perspective for Free

  marybabysteps

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:46 am

  I've been feeling pretty stressed out lately. The kids have been sick with the flu, and any mother worries when her babies are ill.. The baby has hit the "18 month old I don't wanna sleep at night phase", and if Brady ain't sleepin', ain't NOBODY sleepin'. So needless to say, I've been super tired these days. All of this has led to the pile up of both a mess in my house and of blog posts in my brain. So this weekend, I decided to try to do something to get my life in order. Baby steps is my philosophy, right? What I decided to do was to rearrange the furniture in our main living space. Sure,…

• Give Women a Cup of Confidence!

  marybabysteps

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:38 am

  Coffee-Mate and Dress for Success are working together to help women who are seeking work find inspiration and the resources they need to make it happen. Coffee-Mate has pledged to donate $50,000 to Dress For Success, but with our help, they're willing to give more! For every Cup of Confidence note we send, another fifty cents will be donated to the cause. Coffee-Mate will donate up to $150,000 to support women through Dress For Success. At this time, they're up to $68.704! You can send a personal note of up to 125 characters to women job seekers by going to the Cup of Confidence website.

• 
  Workaday Superstar

• WORKADAY TIP #153: Managing Your Calendar

  Joy Taylor

  15 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  When you are making changes to your outlook calendar and you are trying to work around time zones, just modify the time clock in the lower left hand of your screen (this assumes you are using Microsoft Office) to make sure your changes are accurate.

• WORKADAY TIP #152: Another Use For Rubberbands

  Joy Taylor

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:55 pm

  So the way to avoid this is to put a rubberband around the shower head below the shower caddy hanger. It will keep it in place and keep you from cursing - well at least not until you head out for your morning commute!

• WORKADAY TIP #151: Cut Ends Off Tubes

  Joy Taylor

  21 Oct 2009 | 9:41 pm

  When you can no longer get any more out of a tube, cut the other side off. You'll be amazed at how many more uses you can get.

• WORKADAY TIP #151: 100 Calorie Packs

  Joy Taylor

  7 Oct 2009 | 9:57 am

  I picked up breakfast bars, cherrios, turkey jerky, popcorn and almonds. I then proceeded to put them in my own 100 calorie ziplock packs.

• WORKADAY TIP #150: Whiten Yellow Nails

  Joy Taylor

  27 Sep 2009 | 9:46 pm

  Or, soak your tips in a commercial denture cleaner for about five minutes. For a super-speedy fix, use a nail-whitening pencil (available at drugstores) under your tips for a brighter look."

• 
  Everyday Baby Steps

• Great Deals on Plus Size Clothing at TJMaxx

  marybabysteps

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:24 am

  Let me share with you the great deals I got at TJMaxx recently. I asked my online friend, Victoria, who does PR for TJMaxx and Marshall's, what she could tell me about their plus size clothing.She did one better than just telling me; she sent me a $25 gift card for each of the stores. I don't have a Marshall's store nearby, but it turns out that they accept each other's cards. I had a blast shopping the local TJMaxx store. I am a bit of an extreme bargain shopper, so I spent a great deal of time walking around the store trying to get the most for the money. It was sort of a challenge of…

• Fancast Is a New Way to Watch TV Online

  marybabysteps

  10 Nov 2009 | 5:08 am

  I've been seeing my blogging friends talk about this new site where you can watch your favorite television programs online. It's called Fancast. At first I didn'tthink I'd be very interested in Fancast because I don't watch very much TV. Then I realized that there's a reason I don't watch much TV. It's not that I don't enjoy TV, but I get so busy that I either don't have time to watch or I forget to turn on a program I was hoping to watch. Fancast totally helps me with that problem; it's great for busy moms! I finally gave in and checked it out, and I found out that I really can benefit from…

• L'Oreal Products You'll Want To Try

  marybabysteps

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:48 pm

  L'Oreal is a trusted brand in cosmetics. They've been around forever. I've been a fan of their eye shadow for some time, but I've never really tried many of their other products. In fact, I never knew L'Oreal had such a wide range of products until they sent me a box of goodies to try after I put out a query to HARO about fall makeup. I was introduced to a wide range of products. They have hair care and color, skincare, cosmetics, even men's and kid's products. Here are my absolute favorites! Collagen Filler Day/Night Cream I have to be honest and tell you that I didn't think I'd be swayed by…

• Give Yourself a New Perspective for Free

  marybabysteps

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:46 am

  I've been feeling pretty stressed out lately. The kids have been sick with the flu, and any mother worries when her babies are ill.. The baby has hit the "18 month old I don't wanna sleep at night phase", and if Brady ain't sleepin', ain't NOBODY sleepin'. So needless to say, I've been super tired these days. All of this has led to the pile up of both a mess in my house and of blog posts in my brain. So this weekend, I decided to try to do something to get my life in order. Baby steps is my philosophy, right? What I decided to do was to rearrange the furniture in our main living space. Sure,…

• Give Women a Cup of Confidence!

  marybabysteps

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:38 am

  Coffee-Mate and Dress for Success are working together to help women who are seeking work find inspiration and the resources they need to make it happen. Coffee-Mate has pledged to donate $50,000 to Dress For Success, but with our help, they're willing to give more! For every Cup of Confidence note we send, another fifty cents will be donated to the cause. Coffee-Mate will donate up to $150,000 to support women through Dress For Success. At this time, they're up to $68.704! You can send a personal note of up to 125 characters to women job seekers by going to the Cup of Confidence website.

• 
  White Hot Truth: because self-realization rocks.

• burning questions with the communicatrix: from the hip, to the heart

  Danielle LaPorte

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:46 pm

  Without exaggeration I can report that some of the Communicatrix's writing has made me laugh so hard that I snortled - in front of people. Her poetry, which she publishes every Thursday, has made me cry multiple times. And she does these Full Monty Makeover ass-kicking assessments for websites, to which I'd like to send 77% of the world wide web - so many could use her high-sensibility whippin's. Colleen Wainwright's approach to creativity and marketing is like Buddhist-meets-Ninja-meets-BareNaked Ladies, with a lil' Joni Mitchell thrown in. Just when you're all charmed by her sass, she'll…

• true ego

  Danielle LaPorte

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:21 pm

  Possibly Related Posts: close knit energy exchange break out taking it revealing love

• love local: an extra-special message for anyone trying to save the world

  Danielle LaPorte

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:21 am

  Hello, my name is Danielle and I'm a recovering Savior of the World. I used to think that my self-worth depended on my vegetarianism, my activism, futurism, my pro-this and anti-that. Had halo, would preach. Had 'isms, would teach. I still wrestle with issues of spheres of influence (like one might wrestle a greased boa constrictor while wearing in a bikini - with great difficulty), but my circle of devotion has gotten decidedly more focused, or at least more proportioned. My a-ha on this came like a bolt of lighting, at a swanky event, in which I cried an ugly cry that I'll never forget. I…

• burning questions with susannah conway: beauty that heals

  Danielle LaPorte

  11 Nov 2009 | 3:02 am

  Susannah Conway reminds me of a hand painted tea cup: worn with love, cherished, elegant but wide open. Soothing. Something/someone you'd want to spend quality time with...talking about beauty and pop culture, and what it means to really notice your life. And what it means to create beauty and to be obsessed with that creating. Susannah is happily afflicted with Polaphrenia, [noun, a clinical obsession with Polaroid film and cameras, often accompanied by an inability to control oneself when faced with a large stash of expired 600 film and a sunny day.] She is a photographer, a collector of…

• fear management vs. fear leadership

  Danielle LaPorte

  9 Nov 2009 | 4:40 pm

  The song of an entrepreneur... Secretly, I'm afraid we won't raise the money. But it's okay. I can plow through that fear. We'll raise the money, and everything will be okay. We'll raise the money and stand the business up. We'll have to hit our targets, get the customers in the door, run hard with the marketing plan. Yeah, it's scary. What if they don't come? What if they come but don't buy? What if they buy, but not enough? It's okay, I can manage that fear. It'll work. I'll make it work and everything will be okay. We'll do this. What if you don't do it? What if you, say, "fail"? Does that…

• 
  Lemondrop

• Lemondrop's Week That Was

  Teresa Wu

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  Filed under: Link Love According to a recent study, guys fall in love more quickly and more often. Who'da thunk it? Just because you're not boiling bunnies doesn't mean you're totally over your ex (Exhibit A: last Friday's 3 a.m. drunk-dialing episode): the six bad ex ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• Can You Catch the Colored Balls?

  Paula Kashtan

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  Filed under: Happy Pill, Fun Today's curiously addicting game: Nanotube, from the folks at Fupa. Just use the left and right arrow keys to rotate the ring and catch the balls as they float outwards. It's simple, but not so easy -- we're only up to level three. Let us know in ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• The End of 'Oprah' -- Is It the End of the World As We Know It?

  Heather Muse

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Filed under: Celebrity, Entertainment, Living Oprah Winfrey announced today that she'll be stepping down as the queen of daytime television in 2011. tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/11/20/oprah-winfrey-ends-show/'; tweetmeme_source = 'lemondroptweets'; Oprah's decision to end ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• Atlantis Astronaut Will Miss the Birth of His Daughter -- He's in Space

  Loren Lankford

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am

  Filed under: Friends & Family, Tech, News Randy Bresnik, 42, will not be around for the birth of his daughter. But at least he has a good excuse -- he's in space. Bresnik is on the space team currently at the International Space Station, where he is hauling cargo from the ship to the ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• Tweet Nothings -- Love Lessons Learned From Twitter

  Anna David

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Filed under: Sex, Dating & Love, Living I spend way too much time on Twitter. And when I'm not converting my every thought, dream, hope and love for peanut butter into 140 characters, I'm usually focused on dating, sex and relationships -- either helping other people sort their situations ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 
  The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

• Day 21 – KOR

  Lissa

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:53 am

  Today, on this glorious 21st day of our Shrink-a-Versary, we are giving away another KOR hydration vessel! If you didn’t win the first time around, now’s your chance! I *love* my KOR vessel. I have been taking it to the gym with me, as well as everywhere else I go! I was a little apprehensive that the shape wouldn’t allow it to fit in the bottle-holders on the machines at the gym, but IT DOES! KOR is focused on developing products which reduce environmental impact AND they donate 1% of their sales to select non-profit organizations that focus on water-related issues! KOR has…

• EA SPORTS Active More Workouts Challenge – Day 1

  christy

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:34 am

  EA SPORTS Active chose me as one of the 12 featured challengers for their Active for Life Challenge which begins today! The challenge is centered around their new product, More Workouts, and for the next 6 weeks I will document my journey on the EA SPORTS Active site, and here at the Sisterhood. In addition, all of the writers at the Sisterhood will be taking part in the challenge, AND there are also several members here at the Sisterhood who’ll be joining in! They are: Ann Nancy Mel Tobey Hope Karena Becca Dawn (if I missed anyone, please email me so I can add you to the list!

• Shrink-a-Versary Extravanza Giveaway, Day 20 – One More Mile!

  Lissa

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:44 am

  You already know how much we love One More Mile and their awesome workout clothing. With sayings like, “One Bad Mother Runner”, “Kick Asphalt”, and “Canadians do it Metric 21.1″, what’s NOT to love?? You can find a huge variety of shirts, singlets, stickers, and even running pants at One More Mile! Their customer service ROCKS, that’s just one more thing to love about them! Today, we are giving you the opportunity to win a short-sleeve tee or singlet with the saying of your choice!! How awesome is that? To enter: Leave a comment on this post…

• *Updated* Day 19 Giveaway – Skinny Bitch!

  Lissa

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:06 am

  *UPDATE* The winner of the book and journal is…. Steph E.! Congrats, girl! I think I know where to find you, so I will get these books out soon! Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnoin take a no-nonsense approach in their book, Skinny Bitch, and state that if you want to lose weight, you just cannot keep shoveling the same crap into your mouth. Really? Who knew?? They take the humorous (and disgusting!) approach when discussing the truth about what you are putting in your mouth. Today, we are giving away a copy of Skinny Bitch AND Skinny Bitchin’ (a journal to help you achieve your…

• Turkey Lurkey Doo

  christieo

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:07 am

  So, let’s just get this out there right now. One week from today, at least one of us will gorge themself (or selves). I’m not naming any names me. I know I should probably follow suit like a good little health-blogger and write up a bunch of healthy tips for avoiding the extra calories on Thanksgiving Day. Tips like eat breakfast, fill your plate with veggies, cook “lighter” versions of the full-fat stuff, take the skin off the turkey (what!?) and skip all those empty-calorie appetizers like the cheese cube (it’s the devil!) plus a million zillion more. That is…

• 
  oh hey, what's up

• in a van down by the river

  Corrin

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm

  I wish I could say that Mike and I are having a gay old time looking at home plans online, picking out fixtures, carpeting, and countertops, and daydreaming about our perfect life in a new home, but apparently we’ll be moving into a van down by the river since we weren’t approved for our mortgage. I’m pissed and frustrated and disappointed. And embarrassed. But I know its not the end of the world. We’ll work our asses off for the next 6 months, be tighter than a virgin’s daughter with our money, and all will be right with the world. We made our bed, now we have…

• Mexican Muffin Pizza

  Corrin

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:43 am

  I swear that the only useful thing my husband brought with him when we got married with a toaster oven. I’d never had one before and now I can’t believe I ever lived without one. With my new found love of all things Kitchenaid, I’m dying to get my hands on a Kitchenaid toaster oven, but I need a substantial amount of toaster oven recipes to justify the purchase. Here’s one of my favorites. Have any others to share? Mexican Muffin Pizza 1 oz. pared, cubed avocado 1/2 med. tomato, diced 1/4 c. scallions, chopped 2 tsp. lime juice 1 English muffin, split & toasted 1/2…

• Ladies Who Lunch

  Corrin

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am

  My goal in life is to eventually become a member of the Red Hat Club. I don’t know when or why I decided this, but the opportunity to wear a flashy hat seems as good a reason as any. To facilitate this goal, a few of us like to get together and pound back a few pot pies…and Mediterranean bread…and salad with sour cream garlic and sweet & sour poppyseed dressing  at Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinders from time to time, and that’s just what we did on Sunday afternoon. We ate. We laughed. We made fools of ourselves (wait…was that just me?). It was delightful.

• Weighing my options – down payment on a house vs. tickets to Banana Shpeel

  Corrin

  14 Nov 2009 | 8:19 am

  Ever since I heard about Cirque du Soliel’s new show, Banana Shpeel, I’ve been dying to get my hands on tickets, but you know – we need a HOUSE in two months, so tickets aren’t really getting the budgetary consideration they deserves at the moment. Banana Shpeel is a Vaudevillesque spectacular with inappropriate humor and sparkly costumes – two of my favorite things ever. There’s intrigue and mystery and a love triangle. And something about a Banana Man that I can’t quite grasp because I’m distracted by all the sparkly costumes. The show is…

• Watch out Lady Gaga

  Corrin

  13 Nov 2009 | 4:42 pm

  I don’t keep a hairstyle for longer than six months. Long, short, red, blond, no bangs, bangs. My hairstylist knows I’ll try just about anything, which begs the question – why has no one ever suggested this hairstyle for me? Another great post from Oh, Hey!Watch out Lady Gaga

• 
  HerHotSpot.com - Real Life, Not Sugar Coated

• It's been 6 months since my ex and I of ...

  brette@girlsguideto.com

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  It's been 6 months since my ex and I of 6 years broke up. I'm finally ready to date again but I feel entirely clueless on the whole dating thing. I'm not looking to jump into another relationship but I'm not opposed to it if I meet a fabulous guy. So I'm just wondering what are the big mistakes we ladies make with guys?

• Ladies, I'm kinda freaking out. I have a...

  brette@girlsguideto.com

  21 Nov 2009 | 2:39 am

  Ladies, I'm kinda freaking out. I have a job interview Monday and it's for my dream job but I have no idea what to wear to it. In the past places I've interviewed for have been very casual but this is a very corporate company. I don't own "professional" looking clothes as sad as that sounds so I need to go shopping before Monday but for what? Any fashion do's or don'ts I should keep in mind!!?

• Where's the best place to shop for jeans...

  brette@girlsguideto.com

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:02 am

  Where's the best place to shop for jeans online? I need a new pair desperately and there aren't any cute stores near where I'm going to school....

• The other night my boyfriend and I were ...

  brette@girlsguideto.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:07 pm

  The other night my boyfriend and I were talking about whether or not guys and girls can just be friends. I think it obviously depends on the two people but I think it's possible for a guy and a girl to have a platonic relationship. read more

• Las Vegas “Shop ‘Til It’s Showtime” Giv...

  brette@girlsguideto.com

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

  Girls’ weekends in Vegas are practically a rite of passage once you hit your twenties. From spas to shopping to clubhopping – Vegas is a girls’ paradise! Thanks to Vegas’ “Shop ‘Til It’s Showtime” promotion, we have a special Vegas giveway for our community members. read more

• 
  YourTango

• 7 Gay Men Straight Women Love

  Sara Brady

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

  Here are eight of our favorite famous gay men, and the reasons we love them so (yes, like that).Keywords: 30 Rock, celeb love, Dan Savage, homophobia, homosexuality, how i met your mother, mad men, neil patrick harris, New Orleans, PSA, Star Trek, Tom Cruise, William ShatnerBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• Who Knew Actor Jerry Orbach Was Such A Romantic?

  Carly Okyle

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:03 pm

  Over the course of their 25-year relationship, Jerry Orbach (of Law and Order fame) wrote love poems to his wife Elaine. Now they're compiled in a new book, titled 'Remember How I Love You: Love Letters From an Extraordinary Marriage.'Keywords: actor, book, celebrity, communication, couples communication, entertainment, love letter, romanticBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• Hugh Grant Has Babies On The Brain

  Tom

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

  When you think confirmed bachelor, you automatically think "Hugh Grant character," right? After which, you think, "Hey! Isn't Hugh Grant a bachelor in real life too? Sometimes life imitates art, right?" Well, it looks like the "Did You Hear About The Morgans?" star is talking about having babies. Keywords: bachelor, celebrity gossip, commitment, having children, Hugh GrantBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• Eddie Cibrian Sues Mag For LeAnn Story

  Claire Daniel

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  How far does Eddie Cibrian need to go to prove to LeAnn that he is, in fact, not a serial two-timer? Do you think a lawsuit is helping his case?Keywords: celebrity, celebrity love, cheating, eddie cibrian, infidelity, lawsuit, leann rimesBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• Love Bytes: Flirting With Nerds

  Denise Ngo

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:51 am

  10 must-click love and relationship links: Men fall in love more often, five people you should avoid dating, Pine-Sol debuts a sexy new commercial. Keywords: conflict resolution, cybersex, love buzz, love bytes, nagging, twilightBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• 
  Female Forum

• Hostess Gift Giving - What You Should Know

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  With the holidays seemingly always around the corner, the chances are high that you will be invited to a party or holiday celebration. Do you know the protocol for hostess gifts? If not, you are not alone. Many people are confused about hostess gifts. What is the etiquette? When do you give them? What should you give? Truthfully, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to hostess gift giving. Yet, there are general gift giving tips that can guide you along the gift-giving path. To Gift or Not to Gift – That Is the Question If you are invited to a dinner party or holiday…

• The Best Clothing Options for Your Body Shape

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:06 am

  You can spend a fortune on clothes, but if they don’t complement your body shape, you’ve truly wasted your money. While every woman’s body shape is different, most women generally fall within one of the following categories: Pear Body Shape – Your upper half is smaller than your lower half. Most pears will have a slender neck, slender shoulders, narrow back, small to average bust, a defined waist, a curvy behind and hips and full calves and thighs. When you gain weight, you tend to gain it in your thighs and hips. Apple Body Shape – Your upper half is larger than…

• When Your Children Have Headlice: Treatment Options

  13 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Just mentioning head lice is enough to make you feel itchy isn’t it? These pesky little creatures affect almost every child of school age at some time in their lives, and cause no end of grief for parents in the seemingly never ending battle to get rid of them. The first sign you might notice something is wrong is when your child starts scratching their scalp or neck. There might even be a rash at the nape of their neck due to louse droppings! It sounds terrible, I know - but don’t worry. They can be got rid of, but it takes time and a lot of persistence. Before we look at the…

• Adjusting to Life After a Breakup

  11 Nov 2009 | 1:51 pm

  Most of us have been there at some stage of our lives. Hours on the phone to our friends, crying, hoarding the mint chocolate chip ice cream, wandering about in our pyjamas; it’s what is commonly known as the mourning phase of breaking up - when your life doesn’t feel the same and you finally feel the loss of the other person. Whether you initiate the break up or he does, there is a mourning process to go through. Once you go through mourning the loss of your relationship, you have to put your world back together. It’s not going to be easy but keep in mind this isn’t…

• How to Become a Freelancer Writer

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  Wake up. Go to work. Come home. Eat dinner. Sleep. Do it again. Women all over the world often feel as though they are losing themselves in the day to day ritual of living in the working world. We often believe we need to keep up with the men in our lives whilst equally supporting the family and frankly, it’s almost impossible to keep up a home without two incomes these days. However, working women - many of whom are working mothers - are finding ways to stay at home and work at the same time. What if you could be home with your kids all day? Would you be willing to chance it all? Many…

• 
  Laurel Plum Online

• Thanksgiving Checklists

  Laurel Plum

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:35 pm

  I wrote out several articles that detailed my entire Thanksgiving routine last year. Maybe some of you might find them helpful now. It took me several years of writing down everything and then doing a written follow-up sheet each year before I was able to get this down so everything worked well for us. One of the most important things to remember is that none of this is about perfection! Think of the Norman Rockwell paintings. Part of what makes them so charming is they show some imperfection about humanity in each of them. Each year I give myself permission to skip something I am not in the…

• LPO Clutter Scavenger Hunt 13 – Out of Style

  Laurel Plum

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:18 am

  Welcome to the Laurel Plum Online Clutter Scavenger Hunt. Each of us have our own unique style. It shows in the clothes we wear, around our homes, and in our interests. As we grow as individuals, our style also grows or changes. It is time to let go of anything that is out of style. Not based on the runways or the home trends, or any other person’s opinion. Focus exclusively on YOUR style.  There are only two questions that you need to ask yourself as you are deciding what to let go: Does it belong to me? If so, Does it fit the person I am right now and fit the person I am working on…

• LPO Clutter Scavenger Hunt 12 – Go Automatic

  Laurel Plum

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:12 am

  Welcome to the Laurel Plum Online Clutter Scavenger Hunt. Today I want you to start thinking of the many things in your life that you can put on automatic. For a fraction of the price of the drive through or convenience store coffees, you can get an automatic coffee maker with all of the flavored syrups and fixings. This will not just save some cash. Add up the time you spend going that little bit out of the way then sitting in line each day. There are a lot of other gadgets that I would love to have. A couple that I am actively saving to buy. I’m sure I’m not the only one that…

• LPO Clutter Scavenger Hunt 11 – Disposables

  Laurel Plum

  25 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Welcome to the Laurel Plum Online Clutter Scavenger Hunt. Today I want you to start paying attention to all of the disposable items you already have around your house AND to some disposables you could start using to save yourself time. There are a lot of things you can eliminate. They are things that will make a big difference to the clutter around your house whether it be by reducing the amount of trash you have, the space you need to store them, or in many cases – cha-ching – the change you keep doling out when you can pay a tad more one time for a more permanent solution. But…

• Some Changes and Adjustments

  Laurel Plum

  21 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Life keeps throwing those curves in the path doesn’t it? I did not mean to abandon you once again so soon after recovering from my back injury. In early September, one of my parents was hospitalized and their stay lasted for just over six weeks. During those weeks, we lost another close family member. I just don’t think 2009 has been my year. I feel after so much combined time off, I need to get a fresh start with this site. So what will be changing? I really miss the LPO Clutter Scavenger Hunt. I never meant to put it off so long. I got sidetracked trying to get out all of the…

• 
  She Takes On The World

• She Takes On The World in 2010

  Natalie MacNeil

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:54 am

  I’m currently working on a 2010 strategic plan for my business and She Takes On The World. I had a wonderful and relaxing few days in Boston and Cape Cod where I was able to shift my focus to the year ahead and start planning. Thanks to you, She Takes On The World has grown to become a top blog for women entrepreneurs and women in business, attracting tens of thousands of women from over 80 countries around the world. Thank you so much for reading! As I prepare for 2010, I want to hear your feedback on what you like -and don’t like -about She Takes On The World and how we can make…

• In Her Heels: Interview With Marketing Diva, Toby Bloomberg

  Natalie MacNeil

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:05 pm

  Joining me today is Toby Bloomberg. She is the founder of Bloomberg Marketing and author of the Diva Marketing Blog. She also sits on the board of the American Marketing Association. Natalie: You have been writing the extremely popular Diva Marketing Blog for 5 years now. You also help other companies develop online marketing strategies and leverage social media and blogging. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned about blogging and social media? Toby: Thanks for the opportunity to talk social media with the She Takes On The World community. I love the name! At this point in…

• Six Tips to Survive Holiday Party Schmooze Season

  Natalie MacNeil

  12 Nov 2009 | 9:17 am

  This is a guest post by Debra Shigley, author of The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide. To learn more about Debra, read her interview with She Takes On The World here. As a businesswoman or entrepreneur, it’s part of your job to ‘get out there’ and network. Ever wondered how some women make it look so easy—and seem to effortlessly work a room? Well, many times, those women aren’t the most confident or outgoing in the world; they just know a few tricks for how to schmooze. The ability to charm everyone in the room can be learned. With the holiday party season right around the corner, here are…

• 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter

  Natalie MacNeil

  10 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  Twitter has been an incredible tool for connecting with like-minded people from around the world. I am always on the lookout for women entrepreneurs and women in business to follow, connect with, and learn from. The following 30 women entrepreneurs have excellent twitter feeds to follow: @JackieBiz -Jackie is a business owner and blogger who tweets about business resources, inspiration, and opinions. @ManishaThakor -Manisha is a personal finance expert and author on women and money. Her tweets are geared towards helping you meet financial goals. @BrandYou -Cindy is a marketing strategist who…

• Blog Carnival for Women Entrepreneurs

  Natalie MacNeil

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:36 pm

  Welcome to the 10th edition of the blog carnival for women entrepreneurs, a collection of posts to help you as a business owner. If you have a blog post or article that you would like to share in an upcoming edition, please use the submission form. Coree Silvera presents Simple and Easy – Are You Driving Buyers Away? posted at Market Like a Chick. Linda Smith presents The Value of Having a Blog on Your Business Website posted at Linda’s Business Blog. Lena West presents Kicking and Screaming All the Way to Facebook posted at Lipsticking. Toby Bloomberg presents The Social Media…

• 
  The Classy Closet

• Winter on the Runway!

  Aspiring Couture

  Join for the ultimate fall fashion experience as we debit the fall/winter collections of 20 fantastic emerging designers! Aspiring Couture is an online boutique and fashion blog featuring the work of emerging designers. The purpose of our company is to promote these talented designers to people who want to be above the trends and strive to be unique. Guests will enjoy some fabulous freebies from our sponsors as well as special offers from our designers. Mix that with our door prizes, goodie bags, and special event sales prices on each designer's items, and you'll be glad you came! Hors…

• Get Your Name In My Next Book!

  Jennifer Ford Berry

  So I've been working on my next book and I need your help. If you have an organizing question that is related to a child's education I would love to hear it. It can include anything from toddlers to college students. What are the best ways to store children's memorabilia from school? How to manage papers that come home? Efficient ways to organize a dorm room? Ask away! If your question is selected it will be included in the book. You can comment here or email me through Facebook or Twitter. Be sure to include your Name, City and State as you would like it to appear in the book! Thank you for…

• Get Your Name In My Next Book!

  Jennifer Ford Berry

  So I've been working on my next book and I need your help. If you have an organizing question that is related to a child's education I would love to hear it. It can include anything from toddlers to college students. What are the best ways to store children's memorabilia from school? How to manage papers that come home? Efficient ways to organize a dorm room? Ask away! If your question is selected it will be included in the book. You can comment here or email me through Facebook or Twitter. Be sure to include your Name, City and State as you would like it to appear in the book! Thank you for…

• New Moon Fashion

  jenn

  Its almost time!! I am super excited that Friday night at 7:30pm my daughter, my sister and I will be seeing New Moon. I was planning to take the teen at midnight tonight ( Thursday) BUT our local theaters sold out quickly and I didnt feel like driving an hour to another theater so we settled for Free Tickets ( courtesy of a blogging buddy) and go Friday. If you arent familiar with my obsession... feel free to catch up by going HERE and HERE! If you arent a Twilight fan, well, you should be! Such amazing books! So, as the fashion Goddess in my house, of course, I have to have a rockin' look…

• The Classy Closet review panel reviews Little, Brown Books

  Mama Snow

  This last month a couple of The Classy Closet review panelist had the opportunity to review some of Hatchette Books newer releases. These titles are all part of Hachette Books publishing company "Little, Brown Books for Young Reader". You can view all of the Little, Brown books at their Kids and Young Adult link here! This link will also show you which stores, local and online, you can purchase these titles at. With Christmas around the corner, books are always a great gift to give a child. These also make great stocking stuffers. Below is just a small remark on what the panelist had to say…

• 
  Awakening Women's Blog

• mmm… I love this

  awakeningwomen

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:46 pm

  mmmmmm… it is Friday afternoon, and candles and  fireplace is burning, outside  the wind is ice cold and fierce, we even had some snow here in the Californian mountains. I made some delicious Nori Rolls today, I am totally hooked! Here is the recipy: Put some sheets of raw nori sheet down on a cutting board. Cut some [...]

• How to Live Feminine Leadership

  awakeningwomen

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:59 pm

    Back in 1990 when I started to play around with the techniques that later evolved into the women’s awakening and empowerment process that we use at Awakening Women Institute, I did not really know how to be a woman in the world. All the role models I saw around me seemed to be constricted in one [...]

• The Awakening Women Way

  awakeningwomen

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:25 am

  As an effect of thousands of years of imbalance toward masculine, left brain values, many women today often find themselves in a severe state of disembodiment and inner tension. We may experience success in life but the price we pay is often that we move around with parts of our being and bodies frozen in involuntary [...]

• The Invitation

  awakeningwomen

  14 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am

  By Oriah Mountain Dreamer It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dreams for [...]

• Are you friend with your mind?

  awakeningwomen

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

    In spiritual/personal growth circles we often hear that we have to “get out of the mind”. We are tired of having our every experience filtered and analyzed by our thoughts, so we begin to seek out inspiration from cultures that move more from the heart. Cultures like India or Peru. We want to be like them, [...]

• 
  Blissfully Domestic � Timeless Bliss

• Cargo Cosmetics:Lovely Lashes, Lips and More

  Selena

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:14 am

    Lips, Lashes and More: Cargo Cosmetics The eyes are the windows of the soul. Our eyes are often the first things people notice about us. Sometimes they tell what we're feeling and far too many times reveal what we're thinking; but at the end of the day our eyes still give the outside world a glimpse of something phenomenal: us. Your eyes are a window to your inner self. Why not help them to look their best with Cargo's LashActivator? This lightweight, non-clumpy black mascara stimulates the growth of lash follicles, promotes lash vitality, and reduces lash loss. That's…

• Beauty Alert: You ARE Beautiful

  Selena

  11 Nov 2009 | 5:23 am

  There's No Mistaking It…You ARE Beautiful!  Beauty is mastery. Whether it’s the symmetry of a rare rose petal or the implicit awe of a newborn’s beating heart, beauty is splendor. Beauty is the intrinsic power of a mother’s kiss to heal wounds and erase fears. Whether it’s the fictional boogie man hiding in the closet or the perpetual pang of life’s vexing sorrows, beauty restores. Beauty is the embodiment of inner grace and compassion. Whether it’s the miracle of an entreating smile or the warmth of a listening ear, beauty comforts. Beauty is the evidence of things…

• Beauty Starts With Eating the Right Foods

  Selena

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:59 am

  Beauty Starts From Within Being beautiful is not only about looking great; it’s also about feeling great! And feeling great starts with what you eat. Have you noticed how eating foods that are greasy, fried or high in fat and sugar tend to weigh you down? You feel great when you’re downing those blissful junkies but grumpy or sluggish after it’s had time to sit in your stomach. Wonder why? It’s because the wrong foods = the wrong fuel; and without the right fuel it’s impossible to look or feel your best. What to change how you feel for the better? Here’s how. Fiber is your friend…

• Ooo La La: Jane Carter A Product Review

  Selena

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:21 am

  “The leave-in conditioner’s great; makes my hair feel silky and smooth.” “Oooo, this smells good, dang!” “I LOVE this crème lotion thing. It’s got a mango-y, citrusy kind of scent working—delicious!” “The wrap lotion? Loved it! My hair was so bouncy and shiny.” “Ooo, this feels nice.” “My hair feels so soft.” In case you didn’t pick up on it, there’s lots of buzz about Jane Carter’s hair care products and rightfully so. Made from ingredients derived from nature, natural butters, and certified organic essential oils, Carter’s products deliver on its…

• Taking a "Glimpse" at XanGo's Skincare Lines

  Short Pump Preppy

  31 Oct 2009 | 12:19 pm

  I love to try out new skincare products. If you are like me, you know that everything feels different, smells different, and works differently. It's important to find something that is a fit for you. I was offered a review of a new line called Glimpse, available from the company that makes XanGo mangosteen juice, one of the leading superjuices on the market. Did I expect to find great skincare from a juice company? When I read about XanGo's commitment to nutrition and vitality, the connection made sense. And as a woman in her 40's I'm looking for something that will keep…

• 
  Mars Venus LIVING

• Dear Lauren: Shattered Dreams, What Should I Do?

  Dear Lauren, I've been dating my boyfriend for over four months. Recently he has been acting so distant...he won't speak to me when we are together, will barely look at me, and he claims that he "honestly forgets" to call or text me. We go to karate together and usually walk ...

• Men Are Like Rubber Bands

  The saying “If you love something let it go, If it comes back to you it’s yours, If it doesn’t it never was,” is a perfect metaphor to describe the male intimacy cycle. It is natural that when a man loves a woman, and has been intimate with her for some ...

• Women Are Like Waves

  A woman is like a wave. When she feels loved her self-esteem rises and falls in a wave of emotion. When she is feeling really good, she will reach the crest of that wave, but then suddenly her mood may change and her wave will come crashing down. This crash ...

• Dear John, How Can I Help My Friend to Heal?

  Dear John, Nearly ten years ago, a stranger broke into my friend "Lissa's" home, held her against her will for several hours, then brutally raped her. Although she has sought counseling from the very beginning, there are many signs that she is still devastated by this tragic experience.  She put on a ...

• Can Your Kids Really Hear You?

  Most people envision a handicapped person as someone in a wheelchair. But, while seemingly common, that isn’t the only type of handicap. There are others that we can’t see. People can be emotionally, mentally, and spiritually crippled as well. Emotional handicaps tend to be a product of one's own maturation – ...

• 
  The Eloquent Woman

• what do speakers assume?

  Denise Graveline

  21 Nov 2009 | 10:21 am

  Last month, I spent nearly as much time in the audience as I did up front as a speaker, and from that vantage point, I noticed lots of speakers making faulty assumptions about their audiences or their speeches. (For example, I saw lots of speakers assume they could hold the microphone anywhere and still be heard.) So I asked fans of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook what speaker assumptions they'd noticed, and whether those assumptions were right or wrong. Here's what they said: Germaine Palangdao called out speakers for "Acronyms - they assume everyone knows acronyms."…

• free ebook on speaking and Twitter

  Denise Graveline

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:21 pm

  For those of you who've been wondering how to handle an audience that's commenting about your speech or presentation on Twitter--while you're speaking, here's a post about a new, free ebook that every speaker needs, with guidance for what to do before, during and after your presentation.  Check it out!

• Where is my (eloquent woman) badge?

  Denise Graveline

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:26 pm

  Today, The Eloquent Woman on Facebook passed the 1,500-fan mark.  Want to celebrate? You can add this fan badge to your website, blog or FB page. Go here to do so--and thanks so much for your ideas, questions and inspiration for women (and other) speakers! Denise Graveline is a fan of The Eloquent Woman Create your Fan Badge

• week 12 wow: Stephanie's new message

  Denise Graveline

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm

  One of the biggest thrills I get as a trainer is to watch someone make real progress as a speaker--and that might mean confidence, message skills and delivery successes, or much more. To see what I mean, watch Stephanie Benoit's contest entry for our Step Up Your Speaking program, less than 6 months ago: Now watch her in week 12 of our coaching, trying for the second time to deliver a message: And, I might add, Stephanie reports that she did that video message in just one take! There's much to be proud about in Stephanie's message, delivery and motivation this week. Here's what I see: Her…

• Sussing out your speaker space: A checklist

  Denise Graveline

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:29 am

  Emily Culbertson posed this question some time ago: What should you know about the room in which you're speaking?  The room--especially its technology--is one of the six sets of questions in my checklist to prepare the whole speaker.  But here's a longer list of factors to consider when you're finding out about the room where you'll be speaking.   What's the size and shape of the room?  Where should I stand? Is that my only option? Will I be able to move around the room while I speak? Is there a remote and a portable microphone so I can control my technology if I…

• 
  Everyday Goddess

• I'm down to two piles and multiple projects.

  lizriz

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:56 am

  I could not possibly need a personal day more, emotionally and personal work-wise. And I'm not going to get one, so I just keep plugging along.The unpacking is down to a giant pile next to my desk, much of which won't fit into that area, so another puzzle. And a pile in my bedroom of stuff to be jigsawed into my small closet.I got a ton of things done this weekend, including clearing both tables, organizing my tool box, opening all remaining boxes, putting up some posters, putting up the sash in my bedroom that blocks out light around the verticals, and running the phone cable to the Tivo so…

• Well, it's a good thing there's another weekend between my move and Thanksgiving.

  lizriz

  9 Nov 2009 | 7:13 am

  I got a lot of unpacking done this weekend, but took two big breaks. On Saturday I went shopping & ran errands, and on Sunday I met with my writers/creative group. The new apartment is slightly smaller than the old one, so most of the fit-stuff-in puzzles are slightly different. The closets are the same, but under the sinks is just slightly smaller. I still have some major projects left to do. Still, I'm pretty pleased at what I did get done. In particular, the bathroom, kitchen, and armoire are going to make this week much more livable than last. Much thanks to my ex for helping with the…

• The Move

  lizriz

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:25 pm

  The move upstairs and across the hall kicked my ass. It's been over six years since I moved last, and I remember being a powerhouse. Making it happen.Well, I made it happen - with seriously awesome couldn't-have-done-it-without-them help from some friends on the Saturday and the Sunday - but it felt harder. Granted, I only took 3 hours off from work for the entire move, and life is a mess right now, but still, it felt harder. It took all day both days of the weekend.But, it's done. The moving anyway. The unpacking kicks into high gear this weekend, and here's hoping that I'm just as much of a…

• Who needs boxes when you've got seven years of free bags?

  lizriz

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:23 am

  I slipped financially towards the end of my unemployment. Add Cobra health insurance and a pending security deposit, and you've got mega financial suck. When my roommate told me she was moving, I felt like I just couldn't do the roommate thing again. Plus, the economy's killing me, but it's also bringing rent prices down in L.A. I felt like now was the time to push and get my own place. Extra hundreds per month be damned.But, I also couldn't imagine doing a full move to a new apartment. With the new job and the giant commute, finding a new place seemed impossible, and then renting a truck,…

• Finally making it out to a new opening at Wax Poetic - The Art of Dave DeVries

  lizriz

  24 Oct 2009 | 9:06 am

  I've missed at least one opening at Wax Poetic, maybe two. But thankfully I'm able to make the one tonight, because the Halloween show always rocks. Tonight it's this guy who takes children's monster drawings and turns them into real art: The dorky thing I always do is that I have an appointment today, so then I end up going into Wax Poetic and being like, I'm not looking! I'm not looking! lol It always feels like cheating to see the art early. Here's some official 411:WAX POETIC GALLERY PRESENTS THE ART OF DAVE DEVRIES: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2009 Wax Poetic Gallery is proud to present the…

• 
  Parlour Magazine

• Go Outside! Oslo-Norway

  Mahogs

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm

  I’m heading to Oslo for the weekend, so I thought I’d leave you guys with this lovely image of Frognerparken/Vigelands Parken–a popular destination filled with naked statues.  Definitely my kind of place!   Have a lovely weekend!

• PLR x afriPOP!: African Icon Baaba Maal Talks “Television”

  Parlour Fam

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  With over 20 albums, Baaba Maal is an icon in African music. Born near the Senegal River in the early 1950s, Maal was raised in a family of fishermen, but decided against joining the generational tradition to pursue music. He made a wise choice because Maal is now one of, if not the, most famous [...]

• Katie Miller Says Love Bytes

  J. Baker

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

  “And noooow you wanna be my friend on Facebook? Are you fucking kidddiiiing meeee?” We admit that we don’t know too much about Katie Miller-Heidke, but after hearing this “Facebook Song” we are instantly in love, and it seems a little late to the party. Anywhoo, she sums it up for all of us who have [...]

• News Briefs: Oprah’s New Beginning; Pap Tests Not Needed Before 21; Venezuela & Colombia Tension; Women vs. Men in Workplace

  Mahogs

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Harpo Productions announced yesterday that the Oprah Winfrey Show will officially be a wrap in 2011.  But of course this is all just the beginning of a new chapter for Ms. Oprah Winfrey.  Just as she closes one door, she opens another–with the launch of her upcoming network OWN.  I don’t know about you, but [...]

• THROWBACK! ::: Parlour Jams By DJ Parler!!!

  Parlour Fam

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  I love dance music, as shown with Double O’s mix (Yay Kidz In the Hall!) so I was juiced when my mentor and homeslice DJ Parler cooked up this gem. Be prepared for the samples from all of your fave dance tunes ladies and this mix is like 30+ mins long. Enjoy! NYC based DJ Parler (par-lay) [...]

• 
  Evil Slutopia

• Good Gay News!

  Lilith

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm

  So the Senate vote on same-sex marriage never happened on November 10th's "special session" like we hoped. But there is some good news for New York State...Back in May 2008, the office of New York governor David Paterson issued an order stating that same-sex marriages performed in places where gay marriage is legal (like Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Canada, etc.) must be recognized by state agencies.(Or, as Lil' Lilith once put it: "Even though you can't get married in New York... when you got back to New York, they would have to be okay with it and they would have to believe that you…

• Slut-Shaming Pop Culture Moment: A 90210 Halloween

  Jezebel

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:00 pm

  The other day I caught a rerun of an old Halloween episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. I remembered the basic premise - Kelly wears a sexy costume to the big Halloween house party and is almost raped by a creepy guy, but her friends save the day - but I had forgotten just how slut-shamey this episode was. I'm only going to talk about the Kelly storyline, but if you want to really take a walk down cheesy memory lane, the full episode is available on YouTube.First, there's the scene where the whole gang goes to the costume shop to pick out outfits for the party. Kelly and Donna were supposed to do…

• Great American Smoke Out!

  Lilith

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

  Every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout® by smoking less or quitting for the day. The event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps make people aware of the many tools they can use to quit for good.If you're thinking of quitting today, check out some tips from the ACS website:Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have some means of support, such as: nicotine replacement products counseling stop-smoking groups telephone smoking cessation…

• I'm writing it!

  Lilith

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:58 pm

  So I'm sure some of you saw my 9-year-old daughter's guest blog about those stupid sexist Swiffer commercials. It has been getting a pretty good response on other sites, as well as in our own comments section, so I was sure to let her read all the positive feedback she received. She is very proud, as am I obviously. (There is, of course, the occasional idiot who just doesn't get it, but I didn't show her that one. I wouldn't want her to catch on that I'm secretly brainwashing her to be afraid of stalkers and cleaning supplies. Hm.)Well now I'm afraid it may have all gone to her head!We were…

• Adoption Events Tomorrow!

  THE EVIL SLUT CLIQUE

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:28 pm

  Since November is National Adoption Month, we thought we'd quickly highlight a couple of adoption-related events that are happening this week.Tomorrow, NARAL Pro-Choice New York is partnering with Spence-Chapin and The LGBT Center’s Center Kids program to host Choices: Adoption.“Choices: Adoption” will highlight the work being done to ensure that all people have access to and are supported in the process of adoption. Presenters will share the work they do to ensure that birth mothers are heard, that professionals are trained to include adoption when options counseling, that the…

• 
  Premium Woman

• Curb sweet cravings

  Manage your food intake rather than allow foods to manage you! We Indians are famously addicted to sweets and our susceptibility to diabetes is ahead of any other race in the world. The urge to put something sweet in our mouth may have something to do with the tradition of having ...

• Keep stress off your face

  New research shows that worrying and a high-pressure lifestyle can damage your dermis. Here are strategies to restore your smooth, even glow. Stress is not for the faint of heart—nor thin of skin. You know at some gut level (like when you catch the reflection of your furrowed brow in a ...

• 18 ways to look younger on a budget

  When economic times turn tough, it may seem that beauty indulgences should be the first things to go. But just because your budget calls for some belt tightening, that’s no reason not to look better than ever. the trick is to bolster your beauty routine by making no- or low-cost ...

• Home cures for removing a tan

  Tanning results from sun exposure. Here are some home remedies to clear up your skin tone. [caption id="attachment_207" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Home cures for removing a tan"][/caption] Tan-removal Mask: Mix cucumber and ripe papaya pulp with 1 tsp curd, 1 tsp honey, 4 tsp oatmeal and 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply on the ...

• Seven tricks to wipe out age

  Remember when you were a teen and you wore make-up to look older? Now that you are, make-up can make you look younger---instantly! Try a new approach to achieve a fresh and youthful look. Here's how to use make-up as a weapon against ageing! [caption id="attachment_204" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Seven tricks to wipe ...

• 
  Lip-Sticking

• The First Three Things I Do Every Morning

  Mary Schmidt

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter From my "match your marketing tactics to your (best) customers" fileAdmit it – were you anxiously awaiting this to pop up in your RSS feed?  Are you waiting in breathless anticipation to the next email popping up in your in-box? No? Well, same here. Here’s what I do every morning, first thing in the office: 1. Open up maryschmidt email. Delete several unopened. This even when I know the sender. There are several well-meaning people that bombard me with emails on everything from lost cats to unrequested/unneeded meeting notices.

• Ways to Measure Social Media using Key Conversation Indicators

  Donna DeClemente

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm

  By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo TalkYesterday I helped plan and execute a breakfast event for RAMA, our local Rochester chapter of the AMA (American Marketing Association). Our speaker was David Berkowitz who came to share his insights on ways to measure social media. This is a question that most marketers and business owners are asking since we are now seeing a phenomenal growth from those of all ages engaging online in some form of social media. Not a black and white, easy thing to deliver at this time, but as Jeffrey Hayzlett, CMO of Kodak, said last week when he spoke…

• On the road to Colorado

  Yvonne

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:34 am

  OMG! OMG! OMG! WE'RE OFF! Today starts our week long road trip to Colorado. We'll be living near one daughter and one granddaughter (have two of the first but only one of the second). Will try to post and send pics, via the phone as we go along. Many of you know that I have a 17 year old kitty (the Wabby Wibby, herself) who will be riding in the back and wailing all the way, methinks! She is already confused (and much displeased) over the interruption in her life as we pack everything away and empty the house. Stay tuned for news from the road. And many bits of whining as we will arrive in…

• How *NOT* to Ask Someone Whom You Don't Know to Use their Social Juice to Help You

  Lena West

  16 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  by Guest Blogger, Lena West, Chief of Social Media Strategy at xynoMedia Warning: This blog post is long, but worth it.Last week, on November 8th at 12:26pm, I received a voice mail from Michelle Christie representing a group of local women who were getting together having some sort of event. They called themselves Motivators & Creators and they were having a Women's Expo on November 23rd, at a local hotel and wanted my help promoting the event.As this was my first week back from being out of the office for a retreat, I asked my assistant to call her back and get the pertinent details. (I…

• Researching the Women's Market - What They Leave Out

  Mary Schmidt

  13 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  Raise your hand if you: a. are over 50. b. are happily single; c. weren't born a female; d. aren't a mother; e. aren't heterosexual; f. some combo of a-e. Oops! You're invisible (right along with me and most of my friends.) By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter I've designed and conducted quite a bit of market research and analysis over the past three decades.  And, here's an inherent problem with any kind of research: no matter how objective you want to be - you tend to skew research to fit your world view and interpret any findings via that same view. (Eating a lot of…

• 
  Hitched

• Tips For A Stress-Free Thanksgiving

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am

  Relax and make this holiday season one of the best yet with these simple, helpful tips.

• Breaking from Holiday Traditions

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am

  While not easy, here's why it's more important to make decisions and establish your own holiday rituals.

• Creating a Spouse from Scratch

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am

  If you were expecting your spouse to change once you were married, like an Instant Husband or Wife, you've probably realized things haven't gone as planned. Here's why.

• Should You Give Your Spouse an Ultimatum?

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am

  There are several roads you can take to get your spouse to change, but is an ultimatum one you should take?

• Moving Forward

  13 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am

  Sara and David have decided to move. Find out where and why.

• 
  Connections for Women

• Here, Turkey, Turkey....

  Connections for Women

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am

  Counting down to the big day. Not stressed, not especially organized either. I decided about twenty years ago that these big holidays had to be fun, and if they became an ordeal, then I wasn't participating. Bring on the finger-licking, the pretty table, the oopsis and triumphs - but don't expect me to get stressed! I'm not the headless one running around here - that is the fate of the poor

• Help - There's a naked snake in my garden, and baby, it's cold outside!

  Connections for Women

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:57 pm

  Shades of Adam and Eve - a snake is coiled somewhere in my garden shivering! I suppose I should regard the neatly discarded rattlesnake skin outside my gate last week as a gift - but we're dealing with a seriously paranoid woman here when the word "snake" is hissed. Now all I can think is that it's out there, naked, lurking, and as the evenings get colder, looking for an opportunity to slip into

• Pack Rat Saga Continues - No more rides to the park

  Connections for Women

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:56 am

  I'm about to bring in the heavy guns - haven't a clue what they are but I need help big time. With damage by pack rats now topping over $1,000 I'm far less inclined to find a humane solution to what has become a plague.Since early September, between the professionals and myself , we have trapped and removed more than 23 of the critters. I've lost count. I'm neurotic and fast becoming obsessed! I

• When Everything Changed. The Amazing Journey of American Women

  Connections for Women

  21 Oct 2009 | 6:14 pm

  With my" swapees" enjoying perfect weather and the Tucson house, dogs and I de-camped town and are up at the cabin. Whenever I arrive here a slowing down mechanism takes over. I snuggle back in bed with morning tea and lap top and scan the NYT; once up I throw on old jeans and discarded sweatshirt and the manana rule comes into play.It's cold! and the glass fireplace doors that have been in

• Life's Enduring Mysteries

  Connections for Women

  17 Oct 2009 | 6:58 pm

  I refer, of course, to the one sock syndrome. I have spent the afternoon cleaning out drawers and closets in my bedroom. I even emptied the ironing basket– a place where all sorts of things that I really don’t need, languish until I give them away. Net total of socks without partners - seventeen! And, yes – I did look behind the dryer. Beats me. I will protest though in my defense that this is a

• 
  Gotham Gal

• The Upholstery Store

  joanne wilson

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:37 pm

  It has been a grueling week.  I seriously need some R and R and possibly sun?  I got movie tickets for tonight but honestly, that was too much.  Both Fred and I crawled down the street to have a few glasses of wine, cheese, pickled veggies and some sausages.  It was the perfect meal and so low key.  They actually have landjager on the menu which is a sausage I grew up with.  My father used to take us to the local deli in Los Angeles, the German ones and get us landjager sausages which we gnawed on.  To me, it is still the ultimate sausage.  Served with horseradish and mustard.  I was…

• When Everything Changed...but did it?

  joanne wilson

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  I am in the middle of reading Gail Collins, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present.  I usually wait to comment on a book when I finish it but after the last few days, I can't help but think/write out loud half way in.First of all, the book is a great read.  Collins has done a really good job on this book by being more of a journalist than a Op-ed writer.  She is giving a full account on the history of women over the past 50 or so years.  This is a book that should be read by all women but particularly all young women.  We have come so far,…

• Pappy Van Winkle Whiskey

  joanne wilson

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:33 am

  Last night before we made our way out, a friend of Fred's, now mine, came over with a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Whiskey straight out of Kentucky.  Super strong, smooth and tastes like the South, to me.  This particular company started with a product that had to sit in barrels for 23 years before it came to market.  No surprises, the family had to be bought out before the product came due.  Now that the product is hitting the market, the family wants to buy it back.  Sounds like a product that should have only been made by a family with serious deep pockets.  Regardless, the whiskey is…

• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

  joanne wilson

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:21 am

  After dinner last night, we grabbed a cab and headed down to the Bowery Ballroom.  One of my favorite venues.  We got there around 11 just as Edward Shape and the Magnetic Zeroes were coming on.  The good news is, we know the trick to get to the front of the stage.  Sorry, can't share.  An 11 person band.  One person is more talented than the other.  All great voices.  They put on an incredible concert and one you can only appreciate in a small venue as it is lost in anything larger.  We knew a bunch of people at the show which is always fun to discuss afterward.  If you get a…

• Convivio

  joanne wilson

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:15 am

  Yesterday as I made my way around the city, I had stuck this weeks issue of the New Yorker in my bag.  It is the food issue.  Over the course of the day, I read the first article which was all about the Michelin guide and a Michelin reviewer and how she goes about doing her job.  The one thing that stood out is how they review the food and decide on the one star, 2 star or 3 star for each restaurant.  Everything that they eat is analyzed from quality to the technical aspect to the combinations of the flavors, etc.  Not as in "ooh this tastes so good".Last night we went to Convivio which…

• 
  Brittany Bohnet

• Someone needs a Kindle… ;) juliaallison: The books I’m...

  21 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  Someone needs a Kindle… ;) juliaallison: The books I’m lugging along with me on my trip(s)

• If you didn’t see it yesterday, we launched a collection...

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:55 am

  If you didn’t see it yesterday, we launched a collection of Search Stories about how people use Google. This one, Parisian Love, is my absolute favorite and is guaranteed to make you smile. If you have 53 seconds to spare, you should check it out.

• Let it be known that it’s been over A WEEK with NO FRO-YO....

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:21 pm

  Let it be known that it’s been over A WEEK with NO FRO-YO. Very gloomy, indeed. dylancasey: Soft serve machine is busted….it’s a sad state of affairs at the goog right now. But at least I’m not packing on extra lbs.

• Thanksgiving tip from Alton Brown: put food in bubble wrap to...

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:33 am

  Thanksgiving tip from Alton Brown: put food in bubble wrap to keep it warm while waiting to serve.

• Hosting Alton Brown at Google today as we celebrate Thanksgiving...

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:13 am

  Hosting Alton Brown at Google today as we celebrate Thanksgiving with new grub for iGoogle! www.google.com/gourmetthemes

• 
  Skirt magazine

• Reflections on my Facebook Status Cloud

  RacheLB

  21 Nov 2009 | 11:20 am

  So, after weeks of seeing my facebook friends generate "status clouds" (bubbles of words you repeat alot, varying in size by most used) I gave in and pushed the button. Actually, I did more than that, I became interested in the things I've said over the past  month and year and created a status cloud for each option. I wasn't suprised to find a few friends names repeat often, or variations of the word "miss", because I've been seperated from my boyfriend for almost 5 months and my friends back home for almost 4 months. I also wasnt suprised to find…

• Seeking Balance

  elaynaalexandra

  21 Nov 2009 | 9:25 am

  It seems I have seen a lot about living a balanced life on other’s blogs recently. As a women I think it is something that most of struggle with. How can we balance the demands of difficult and challenging career world, our own creative pursuits, family and home responsibilities? How can we learn to find balance in life, saying yes to enough that we do not limit our opportunities and experiences yet also saying no sometimes so we don't get over burdened and find ourselves weary and exhausted.  Lately I have been feeling empty. Like a battery with limited charge I am just barely…

• The Nag of Writing

  Jodene

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  I fell asleep in my younger son’s bed last night along with the older son. It was terribly crowded, but no one minded. I fell asleep, happy to be there, but thinking of everything that needed to be done. After an hour nap, I woke up, thinking about everything that needed to be done. There are a slew of things that need to be done. When I had closed my laptop to hustle them into bed, I had been editing the next draft of the novel. When I returned to my own bed, the last thing I wanted to do was continue editing the novel. The laptop sat closed on my bed and the sight of it sickened me. I…

• Mama's Mood Lifters

  namaste612

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am

  Check out this fun card deck designed for parents and children to change the mood from grumpyto giggly.

• Where are they?

  southernnewbie

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:36 pm

  I couldn’t wait to move south….well at least until the plan to move west was ended when my husband left. But after that horrible, unexpected divorce, which I’ve spoken about before and which I did survive despite many, many bad days and nights, I took a chance. Three years following a combination of misery, slow acceptance of my alone status, a renewal of my spirit and the chance again of love with an unexpected friend turned more, we moved in September. read more

• 
  The Next Women

• The NextWomen’s Highlights of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 – Part 1

  As Global Entrepreneurship Week draws to a close, The NextWomen reflect on the week’s events: Wednesday 18th November – The NextWomen BIG Kitchen Dinner Organised to coincide with Women’s Enterprise Day, the Big Kitchen Dinner saw 83 women and men leading and investing in web 2.0 ventures enjoy a keynote from Stephanie Phair of theOutNet.com.  To get [...]

• Stephanie Phair of theOutNet.com Talks to Female Entrepreneurs in Celebration of Women’s Enterprise Day

  Stephanie Phair On the day that the Women’s Enterprise Task Force announced its intention for a privately held women’s enterprise forum, The NextWomen took the lead as the first women’s enterprise forum with a focus on high growth business. In celebration of Women’s Enterprise Day, over 80 women came together in their most successful Kitchen [...]

• Celebrate Women’s Enterprise Day 2009 with The NextWomen

  Today, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, it is Women’s Enterprise Day which celebrates the 680,000 majority women-owned businesses in the UK which are generating £45 billion to the UK economy. In the words of the organisers they: ‘want more women to unleash their talents and make their ideas happen’. In honour of the event, we have [...]

• Winner of Innovation Awards is Women-Led Layar

  The winner of the Innovation Awards is the Dutch first mobile augmented reality browser Layar, of which Claire Boonstra is one of the founders. She features in our Women in Tech series. The winning pitch can be seen here: Claire’s advice: Don’t opt out of science subjects. Math & Science can provide access to almost any [...]

• Deal of a Female Co-Founder: Forbes acquires FlipGloss Media

  Forbes Media has acquired online photo content and ad distributor FlipGloss Media for an undisclosed sum.  Female Internet Hero Robyn VanTol,  VP, Product of FlipGloss is one of the four Co-Founders of FlipGloss and reponsible for product strategy, development and content operations. FlipGloss was founded in 2008 with funding from Forbes Media and Elevation Partners. USP [...]

• 
  Marcia G. Yerman

• Military Sexual Trauma - Seeking Justice

  Marcia G. Yerman

  11 Nov 2009 | 2:41 pm

  On the second day she was embedded with Marines during the invasion of Iraq, journalist Mercedes Gallego was approached by several service women. They cautioned her that it was not safe to be alone and warned her that they always went to the bathroom in pairs, taking their rifles. The reason, they explained, was fear of being raped. That was Gallego's introduction to the subject she and director Pascale Bourgaux explore in the 29-minute film, Rape in the Ranks: The Enemy Within (2007). Bourgeaux was recently in New York for a screening at the New York Independent Film Festival. She…

• The Gardasil Vaccine Series - An Interview with Merck & Co., Inc.

  Marcia G. Yerman

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:04 am

  Merck is the developer of the HPV vaccine Gardasil. The company has an independent website, gardasil.com, devoted to explaining the product, complete with social marketing tools to "help spread the word about cervical cancer and HPV." It features responses to "Questions about what you are hearing," as well as a vertical labeled "More for parents." Throughout the site, certain information appears with regularity. Merck states that their product is "the only cervical cancer vaccine that helps protect against four types of human papilloma virus (HPV). Two types that cause 70% of cervical cancer…

• The Gardasil Vaccine -- Introduction to a Series

  Marcia G. Yerman

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:25 am

  As the nation's attention is riveted on the discourse about health care reform, another debate is taking place. Ironically, it crisscrosses with elements found in the larger conversation. These include the right of American women -- regardless of income -- to have accessible health care, the role of pharmaceutical companies in the health care equation, parental rights, informed consent, and the influence of lobbies. Add in the issue of teenage sexuality, and you have a confluence of factors contributing to the groundswell of dialogue taking place around the Gardasil vaccine developed by Merck…

• Sakena Yacoobi's Vision for Afghanistan

  Marcia G. Yerman

  8 Oct 2009 | 2:10 pm

  Sakena Yacoobi is on a mission. Her goal is to bring education to Afghanistan, a country that has a 70 percent illiteracy rate. Her main focus is girls and women. She believes education can ameliorate the ravages of 35 years--and counting--of war. She speaks with an urgency that emanates from that core conviction. To "build a better future for Afghanistan," she founded the Afghan Institute of Learning in 1995. "Empowerment" is the key word in all of her NGO's literature. Yacoobi, who serves as the chief executive of A.I.L., was one of 1,000 women to be nominated as a joint recipient of the…

• Emma Thompson, Featured in Fatal Promises, Speaks Out on Human Trafficking

  Marcia G. Yerman

  17 Sep 2009 | 1:06 pm

  Human trafficking...the statistics are overwhelming. Approximately 800,000 people are illegally trafficked through international borders annually. 1.39 million people are trafficked into sexual exploitation. There are 16,600 people trafficked into the United States yearly, with America being one of the top ten destinations. New York City serves as a major portal for this activity. A new film documentary, Fatal Promises directed by Kat Rohrer, will be screening from September 16th - September 24th at the Cinema Village in Manhattan. Rohrer partnered with her mother, Anneliese Rohrer, a 30-year…

• 
  Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global

• Make Your Global Mark

  Laurel Delaney

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am

  Now is your chance to make your global mark.  Today is the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 16-22) and is an initiative to inspire young people (that includes YOU!) around the world to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. (From Washington, D.C.) — More than 1,000 partners – including top universities, non-profit organizations, successful entrepreneurs, government agencies and corporate sponsors – have currently signed up to support and initiate activities for Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA 2009, Nov. 16 – 22. The Week will engage young people in 87…

• Hope and Desire For the Women of Kibera to Become Self-Sufficient

  Laurel Delaney

  11 Nov 2009 | 4:30 pm

  Kendal Martel, a photographer, is taking up a fight for people who struggle to survive. She is doing it her own way, one click or shutter speed at a time. After seeing first hand the poverty and squalor faced by the people who live in the slums of Africa and their desire to rise above it all, Kendal decided to showcase her photography in an exhibit, “Until the Last Seed Grows,” which features the people of Kibera, Africa, with alternately haunting and joyful images that underscore the complexities of these resilient people. While in Africa, Martel, a graduate of Diboll High School…

• Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (WEGG) Turns One

  Laurel Delaney

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:53 am

  Happy Birthday No. 1 for Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (WEGG)!  It was one year ago today that we launched WEGG with the intent that we would grow it into the ultimate global hot spot destination for women entrepreneurs interested in global growth for their business.  Here’s our first post November 7, 2008: Welcome to Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global (WEGG), a social enterprise dedicated to revolutionizing how women entrepreneurs take their businesses global. Expect over the course of the next decade that WEGG will help transition tens of millions of women business owners from local…

• Power Up Relationships To Do Business With the World

  Laurel Delaney

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:06 am

  While perusing the Web, I discovered XING, a global business women’s networking platform. They claim to have 14,000+ members. Are you one? If so, let us know how you leverage the organization to grow your digital connections and business worldwide. XING Posted by: Laurel Delaney Posted in International business, Social Media and Network, World entrepreneurship Tagged: do business with the world, global business women, Laurel Delaney, XING

• Women Are Productive Global Economic Agents

  Laurel Delaney

  29 Oct 2009 | 6:51 pm

  A very thoughtful post by Manuel Bueno, NextBillion.net, Development through Enterprise: It still baffles me that there are not more BoP businesses making use of women’s skills to enhance their economic and social bottom lines. For example, looking at the details of the many fellowship opportunities or upcoming conferences (a list of which was recently provided by Francisco Noguera), the role of women is barely touched upon, if at all. Yet the earning power of women globally is expected to reach $18 trillion by 2014 – a $5 trillion rise for current income. That is more than twice…

• 
  The Vyne

• Spotlight On: Michelle Fenty

  thevyne

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:04 am

  Michelle Fenty  ”I grew up with Margaret Thatcher, so for me it’s nothing new. I know a woman can run a country,” – Michelle Fenty She’s stylish, accomplished and a force to be reckoned with. Meet Washington, D.C.’s other “First Lady”, Michelle Fenty, wife of D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.   Born and raised just outside of London, Michelle is one of three daughters. Her parents, who are of Jamaican descent, did not move to the United States until Michelle was 18 years old. The move was prompted by the Michelle’s parents wanting to be closer their parents who had…

• Beauty Smackdown: Foundation

  thevyne

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:32 am

  It is so difficult to find the perfect foundation, especially for women of color. So many don’t come in the right shades, are too thick, not enough coverage or cause breakouts.  Needless to say, finding the best match can be daunting. To help you with your search, we’ve put two full coverage foundations head to head in this week’s Beauty Smackdown. Contestant #1: MAC Studio Fix Studio Fix by MAC is a powder makeup that goes on with as much coverage as a cream foundation. It comes with a sponge that applies the color smoothly and evenly. Some people like to use a brush instead for…

• The Vyne’s Guide to Napa Valley

  thevyne

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pm

  By Keesha Boyd I recently took my first trip to Napa Valley, CA and I have to say…I am officially hooked. Besides the fact that I was traveling with a great group of people, it was as if the stars had all aligned to ensure a perfect weekend. The weather was picturesque and although I was only there for four days, two of which were spent in San Francisco, it was plenty of time to fall in love with the beautiful foliage, fantastic food and incredible wine. If you haven’t visited Napa (or San Fran) yet and are curious about where to go and what to do, then pack your bags, get on the next…

• Holiday Heels

  thevyne

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:02 pm

  With the holidays comes holiday parties. And, if you are a social butterfly, this means you may have several parties to attend. Instead of having to buy a new dress (or dresses), just buy some fabulous dressy shoes. These embellished pumps can add pizazz to any outfit you have in your closet. 1. Ladybug, Chinese Laundry 2. Carlton Pumps, Badgley Mischka 3. Kate Flower D’orsay Pump, Fioni for Payless 4. Electra Pumps, Nina 5. Janika Two Piece Peep Toe Pump, Nine West 6. Ornate Open Toe Two Piece Pump, Pelle Moda

• The Vyne’s November Must Do List

  thevyne

  12 Nov 2009 | 3:46 am

  1.Must See:  Precious 2. Must Rent: Food, Inc. 3. Must Shoe: Electric blue strappy peep-toes by Jimmy Choo for H&M 4. Must Join: Rent the Runway (email us if you would like us to send you an invite) 5.Must Workout: Inhale (Yoga set to fun music at 6am EST on Oxygen) 6. Must Pack in Your Purse: Purse size fragrances 7. Must Journal: Colorful journals to capture your thoughts

• 
  She Just Got Married - Blog

• Guest Post - "Mrs. Life Accounts" - Married and Lovin' It

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:56 pm

  Originally posted by "The Life Accounts" Source - Google Images I definitely lean more towards the traditional role of a wife in marriage, which isn't to say that I have anything against those who choose differently than me. I truly enjoy loving on my husband and taking care of him. I enjoy having a nice dinner cooked for him, or getting the house cleaned while he is out. I fully intend to stay at home with our kids as much as I can. I enjoy making our home a welcoming environment and I love baking delicious treats and entertaining. And yet, if I choose these things over throwing on a suit…

• Send a Virtual Love Note - She Just Got Married!

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:14 am

  Ok...this is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Robbins Brothers' recently launched a new virtual love note widget, allowing anyone to create a special little video for someone you love (as in...your husband or fiancé). You can also use it to announce your engagement by customizing the content at the end. You can email a list of people or even copy the code and embed the video on your own blog! How cool is that?~ I just tried it and it was really fun, fast and easy to do. Go ahead, try it. Tell me what you think.

• When 50-50 isn't 50-50 - Sandy Philpott

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:14 pm

  When I got married, I assumed that we'd split everything 50-50. We'd each do half of the chores, we'd each work about the same number of hours, we'd share cooking duties, we'd take turns deciding what movie to watch or what restaurant to go to or what TV show to put on. What I didn't realize is that 50-50 doesn't really mean 50-50. Sometimes it means 100-0 and sometimes it means 0-100. And sometimes it's somewhere else in the middle. But it's very rarely actually 50-50. And that's OK. The nice thing about the division of labor in a marriage is that the two of you aren't identical twins, so…

• **New Contest** - My Heart To Yours

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:54 pm

  Where Fashion Meets Electronics Yeay baby!! The girls from ChicBuds...the creators of the sassy Swarovski adorned 'ear candy' retractable earphones....have generously offered to give one lucky girl her very own from the new designer series. You know the rules! Leave a comment to be entered to win this Blue-Raspberry Swirl ChicBud **Winner's name will be drawn Wednesday, Nov. 25th**

• School and Oprah - In Love In San Diego

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  I am currently in my Junior year in college and have been at the whole college thing for about 6 years. I normally only go to school part time because like all or most of you we have bills to pay and I work full time. This semester I am taking Business Calculus and a Womens Studies class called Sex Work. This Womens Studies class is about the sex work industry (pornography, stripping, prostitution, etc.). I took this class kind of not knowing what to expect and have been surprised at how much I have enjoyed this class so far. In the class we look at and talk about how the sex work industry…

• 
  The Tall Poppy

• Win with Your Cheeky Monkey

  Anne

  8 Nov 2009 | 2:27 pm

  From now until 5pm on the 11th of December 2009, every purchase from Your Cheeky Monkey of the book "What I Wish I Knew Before I Became A Mother" goes into the draw to win a share of $400 in prizes for Christmas! What I wish a knew before I became a Mother is that book. Written for new and expectant mothers the book, addresses topics such as pregnancy, preparing for birth, coping with post

• A Successful Mother in Business

  Anne

  8 Nov 2009 | 12:49 pm

  Every business mum wonders how to have it all, so Sharon Tieman (aka Madame Marketing) spills the beans in her book, If I’m So Successful, How Come I Never Get To Be On Top? The media often talks about “Superwomen” in reference to those who want to be a successful entrepreneur, mother and wife (not necessarily in that order!). While the title may not be unwelcome, it doesn’t take a superhero

• Why struggle?

  Anne

  23 Oct 2009 | 2:19 pm

  I read a post at Business Mums Blog that talked about how the running of a business as well as coping with your daily life can get you down. As a business woman we are all supposed to be tough and invincible, aren't we? At least, that is how we think we should be. Melissa said, "When people ask how you are, you wish you could say “I’m having a really bad day, business really isn’t going as well

• Have you voted yet?

  Anne

  15 Oct 2009 | 8:08 pm

  Voting for the first ever Business Mums Network blog awards ends 23 October. Have you voted yet?If you would like to vote please support our sister blog Cherry Mag and one of our blog friends. EP Designs.There are a number of different categories and all of the nominated blogs deserve their recommendations. Please encourage them by voting.

• Creating Change

  Anne

  14 Oct 2009 | 3:05 pm

  Anyone will tell you that making changes and creating new habits is difficult. Just ask the person who is day 2 of their new diet. Ask a personal trainer how the clients cope. Change doesn't come easily.This video is about encouraging people to change their habits and their tool is choice is fun. They use a simple but very clever idea that works. Perhaps we could think about using 'fun' as

• 
  Just Doing My Best

• $10 off $10 purchase at JCPenney

  Heather

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:17 am

  I love it when JCPenney offers this deal! Just in time for Christmas shopping, JCPenney is offering a coupon that will help you score cheap or free gifts! They are offering a coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase by entering code GR8VALUE, until November 23, in the box at checkout. Last time they offered this, I got pajamas for about $5 shipped. They were on clearance for $10.99, so they were 99 cents after the coupon. I only had to pay for shipping to the store. (You can pay a little extra to have it shipped to your home.) The best deal is if you are on their mailing list, you can take the hard…

• Quick Homemade Play Dough

  Heather

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:28 pm

  My daughter recently had a friend over and they had a fantastic time with quick, homemade play dough, thanks to Play Dough Recipes.  This is a great recipe to have handy as we get into the “cooped up inside” season. The ingredients are basic and preparation is easy. You will need: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup hot water 1/2 cup salt Food coloring In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Add hot water and food color to the flour mixture and combine thoroughly. This will make a small amount so you may want to make a batch for each child. (The picture above shows two batches.)  The playdough will…

• Free Photo Gifts

  Heather

  13 Nov 2009 | 6:17 am

  **Update- you can receive 10% cash back on the Kodak Gallery through Ebates.** Kodak Gallery is offering a fantastic deal just in time for Christmas. If you sign up with them now, you will receive a $15 dollar credit. (Thanks to Engineer a Debt Free Life for the info that this offer has been extended until November 17.) With many of the photo gifts being $14.99 or under, you could have free gifts to share with your family. When Kodak runs out of its allotted $15 dollar credits, they will offer 40% off coupons. At 40% off, you could still get some of the gifts for under $5 and $10. I recently…

• Candied Sweet Potato Casserole

  Heather

  11 Nov 2009 | 5:23 am

  My daughter, who normally does not like sweet potatoes, thought these were fabulous! Ingredients for Casserole: 6 medium sweet potatoes  (or 2lb can) 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1 Tablespoon cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3/4 cup apple juice (could also use orange juice) 2 Tablespoons butter Ingredients for Topping: 1 cup honey cereal, crushed- such as Mom’s Best Naturals Honey Nut Toasty O’s or Oat & Honey Blend 2 Tablespoons chopped pecans 1 teaspoon melted butter If using fresh potatoes, cook until tender and remove…

• Frugal Mac – Perfect Use for Leftover Meat

  Heather

  9 Nov 2009 | 6:25 am

  The other day, I was looking for a quick chili-type dish but wanted to use what I had on hand, which wasn’t much since I was going to the grocery the next day. I came up with Frugal Mac because it was very similar to Chili Mac but cost just a few cents per serving. This dish was about $3.50 for the entire pot and lasted several meals and snacks. I assembled this dish without a recipe so I cannot give you exact amounts. Just add a little of the spices at a time until it smells/ tastes right to you. Sauteeing the veggies and meat Ingredients: 1 lb or more elbow macaroni – I used…

• 
  Italian American Girl

• Italian Singer, Carmen Consoli Performing Live At City Winery in New York City.

  21 Nov 2009 | 6:10 am

  Italian singer, Carmen Consoli is set to perform at City Winery in New York City this January 8, 2010 at 9 pm."The Sicilian-born Carmen Consoli is the most successful female singer-songwriter Italy has ever produced. The 35 year-old musician is known for her unflinching emotional live performances of songs that examine broad themes of love, illness, solitude and friendship from a feminine -- and feminist -- perspective. Her innovative mixture of Italian song with indie-rock influences, bossa nova rhythms and jazz and blues-inspired riffs have engendered a sound unique on the Italian music…

• Sons of Italy Presents "Italian American Baseball Hereos."

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am

  The Sons of Italy is proud to announce the first-ever limited edition set of heritage cards honoring Italian American Baseball Heroes from the pioneer Buttercup Dickerson in 1878 to Dodger manager Joe Torre in 2009. This historic collectible box of 100 cards, made from original oil paintings commissioned specifically for this set, honoring Italians who contributed to making baseball America's game.These cards are available as gifts for a small donation made to The Sons of Italy Foundation. The philanthropic arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), founded in 1959 as a private…

• "Cinema Italiano"

  18 Nov 2009 | 4:07 am

  Thoughts?Check out the official trailer.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_5_lzags3Ihttp://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/17/nine-trailer-kate-hudson/

• Italian American Comedian, Maryann Maisano Talks About Growing Up Italian American & Her Rise To The Stage.

  14 Nov 2009 | 1:13 pm

  I am a comedian, singer/songwriter, musician, actress and a former banker!!!!As a child, every Sunday in my home was like bad Italian dinner theater. They all came over in droves. One day, after dinner and before cannolis, I got up on the dining room chair and sang!!That was it! At five years old I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. A performer! That was a blessing and a burden.I made my living for many years as a performer, but questioned my own mortality in the business. After my Italian father made me think about it. “Marianna! Whenna you gonna getta da real job?” I began…

• Italian American Pop Artist, Lady Gaga Debuts New Song, "Bad Romance."

  12 Nov 2009 | 12:32 pm

• 
  The Kush Report

• Our Playboy Mansion Video

  admin

  9 Nov 2009 | 12:25 pm

  The Founder and CEO of Kush Co., Cathinka Chandler, attended the 2009 Hot Summer Nights event at the Playboy Mansion this past August.  During the time spent there, we made a little video to give you a sense of what we saw while we were at this Third Annual Charity Event.  Can’t wait to get [...]

• Promoting Susan G. Komen Race Participants

  admin

  30 Sep 2009 | 10:02 pm

  It is the start of another October, the month when pink ribbons adorn many apparel items and are included in retail displays nation wide. It is of course Breast Cancer Awareness Month and here at Kush Co. we continue to be year round advocates of focusing attention on funding and awareness. Last year at this time [...]

• It’s the Playboy Mansion

  admin

  17 Aug 2009 | 9:19 pm

  The 2009 Hot Summer Nights party at the Playboy Mansion to benefit The United Breast Cancer Foundation took place this past weekend, and was attended by the CEO and Founder of Kush Co., Cathinka Chandler. We’ve been looking forward to this event for months now, and it did not disappoint.  The party was attended by fashion [...]

• Breast Support Made in the USA

  admin

  5 Aug 2009 | 8:54 pm

  We are very grateful for the response that Kush Support has received this summer.  The exposure from our YouTube videos and coverage from radio stations, bloggers and magazines has contributed to a soaring volume of traffic, and customers looking for a breast support sleep aid. It has also provided some tremendous customer feedback regarding the product, [...]

• When Content Goes Viral

  admin

  9 Jul 2009 | 12:34 pm

  During the past few weeks we have had a tremendous (and we do mean tremendous) run of exposure from the distribution of our video content on YouTube.  In today’s Kush Report podcast, Cathinka talks with Joe Magennis about the results of a video going viral on YouTube and the number of exposures that can happen [...]

• 
  Independent Belle

• My 19th Hole With The Golfer

  Independent Belle

  11 Nov 2009 | 8:15 pm

  I just finished moving into my new place.  This was a much bigger project than I thought it would be.  Actually, I’m lying.  The last time I moved, it was just across the hall from the condo I was living in before, so I must have been dreading the thought of boxing up everything I own and starting someplace new.  But I’m here, and it’s wonderful. One of the tasks that comes with moving is going through everything and taking inventory of all your “stuff”.  More specifically, the “stuff” you’ve tucked away so you aren’t reminded of it (or in this…

• A Belle’s Thoughts…

  Independent Belle

  27 Oct 2009 | 5:20 pm

  As a follow up to the Proust Questionnaire, I asked that fellow Belles fill out their own Proust Questionnaire and submit it to Belle@IndependentBelle.com.  Below are the answers from our first featured “Celebri-Belle”, Anne.  Enjoy! What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being disconnected from the people I love Where would you like to live? On a beach in Florida What is your idea of earthly happiness?  Accepting everyone for who they are and what they want to be To what faults do you feel most indulgent?  Impulse to dodge responsibility Who are your favorite…

• To Have Or Not To Have, And Still Have It All. It’s Your Call

  Independent Belle

  15 Oct 2009 | 7:03 pm

  We all have friends who struggle with the decision of when to have children, if it’s not one we struggle with ourselves.  Hell, I struggle with whether my career allows time for me to start a new relationship, so I can only imagine deciding on a baby.  But for whatever reason, somewhere along the line it became as much a professional decision as a personal one.  More often than not, it’s something women start feeling the pressure to think about long before men do.  And I think I have an inkling why… (but all Independent Belles know it’s not because we’re in a…

• The Proust Questionnaire: Asking Independent Belles

  Independent Belle

  14 Oct 2009 | 8:13 pm

  I’ve taken the Proust Questionnaire several times in my life and I always like to look back and see how I’ve grown and changed over the years.  The questionnaire was made popular by the responses of the French writer, Marcel Proust, and has been used as a way for interviewers to probe the lives and beliefs of influential individuals and celebrities today.  Personally, I think it’s just a fun way to get to know yourself and others you are interested in!  Below I’ve given my answers to the Proust Questionnaire, and in the interest of getting to know fellow Belles, fill out your own…

• Take A Vacation, For Yourself!

  Independent Belle

  5 Jul 2009 | 10:12 pm

  We always want to look our best, impress our boss, manage our finances, take care of our families, have tidy homes, keep in touch with friends, exercise, eat healthy, and get a decent amount of sleep; all without losing our sense of self (or our minds) in the process.I’ve thought to myself on many occasions, “How do women do it?”The demands today seem nearly impossible to handle on our own, and yet we manage each day on some level, always with determination and never without struggle. Lately, I’ve felt like the struggle has been more than usual and the obvious solution was for me…

• 
  Ramble Ramble

• Being a working mom won’t kill me… right?

  Ginger

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:59 pm

  This is my last week on maternity leave–I go back to work next Monday–and I’m all woe is me and boo hoo and I don’t want to leave my baaayyyyybbbbbbeeeee. The last few days I’ll just look at the kid and get all weepy and have to think of things like bills and laundry and weather changes and other mundane shit to stop myself from a full on breakdown. This week is going to go so fast, and next thing I know I’m going to be sitting back in my cube trying not to cry while I think about all the milestones and firsts I’m going to miss while I’m at my…

• The great eating machine

  Ginger

  11 Nov 2009 | 10:02 pm

  I’m starving. Again. Nevermind that I had a full dinner less than 2 hours ago. I’m ravenous. Again. I am always hungry these days. I can eat a full meal, and an hour later have a sandwich, and an hour later have another complete meal…and still be hungry. And I’m talking full on carbs, proteins, fats, veggies, everything falls to the enormity of my hunger. There’s no escape really. I’m hungry when we get up in the morning, through the day, into the evening, late into the night…and yup, when I wake up to feed the kid in the middle of the night. If I ate…

• Clothes make the woman crazy

  Ginger

  7 Nov 2009 | 10:16 pm

  So I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Actually, I’m a little under my pre-preg weight, and have been for a little over a month. But before you’re all, “woohoo, yay you!”, I must clarify… I may be at that number, but I am a looooong way from that body. This new body is squishy, and jiggly, and mushy all around my middle section. If I laugh too hard, my belly feels like that line from ‘Twas the Night before Christmas…you know the one: He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. Yeah, never…

• To-do list

  Ginger

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:52 pm

  Things I desperately need to get around to doing someday: Learn to manage my “down time” with the baby. This is the key to all other things on this list. Mail out birth announcements. Before the kid graduates high school preferably. Get my damn flu shot before I go back to work and have to share germs with the real world. Get back on the commenting on blogs bus. I like to comment on blogs I swear, but since I mostly read at 3am on my iPhone now, commenting takes a level of…awakeness and coordination that I have yet to figure out. (Although, may I say, I’m so glad…

• Love

  Ginger

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:28 pm

  I love… snuggling down into the duvet on a chilly night. diet coke. getting email that isn’t spam. the feeling I get when I totally rock something at work. the smile that my baby has started to show. cooking with my husband. a warm cat in the lap. a good book. rockin’ out in the car with the music blaring. tacos. spending time with family when there’s no drama. paying off bills. not feeling buried financially. a good massage. previews at the movie theater. DVR. my slowly renewing interest in photography. reading a good blog. my alma mater actually winning football…

• 
  Manisha Thakor

• Celebrity Money Meltdowns

  mthakor

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:13 pm

  Tough economic times have tested the vast majority of Americans – and that includes celebrities.  Lately there have been several high profile individuals from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and the arts who have seen their financial woes hit the front pages. A money meltdown is right up there with death and divorce as one of life’s most stressful experiences. So let me say straight up that my intent in highlighting these experiences is not to poke fun or make light of their situations.  Rather it is to help others by highlighting common financial pitfall that all of us…

• 5 Ways the Credit Card Act of 2009 will Affect You

  mthakor

  12 Oct 2009 | 8:17 pm

  In these recessionary times, millions of Americans have found themselves drowning in one of the most expensive types of debt out there – credit card debt. Thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009, however, relief is on its way. Come February 22, 2010 (and potentially as soon as December 1, 2009) there will be new consumer protections put in place. This legislation has something for everyone… 1. ARE YOU UNDER 21? This regulation will help you save yourself from yourself, by restricting your access to credit cards. Gone are the days of free tee-shirts and pizzas in exchange for signing…

• What’s Your Money Personality?

  mthakor

  3 Oct 2009 | 5:06 pm

  If there’s one thing we’ve all learned the hard way over the past two years, it’s the degree to which money affects every one of us on a daily basis. I recently had the chance to speak with Dr. Kathleen Gurney, Ph.D., the CEO of Financial Psychology Corporation, author of the book Your Money Personality and creator of the Moneymax® Profile.  Dr. Gurney has been researching the way Americans think and feel about their money for over 25 years.  Through her research, she has identified 9 broad “money personalities,” amongst which people tend to be evenly…

• 5 Items Will Consume >50% of Your Lifetime Income

  mthakor

  12 Sep 2009 | 9:30 pm

  In these recessionary times, financial tips are flowing fast and furious about how to save money and stick to a budget. Facing a sea of information many people are asking, “Where do I start?”   For most of us, five areas of spending will consume over 50% of the money we earn during our lifetime, so that’s the best place to begin.  The five areas are:  Home, Car, Kids, Education, and Retirement.  Here’s what you need to know about each: Don’t bite off more HOME than you can chew. How much house can you comfortably afford?For most people the answer is a house…

• Are You On Financial Track?

  mthakor

  24 Aug 2009 | 5:40 pm

  It appears (knock on wood) this brutal recession may finally be coming to an end.  As we let out a collective sigh of relief, many people are starting to poke their heads up and ask, “Am I on Financial Track?”  Here are some rough rules of thumb that you can use to benchmark your progress as you move through life’s decades. IN YOUR 20s: Your key challenge is to learn to live within your means. Steps to take include:  Avoid credit card debt like the plague. Make at least the minimum monthly payments on your students loans, on time, every month. Build a starter emergency…

• 
  Straight Talk On Relationships

• SIGNS OF A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP

  lmerlobooth

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:38 pm

  Is your relationship mediocre or toxic? Many people know when their relationship isn’t as good as they would like. They realize there’s something missing, yet they think most relationships are missing something. Where people get stuck is in realizing when...

• GETTING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS STILL IN TACT:-)

  lmerlobooth

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:22 pm

  GETTING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS STILL INTACT Regardless of whether you love the holidays or dread them, they can be very stressful. Many people are trying to manage work, home, holidays, in-laws, traditions and finances all at once....

• FROM HOUSEWIFE TO PARTNER: ARE YOU COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SWITCH? Teamwork in Relationships

  lmerlobooth

  11 Nov 2009 | 2:52 pm

  I noticed a tweet on Twitter this morning that said, “Hubby has the day off so he's home. So I can't play around like I normally do. I have to clean and cook and all of that crap. Ugh.” When...

• SELF-CONFIDENCE IN RELATIONSHIPS: ARE YOU THROWING YOURSELF UNDER THE BUS TO HELP OTHERS FEEL BETTER?

  lmerlobooth

  9 Nov 2009 | 11:50 am

  Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. Mariann Williamson Time and time again I hear people minimizing their accomplishments, down playing their successes or...

• LAYOFFS, FINANCIAL STRUGGLES & JOB INSECURITIES: WHAT SHOULD COUPLES DO?

  lmerlobooth

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:36 am

  More and more couples are feeling the ripple effect of a struggling economy. Layoffs are a reality for many couples. Even those couples who currently have jobs are often fearful they won’t have them for long. Couples are struggling to...

• 
  Pearls of Travel Wisdom

• Car Rental Companies Charge Rental Drop-off Fees? You Bet!

  Carol Margolis

  15 Nov 2009 | 8:25 am

  Catharine Hamm of The Los Angeles Times fields a question about car rental drop-off fees. Do rental companies really charge fees? They sure do, catching unaware travelers all the time. We will have a future article dealing with car rental agency fees but for more now -- including some tips to avoid these drop-off charges -- click here...

• 4 Travel Lessons This Road Warrior had to Relearn the Hard Way

  Carol Margolis

  9 Nov 2009 | 8:03 pm

  What started out as a nice short flight from Atlanta to Houston turned into a comedy of issues this morning. All issues were unavoidable had I implemented my own tried-and-true travel tips.When I checked into the kiosk to get my boarding pass and check my bag (yes, even I have to check a bag now and then for longer journeys), I grabbed the paper that the kiosk spit out and went up to the desk to check my bag.  There was an earlier flight to Houston, but I declined it in order to have breakfast with my husband before he flew back to Orlando.  He was in Terminal A, I was in Terminal…

• Travelers’ Favorite: CNN

  Carol Margolis

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:17 pm

  For all the many years I have traveled (40+ weeks each year), I have relied on CNN to keep me up-to-date with the happenings of the world. No matter where I travel, CNN is like an old friend…always there for me and always reliable (sounds like my dog, also!). But seriously, most travelers I talk with say that they tune into CNN while on the road as their primary news source.  While the city, state or country may change, the news show stays the same. For many of us, we like this reliability. Watching local news shows is great for traffic and weather reports, but it can be difficult to…

• When You Open the Hotel Mini-Bar, What Do You Grab?

  Carol Margolis

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:43 pm

  I’m curious as to how many people partake of the goodies in a hotel mini-bar. For those that do, is it out of desperation for food or drink after arriving into a hotel room late at night with a growling stomach, or is it an easy and quick snack or beverage that you routinely indulge in? Enough people must obviously grab food and drinks from the mini-bars as the hotels would most likely not have them if they were not profitable.I was traveling to a conference with a brand new consultant who was not familiar with the institution of a hotel mini-bar. Many of the food items were laid out on a…

• Simple Strategies for Safe Travels

  Carol Margolis

  28 Oct 2009 | 8:14 am

  I followed a piece of my own advice this week (advice I should always follow, but sometimes do not). I was nearing my hotel in Houston at 11pm, arriving when the hotel parking lot was very dark and quiet. I did not look forward to unloading my suitcase and laptop tote from the car and walking across a very full parking lot so late at night (nor did my husband like the idea either!). Instead, I phoned the Marriott when I was within a mile of reaching the hotel. I asked for someone to meet me at the front door and escort me in.  She seemed initially surprised by my request, but definitely…

• 
  About.com: Women's Issues

• Mammogram Recommendations and Health Care Reform - Question (But Don't Shoot) the Messenger

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:01 am

  Asking a cancer survivor if  you should listen to the new mammogram recommendations is like asking a mega-million dollar Powerball winner if you should buy a lottery ticket. You're going to get a very biased answer. I should know. I'm a cancer survivor -- an ovarian cancer survivor -- diagnosed at age 33 when I was a stay-at-home mom with two little girls 9 months old and 3 years old. If my cancer hadn't been caught early, I wouldn't be writing this today. Statistically speaking, I wouldn't have survived five years. This year, thanks to early treatment, I celebrated my 15th year of cancer…

• Newsweek's Sarah Palin Cover - "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sexism?"

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:46 pm

  In August of this year, Runner's World magazine published an interview (conducted in June) with then-Alaska governor Sarah Palin. A warm-and-fuzzy feature somewhat light on politics, the exchange between interviewer and interviewee felt candid and real. It was a comfortable moment for the former GOP VP candidate who hasn't always fared so well with the media. Flash forward to this week's Newsweek. There's Palin on the cover -- an image taken during the Runner's World photo shoot in June. She's wearing black shorts and a tomato-red running jacket that shows her curves. With hands on hips and…

• Missed Sarah Palin on Oprah? Here's What Happened

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:26 am

  A compilation of links to all the live blogging I did on the Oprah show with Sarah Palin, just broadcast minutes ago. In seven parts, with highlights below: Part I - Oprah Snub, VP Phone Call, Vetting, Bristol's Pregnancy, Naive About the Media Part II - Being Handled, Clothing Double-Standard, Palin Family Makeover, Michigan Statement, Being Scripted, Why They Lost Part III - The Couric Interview, Palin's Annoyance, "The Perky One," Abortion, Down's Syndrome, Telling Todd Part IV - Levi Johnston, "Ricky Hollywood," Playgirl Spread as 'Porn,' Bristol as a Mom, Thanksgiving with Levi? Part V -…

• Live Blogging Oprah Palin Interview - Part VII

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Oprah: "One final question. Should I be worried because I heard you're going to get your own talk show." Palin: "Oprah, you're the queen of talk shows. There's nothing to worry about. And you are. And you can't shut off my mic. The inspiration that you have provided in the 90s - those were the days...I was a stay at home mom, inspired by the challenges you were facing, being a normal American woman facing challenges... I appreciated that." Oprah: "Anything else you want to say? It's all in the book." Palin: "I get through it with God and Todd." Audience applause. Show ends with Oprah…

• Live Blogging Oprah Palin Interview - Part VI

  16 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am

  Oprah: "You say you were silenced on Election Night...You look sad." Palin: "You don't run a race to lose....not so much disappointed I wasn't allowed to speak, but the explanation was that VPs don't give speeches" and she says she knew that to be false. But she wanted to tell the audience that we should move forward; she had hoped to share the message, "United we stand." Oprah: Asked Palin about being so close to the presidency. As the parent of five children, and as a woman so close to the office, what would Palin do in a situation of crisis? "I know we don't ask this of men...but how would…

• 
  Vital Voices Blog

• First Woman High Representative of EU Appointed

  Vital Voices Global Partnership Team

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:22 am

  On Thursday, November 19th, 2009 the European Union chose the leaders who would represent the EU to the rest of the world. In a great feat for women, Baroness Cathy Ashton, a former UK Labour Party member in the House of Lords, was chosen as the European Union’s Foreign Minister and the Vice President of [...]

• Chouchou Namegabe Honored at DVF Studio

  vital voices staff

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am

  On November 17, Diane von Furstenberg hosted a luncheon at her studio in New York for Chouchou Namegabe, honoree of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award. Using her radio program, Chouchou has worked to give a voice to women who have been victims of human rights crimes in order to educate the public [...]

• From Congo to Westport: a Voice for Women -Westport Now

  vital voices staff

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:58 pm

  Vital Voices honoree Chouchou Namegabe of the Democratic Republic of Congo spoke at the Westport Arts Center in Connecticut on November 17. Photos and a summary of the evening are featured in WestportNow.com

• UN Population Fund: Impoverished Women ‘Bear Climate Burden’

  vital voices staff

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:02 pm

  November 18- BBC News reports today on a publication issued by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) which warns that the challenges posed by the climate change crisis will fall on the backs of the world’s poor women. A disproportionate burden is said to land on women, who are responsible for a majority of agricultural [...]

• Raise Your Voice for Beijing +15

  vital voices staff

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:18 am

  In preparation for the Beijing +15 conference, the United Nations is facilitating an online discussion forum to spread ideas and opinions on women’s rights. The conference serves to complete a 15-year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action, a plan that includes the promotion of equal rights and the advancement of [...]

• 
  creatingatwill.com

• 2012 Major Change for the World or Waste of Time

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:51 am

  Now, yet another movie (2012) arrives to attempt to frighten us and underline the doomsday prophecy of Dec. 2012, reported to be revealed in the ancient Mayan cyclical calendar where the world ends in unprecedented catastrophe.  Throughout time we have withstood destructive hurricanes, major earthquakes and tidal waves of enormous proportions.  While it’s true that some [...]

• Home for the Holidays – 2 Clues to Avoid the Dread

  Laurie

  12 Nov 2009 | 10:27 am

  A recent Twitter post said, “Does anyone else besides me dread the holidays?” My immediate reply was, “if I don’t make time for myself.” That’s what I mean by home. Finding that place to honor and listen to yourself amidst the chaotic busyness of being with family. Because, don’t get me wrong, (my family is my [...]

• Women Celebrate Sisterhood

  11 Nov 2009 | 5:23 pm

  “Women Celebrate Sisterhood,” soundtrack by Bliss, courtesy of YouTube.com, 5:31 minutes

• 6 Career Failure Behaviors & How to Turn Them Around

  Laurie

  9 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Plain as the nose on your face isn’t always that obvious, or we’d stop doing many things that get in our way…wouldn’t we?   There is a sure way to career success which is to find out how you sabotage yourself and change those behaviors.  For example, you might have done all the right prep to obtain your next job or for the work [...]

• Masquerading as Yourself in Your Career

  Laurie

  31 Oct 2009 | 4:48 pm

  As kids, and sometimes still as adults, we dress up at Halloween in costumes and make believe we’re someone else – maybe a bold pirate, a spellbinding witch, an enchanting princess -whatever character we choose to portray, they usually have some kind of magic feel about them. We get to pretend that we’re stepping into [...]

• 
  Here We Are...with Luci

• Bringing Back Rites of Passage

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am

  A Guest Post by Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Indie Business Blog When my daughter, Vanessa, was born, I made the conscious decision not to have her ears pierced while she was an infant. I studied this issue very carefully while I was pregnant and I knew that the nurses in the delivery room would perform the service for free if I asked them to. This seemed appealing considering it would save me the trouble later and my daughter would never remember the pain of the piercing. On the other hand, I... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• Chick Flick Chat: "Revolutionary Road"

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  16 Nov 2009 | 3:22 pm

  "No one forgets the truth...they just get better at lying." ~ Kate Winslet's character, April Wheeler in "Revolutionary Road" Click HERE to listen to Chick Flick Chat featuring the film Revolutionary Road. Put on your seat belt, this movie takes you on quite a ride! No matter what decade you grew up in, you will recognize issues that are alive and festering today. The performances by Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are exceptional. Their characters are moving and memorable, supplying us with... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• Autumn Leaves: Colorful Reminders

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  12 Nov 2009 | 1:06 pm

  Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus Savor the next thirty-nine days of autumn...Enjoy the orange, burgundy, and yellow leaves as they delicately swirl past your window, breathe the fresh air, bite into a crisp apple, plant your mums. Today, my friend, RayDeen, posted a note on her Facebook wall. She is asking for prayers for her childhood friend, Lisa, who is losing her fight with cancer. As I sat at my desk watching the leaves dance, her message once again... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• FB Pages: Here We Are On Facebook

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  10 Nov 2009 | 6:48 am

  Friend, Fan, Follow...Join HWA on Facebook! Who: That's you!! If you are on Facebook or thinking about joining, we invite you to also join the Here We Are page on Facebook. What: The page is new and, like the blog, will evolve as it grows. We will be using it as a community board for the Here We Are readers to exchange info, opinions, support, etc. (see more on this in the How segment).Where & How: Just click on the "Become a Fan" link on the new sidebar widget, sign into Facebook, and you're... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• Weleda Baby Care Products Care For Your Baby

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:49 am

  A Product Review by Staci, The Mom Squad It's been three years since I had my first child, Elle. Time has flown by! It has been a wonderful journey of ups and downs, trials and errors, but mostly, the greatest memories from the best years of my life. I have finally discovered a product line that I prefer for my children. It is Weleda Baby Care. It smells good, feels good, and leaves baby feeling soft and smelling so sweet! Plus, I trust the ingredients. Last year, a friend sent me samples from... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• 
  The Bobby Pin

• Thankful

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:23 am

  This is Tom the Turkey. It is tradition to write what we are thankful for -- and make everyone who visits during November do the same. The tradition started when I was small but it thrived all through college and now Tom shows up at our house every year. It is nice to take a moment. I'm thankful for my dear husby, my sweet puppy, my extended family that supports me, the opportunity to go back to school, the friends I have in San Diego and elsewhere, a bed and roof over my head. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve in the community. I'm thankful that people serve me. I'm grateful for…

• Why I want a radio show

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:23 am

  Other than the fact that I'm pretty sure you can work in your pajamas, which appeals to me a lot (anyone else tried to convince themselves that their black yoga pants look like slacks?), I want to tell the world that they deserve a fabulous partner. I heard the following last week: "Well, I know I'm not going to be his top priority, but I'm OK with that... he has kids and other things going on." or "I'd really like to start my family, but my girlfriend isn't ready to get married yet. She still wants to party. I'll wait." or "I met a guy, he's great, but..." I don't want to judge, but…

• Male Prima donna

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:37 pm

  Why is Thursday night TV so great? Flash Forward, 30 Rock and of course the cubicle crew. My relationship with The Office is love/hate. Some days I am not a fan of watching a show about an office when I've spent all day working in one. Some episodes are amazing, i.e. Pam and Jim's wedding. Others I feel like I want that 30 minutes back, i.e. The Micheal Scott Paper Company. This is why I like it though. True Office right here. Oh and I am a fan of Hulu. Seriously who needs DVR when you have the Internet? OK, I see the advantage but in my money consciousness, I am trying to save money.

• Funny money

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Husband and I are fairly good at bottoming out on our "fun budget" and halting use of funds until the next paycheck. Days go buy without use of the debit card and at the end of the week I wonder why it doesn't seem like we saved anything. (sidenote: husband would want me to note that we did an amazing job this week not spending cash post Julian) Sometimes, I pride myself on not smoking or buying music on itunes, because I'm "saving money" but in reality it isn't in the budget so I'm saving nothing. As I scoured our budget over the past year, I found we were, to be cliche, being penny wise and…

• Card alert

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:53 pm

  My pal just opened up an Etsy shop for holiday cards called Scenerie. They remind me of tinyprints, which are cute but out of my price range. I was happy to see that her designs were classy and affordable. Look familiar? She needed family pictures so she borrowed some of ours. I am thinking we'll go with the above one, to put newsy items in the speech bubbles. I reserve the right to change my mind. (note: her twin did my blog design, super talented girls)

• 
  Furthering the Worldwide Cultural Conversation

• Does expat lit deserve its own shelf?

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:25 am

  I asked that question during a week of live #litchat on Twitter when I guest hosted this spring. Here are highlights from three hours of conversation with 40 readers, writers, travelers, expats, Third Culture Kids and emigrees weighing in from around the globe. The unattributed comments are my own. WHAT’S EXPAT LIT? The interpretation of another culture by someone of our own. — M. Dominique Benoit An expat writer draws on a collective cultural consciousness to talk about a different locale. An outsider’s view from the inside: when it’s good, it’s the best of both worlds. A…

• Social media as self actualization

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  10 Nov 2009 | 4:08 am

  This week I’ll be speaking with creative entrepreneur Tara Agacayak on a panel about social media for the International Professional Women of Istanbul Network (IPWIN). The happy trends of Web 2.0 online networking, collaborating, and user-generated content seem tailor-made for pro women like us who often face a more difficult career path abroad. Whether “trailing spouses” lacking a local work permit like Jo Parfitt recounts here or in some other way being at a geographic or cultural disadvantage is a common expat woman experience. IN AN ATTENTION ECONOMY WE’RE NO…

• Is that a pain cry?

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:00 am

  I don’t see death every day, but I hear it. From where I sit, in my home office overlooking a little Bosphorus bay, the day is punctuated by recess at a large school below. Sometimes through the din I think I hear a high-pitched pain cry echoing in the valley. An intermittent wail. Out on the balcony I listen, some primitive hackle raised. The source: the government hospital on the waterfront. Not a patient. Someone realizing a loved life is over. Yesterday I caught a grief panel live-webcasted from The Women’s Conference 2009, America’s foremost forum for women as architects of change.

• Spirit of the season(ing)

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  20 Oct 2009 | 5:04 am

  Blood and marriage draw families together but often whole worlds continue to separate us as individuals. Lifestyle choices. Generations. In-laws. Siblings. Achieving – and maintaining — harmony is a challenge we all seem to face. Some clans need more help than others. Around our holiday table in 1979, my fractious relatives were gifted with a sudden ability to perceive each other as the loveable characters we truly are, every day of the year. Our secret ingredient for interplanetary peace? An unseen substance in the stuffing. The basic recipe: Rivalrous teenage sisters. Strait-laced…

• expat+HAREM: blooming behind closed doors

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  16 Oct 2009 | 2:47 am

  Expat Harem has a new global niche. The Expat Harem — a concept I coined in 2004 with Jennifer Eaton Gokmen and brought to life in 2005 and 2006 in the foreign women in Turkey anthology Tales from the Expat Harem – has always been about a modern and virtual community of cultural peers. Now the (softly) relaunched ExpatHarem.com is expat+HAREM, the global niche and aims to bring its community to life online as a neoculture hub for global citizens and identity adventurers as well as travelers and culturati, fans of the anthology, and Turkophiles. Re-imagining the role Expat Harem…

• 
  Furthering the Worldwide Cultural Conversation

• Does expat lit deserve its own shelf?

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:25 am

  I asked that question during a week of live #litchat on Twitter when I guest hosted this spring. Here are highlights from three hours of conversation with 40 readers, writers, travelers, expats, Third Culture Kids and emigrees weighing in from around the globe. The unattributed comments are my own. WHAT’S EXPAT LIT? The interpretation of another culture by someone of our own. — M. Dominique Benoit An expat writer draws on a collective cultural consciousness to talk about a different locale. An outsider’s view from the inside: when it’s good, it’s the best of both worlds. A…

• Social media as self actualization

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  10 Nov 2009 | 4:08 am

  This week I’ll be speaking with creative entrepreneur Tara Agacayak on a panel about social media for the International Professional Women of Istanbul Network (IPWIN). The happy trends of Web 2.0 online networking, collaborating, and user-generated content seem tailor-made for pro women like us who often face a more difficult career path abroad. Whether “trailing spouses” lacking a local work permit like Jo Parfitt recounts here or in some other way being at a geographic or cultural disadvantage is a common expat woman experience. IN AN ATTENTION ECONOMY WE’RE NO…

• Is that a pain cry?

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:00 am

  I don’t see death every day, but I hear it. From where I sit, in my home office overlooking a little Bosphorus bay, the day is punctuated by recess at a large school below. Sometimes through the din I think I hear a high-pitched pain cry echoing in the valley. An intermittent wail. Out on the balcony I listen, some primitive hackle raised. The source: the government hospital on the waterfront. Not a patient. Someone realizing a loved life is over. Yesterday I caught a grief panel live-webcasted from The Women’s Conference 2009, America’s foremost forum for women as architects of change.

• Spirit of the season(ing)

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  20 Oct 2009 | 5:04 am

  Blood and marriage draw families together but often whole worlds continue to separate us as individuals. Lifestyle choices. Generations. In-laws. Siblings. Achieving – and maintaining — harmony is a challenge we all seem to face. Some clans need more help than others. Around our holiday table in 1979, my fractious relatives were gifted with a sudden ability to perceive each other as the loveable characters we truly are, every day of the year. Our secret ingredient for interplanetary peace? An unseen substance in the stuffing. The basic recipe: Rivalrous teenage sisters. Strait-laced…

• expat+HAREM: blooming behind closed doors

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  16 Oct 2009 | 2:47 am

  Expat Harem has a new global niche. The Expat Harem — a concept I coined in 2004 with Jennifer Eaton Gokmen and brought to life in 2005 and 2006 in the foreign women in Turkey anthology Tales from the Expat Harem – has always been about a modern and virtual community of cultural peers. Now the (softly) relaunched ExpatHarem.com is expat+HAREM, the global niche and aims to bring its community to life online as a neoculture hub for global citizens and identity adventurers as well as travelers and culturati, fans of the anthology, and Turkophiles. Re-imagining the role Expat Harem…

• 
  micro-chasms

• GUEST WEDNESDAY: The Nanna Diaries

  18 Nov 2009 | 12:35 am

  I follow just three blogs at the moment: Micro-chasms, The Hermitage and Wgafwit and, I think, within those I am really getting a diverse world view. The Hermitage is following the life of Traveller and Artist (and I'm sure many other things) Rima – who lives the life that I should be living myself, being sure that I am of rambling Traveller if not Circus folk descent. She draws like an angel, and deserves to be a Blogger Legend (viz: Bleg). I don't like outdoors, animals or anything broadly termed 'nature', but I do like trailer-life. I miss my Traveller friends sorely – and the long…

• Design for life

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:54 am

  I heard a brilliant phrase last week – told to me by someone trying to explain the difference between the advancement of Japanese mobile phones compared to the US models. I honestly don’t remember why this conversation took place, there was red wine involved for sure, but I’m glad it did for this little gem: A camel is a horse designed by committee. So the Japanese have got far better phones because they work together and put all their best ideas in one model that’s super useful and fit-for-purpose. Not just pretty.I knew instantly I heard this analogy that it struck a deep personal…

• GUEST WEDNESDAY

  11 Nov 2009 | 2:47 am

  I’m going home on Friday. As an English girl, even after 12 years of living in Denmark, I still refer to England as 'home'.I’m going to London to spend time with some very good girlfriends and I am so excited. I’m also looking forward to the precious 'me' time that comes so rarely when I get away without children.Imagine, flying on my own for once! I’ll be able to read my book, plug in my headphones and not worry about small feet kicking the seat in front. It won’t be me having to ensure that everyone has drinks, snacks, books, snacks, toys, been to the toilet, clean nappies, and…

• Holding it together

  9 Nov 2009 | 8:54 am

  Our cat just left home. Not entirely of her own volition, but she was purring. She’s been rehoused, repackaged and relocated to her country retirement estate. No longer is she mistress of a Georgian town house with a garden smaller than the bathroom. She’s got land, a chocolate box cottage and cows to play with. And a new mummy who will actually seek her out for comfort. It’s incredibly hard to talk about cats without losing a certain degree of dignity and sanity, but seeing as I’m fairly convinced this is a subject that could never reduce me to an emotional heap I’m going to try.

• GUEST WEDNESDAY: by Hazel Gould

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:28 am

  There are three kinds of mum friends. The ones you are pleased to bump into at the park, the ones you actually arrange to meet up with, and then the rare and wonderful ones who become real friends. Those women with whom baby talk can segue into relationship talk, work talk, life talk. All three kinds can be life savers. On a bad day, a friendly face pushing a swing next to you is all it takes to remind you that you are a sentient adult. A coffee with someone who is also navigating toddler tantrums or charting the waters of sleep and wakefulness in a new born is an invaluable support. But…

• 
  IPS Inter Press Service - Women: Leading the Way

• GENDER-AFRICA: Some Progress Amidst Continuing Challenges

  BANJUL, Nov 21 (IPS) - The Beijing Platform for Action in 1995 set out an agenda to address gender equality in priority areas, including poverty, education, and health care. It also committed governments to address violence against women, equitable access to economic resources and decision-making power.

• LEBANON: Migrant Women Dying on the Job

  BEIRUT, Nov 21 (IPS) - October and November have been bloody months for Lebanon's migrant domestic workers - over the last five weeks nine women have died. Most deaths have been reported as suicide.

• POLITICS: U.N. in Final Push for 2015 Development Goals

  UNITED NATIONS, Nov 20 (IPS) - A special U.N. summit of world leaders, scheduled to take place next year, is expected to make "a final push" to help reach the world body's widely-touted development goals by the targeted date of 2015.

• RIGHTS-MEXICO: State Held Responsible for Three Juárez Killings

  MEXICO CITY, Nov 20 (IPS) - The families of three young women murdered in Ciudad Juárez, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua on the border with the United States, had to wait eight years for justice, which they finally obtained through the inter-American system.

• POLITICS-BOTSWANA: I Lost the Election, But I Am a Winner

  GABORONE, Nov 21 (IPS) - When Kgomotso Mogami threw her name into the hat to contest the Gaborone Central parliamentary seat it was easy for many people to write her off.

• 
  The Women's Information Network

• I was in a competition

  donna-expert

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:35 pm

  Yesterday was the last Business After Hours (BAH)at the local Chamber of Commerce for the year 2009. I volunteer as an Ambassador for the Chamber and I particularly love to participate in BAH because I get to talk to a lot of people. One of my functions is to introduce new members around so that they quickly get engaged in the networking. It's a lot of fun. Last night's BAH was special. I got to invite several dozen of my friends from the business community. It was a sold-out event and so the space was full of energy and enthusiasm. read more

• It all started with a phone call...

  VelDean-expert

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:18 am

  It all started with a phone call on a Sunday afternoon. Well, to be more precise, the Sunday afternoon call put the chink in the dam, the chink to led to a drastic change of course in my life and the lives of my children, the chink that led to a flood that affected the lives of so many. In truth, that call led to countless “Aha’s” as I looked back over years and saw so many little things from a totally different perspective. read more

• Winter's Fun Family Traditions

  lauraandvicki

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:15 pm

   In show 021 we share some Winter Season Family Traditions (including holiday traditions) that will enrich your family relationships. We promised you more ideas that have been suggested by other show hosts and online friends. Click here to visit Vicki's business blog dated November 19, 2009 to find more enlightening Winter Family Tradition suggestions. Vicki's friend, Kim Shields, shares many neat family traditions for the Christmas season at the blog link listed.

• Test Product

  jethro

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:53 pm

  $5.00 Kick Start Cart Add to Cart Url:  Add to Cart $5.00

• Grateful

  Paula

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:21 am

  I don't know about you, but for me blogging is now addictive! I'm excited each morning to share my thoughts with whomever has the time or inclination to read them. I feel like I've joined a huge Club of folks who figured this out a long time ago. Many of us Baby Boomers are just now climbing onboard ... I'm loving it! read more