Alltop

All the top news about Women.

See also Health and Moms.

Watch the video

Share this

Go to

kirtsy-Popular Stories
Count Me on the D List!!

Amie

2 Jul 2009 | 6:49 pm

I've been at this blogging thing for more than 3 years and yet... All I know is there better be a button left for me.18 Vote(s)
Tulip fields transformed into art

oysterbox

2 Jul 2009 | 5:15 pm

Ooh I love tulips, and these fields are stunning ..24 Vote(s)
What to Pack for a Weekend Getaway

InStyle

2 Jul 2009 | 3:31 pm

Look chic, no matter your destination.23 Vote(s)
The Best Summer Strawberry Pie Dessert

BusyMomBlog

2 Jul 2009 | 1:26 pm

A wonderful recipe for a summer dessert. The kids love it!29 Vote(s)
30 Ways To Keep Cool This Summer

fitnfab

2 Jul 2009 | 12:59 pm

Great post on 30 different ways to keep cool this summer from the bodyshop blog27 Vote(s)

iVillage Today
15 of Your Favorite Indoor Plants

Houseplants add color and beauty to any room, but sometimes they can be frustrating to grow. If you're looking for a low-maintenance or easy-to-grow option, try one of these GardenWeb member favorites.
Is Your Kid Really Ready to Fly Alone?

How young is too young?
9 Tips for a Safe Salon Pedicure

"If a salon looks shady or dirty, walk out," says Michele Pierno, who's in product development at Kiss, the nail-product company.
Michelle Obama's Green Thumb Is Catching

Looks like Michelle Obama isn't just setting trends in her own country -- she's influencing fans across the pond, too. In fact, she may be part of the reason why Britain's Queen Elizabeth has planted her own royal vegetable garden at Buckingham Palace.
Are These Walking Shoes Legit?

Aesthetics aside, MBT Lami Shoes (the "anti-shoe") promises a positive effect--it supposedly stimulates your muscles and strengthens your body with its Mesai Sensor technology. You can even walk with these glorified mary janes on the beach, they say. Just one question: If they're the anti-shoe, what are they then?

A.R. and Proud
Cap It Off

missburrows

30 Jun 2009 | 10:19 am

In August, I started collecting caps for my "Great Aveda Experiment". They claimed on their website they they would happily take rigid plastic caps from soda bottles, water bottles, etc. (Full description: here.)So I started collecting them. And collecting them. And collecting them. Last week, I finally had the gallon bag filled to the top. (It weighed 768g. The gum package is for scale.)So I headed off to our local Aveda, Vata Salon, at the Vancouver Mall, in Vancouver, WA. I had to go there anyway. Two birds with one stone and all that.I really wasn't sure what would happen. I had tried to…
If You Can't See It You Won't Wear It

missburrows

28 Jun 2009 | 11:48 am

A few months ago, I decided to tackle my closest. While it was certainly organized, it wasn't yet super-organized. So I did a little experiment to see how truly anal I am. First, I started with my shoes. I went through all the pairs. Decided which should stay, which should go, and then snapped a pic, printed it out, and slapped it on the box. The result:Then I went through my clothes, weeded out things I never wear, and thought it would be a kick to hang everything by color! I'd only done this once before, when I was killing time waiting for my boyfriend to arrive from the airport. So, I…
Go, but Go Loco

missburrows

26 Jun 2009 | 10:06 am

The commute. Something I have been able to avoid for years, but with my new job search going on, something I will probably be facing very soon. While I'd love to be able to walk or bus to work, it probably just isn't gonna happen. Enter Goloco. The brainchild of Robin Chase, founder of ZipCar, Goloco is like carpooling on steroids. You can use it for daily office commutes, finding out what your friends are up to, and hopping a ride to the nearest big city. It's free and it's adorable and I plan on using it once I know exactly where I will be heading each morning.
The Play's The Thing

missburrows

24 Jun 2009 | 9:41 am

For the last few years, Martin and I have been enjoying free Shakespeare performances put on by the Portland (Oregon) Actors Ensemble. They perform outdoors, in various parks around the city.A few weeks ago, we watched a truly creepy (in a good way!) performance of King Lear. It was performed in Cathedral Park, under the St. John's Bridge.They have more performances coming up, and we highly suggest you grab a picnic, some chairs, and a blanket and join us for one of Portland's most wonderful summer traditions!Don't live near Portland, Oregon? Go to Play Shakespeare and look through the links…
Speak Up For What You Want: Part 2

missburrows

22 Jun 2009 | 11:19 am

I recently contacted various magazine companies asking them to consider using recycled paper and these are the responses I got:I'm not surprised with their responses, and I truly appreciate that they responded. What I'd really love to see, is a price quote for using virgin paper vs. recycled paper. Not that the magazines have to prove anything to me, I'm just truly fascinated and perplexed.Body + Soul, Fast Company, Shape, Ready Made, Ms. Magazine, and others can swing it, why not Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine? I consider Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine vital resources for learning about…

Okay, Fine, Dammit
I have to get this out.

maggie, dammit

24 Jun 2009 | 5:37 pm

Yesterday, palms sweaty, tentatively navigating fork choices, sweltering greasy-spit heat and bo-jangling nerves, I had the pleasure of sitting immediately to the left of this man before (and after) I had the honor of listening to him speak. Lundy Bancroft delivered the keynote address at a very special banquet at which I was honored to be a guest, and he reminded me of so many things I didn’t even know I knew, being as I am so close to the heat, and so far from an expert. I am just a girl with a gut and a heart and so when it comes down to the nitty gritty, I find myself apologetic and…
Will you like me less at BlogHer if you think I’m fat?

maggie, dammit

22 Jun 2009 | 12:47 pm

My feed reader is suddenly infested with BlogHer posts and for the first time I find myself lice-combing through every single one, searching for that tiny varmint of truth that applies to me (or at least its telltale eggs.) I have never gone before and this year I finally get to experience what I’ve been missing, and as excited as I am I have to admit your posts are kind of freaking me out. It’s all the posts devoted to weight; too much of it, too little of it, a pound of flesh I don’t feel you owe and I hope to God you don’t think I owe you. Now I have struggled with my self-image as…
Fare thee well, friend

maggie, dammit

19 Jun 2009 | 1:42 pm

Airport, June 19, 2009, 7:00am. I will honor your family in your absence, bake meals for your wife and kiss the tops of your boys’ heads as often as they’ll allow, until you return. I won’t dishonor you by lying and saying I fully understand all of this; I’m not going to pretend that my feelings aren’t complicated. I haven’t done that yet and I won’t start now, because you know me better than that. You know the grassy plains of my heart and your sunny patch in it, and that’s where I’ll keep you, squatting there beneath an oak tree, boughs…
And the wall comes crumbling down

maggie, dammit

13 Jun 2009 | 2:22 pm

I hit some sort of wall Thursday night. Like, I couldn’t move my face and I couldn’t lift my arms and I couldn’t think or say or do one more thing and I realized I was mashed up against this wall, drool pooling at the corner of my mouth and sliding down the glaze to crust and I thought, I cannot do this. It came on the heels of an emotional couple of weeks, I’ll grant myself that. Losing our dog was tough and although my kids, now out of school for the summer, still need plenty of attention from me, at four and nine they are at least past the ages where I have to stare at them every…
Square One (Introducing: Izzi)

maggie, dammit

9 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pm

DivineCaroline Home Page
What have you learned about pre-schools?

Sponsor

3 Jul 2009 | 12:17 pm

Chime in and be entered to win a one-month scholarship from KinderCare...
First Class Travels Offers a First Class Experience

Michelle Wum

2 Jul 2009 | 5:21 pm

The flying experience is associated by most to be tiring and troubleso...
What Comes Around Goes Around ...

Kat Holland

2 Jul 2009 | 5:16 pm

Life is, to put it quite simply-completely unpredictable. My lif...
Why I Grabbed the Best Bedroom in the Guest House

Wendy Braitman

2 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm

I grabbed the best bedroom at the beach house for you, vacationing sin...
Emotional Vampires

Adriane Schuster

2 Jul 2009 | 4:48 pm

Psychological vampires don't suddenly materialize out of the pag...

iambossy.com
This Just In From CNN: Manhattan Home Prices Plunge!

BOSSY

2 Jul 2009 | 5:34 am

A report compiled by top New York City real estate brokers was released today detailing a marked drop in the price of Manhattan housing, and a dovetail increase in sales, specifically of studio and one-bedroom apartments. With prices plunging, Bossy thinks this is an outstanding time for her to purchase the New York City life that has so far escaped her — who’s in for some real estate shopping? First up is a studio apartment in Gramercy Park: This apartment is listed at $495,000 and comes with a doorman, a fitness center, a landscaped courtyard — and it allows pets! Next we have an…
Bloggers. They’re Just Like Us!

BOSSY

2 Jul 2009 | 3:39 am

They can’t decide which is more breathtaking — how flat the rainy weather makes their hair, or how adorable their dog looks next to vibrant red flowers. This virtual peek is brought to you by Cupcake Murphy. She thinks David Hasselhoff is out to get her. And this is her blog. Do you have a blog and want to be featured in the Just Like Us photo album? Email Bossy your jpg today! And don’t forget to include a caption describing what you’re doing in the photo.
Bossy’s Favorite Things.

BOSSY

2 Jul 2009 | 3:25 am

Visiting Bossy’s dad at work. Bossy’s dad is a doctor, and for nearly a decade Bossy worked for him in his office, where Bossy witnessed firsthand his passion for medicine, his brilliance at seeing the big picture, his compassion for his patients and admiration of the details of their lives — but also the patients’ dedication and love for him, usually in the form of homemade food gifts containing rum, and various garden offerings. But years before Bossy worked for her dad, she used to accompany him to work and sit in his waiting room creating long-ass paperclip chains.
Yet Another Little Known Fact.

BOSSY

2 Jul 2009 | 3:11 am

This self portrait is a fairly decent encapsulation of Bossy’s recent mood.
Bossy Crushes Throughout History. Part Two.

BOSSY

1 Jul 2009 | 6:07 am

His name is Joe Gerard even though his name is actually David Groh but this post isn’t about the actor David Groh who Bossy didn’t know but rather David Groh’s character Joe Gerard who Bossy also didn’t know. Joe Gerard was a divorced dad who ran the New York Wrecking Company, and here was his job description: furl and unfurl engineering plans while wearing denim work shirts and a yellow hardhat. Joe Gerard met Rhoda Morgenstern while she was visiting her sister Brenda, and the two fell in love, which is why Rhoda decided not to return to The Mary Tyler Moore Show Minneapolis. At…

The Personal News Network
Dina Lohan was asked to fake a pregnancy?

2 Jul 2009 | 4:36 pm

On her reality show, "Living Lohan", the people behind the show asked some pretty strange requests of the family.They asked Dina, who's 46, to fake a pregnancy for ratings.She said, "I only did the show to defuse the rumors. And then they wanted us to do these crazy things, like my son cheating on his girlfriend, me faking a pregnancy. I was like, 'No, no, no!' They had ideas that weren't conducive to our ideas."That show has been over as of last year, but you can expect to see Dina on the small screen sometime soon. She plans on returning in a "realistic" show that's…
Love Shacks!

2 Jul 2009 | 9:18 am

Times are tough in Tokyo, too, but business is booming there at "love hotels." "I'd hate to use the term 'recession-proof,' but it's certainly proven very resilient over the last six to nine months," Steve Mansfield, CEO of New Perspectives, which operates six love, or "leisure," hotels in Japan, tells cnn.com.Yes, I thought we were talking about just spots for quickies -- but that's apparently not the case.Because of the population density in the country, it's mostly young couples who seek out the love hotels for privacy. "Even these days, on the weekend, every…
Daily Feng Shui Tip 7/2/09

2 Jul 2009 | 6:10 am

Today marks the halfway point of 2009! Where is this year going in such a big hurry anyway? Okay, so, let’s go over at least three things that you should have done inside your space already, but we’ll take advantage of this middle reminder to make the most of the next few weeks and months.First, put something red and flowering outside your front door, to the left of that door as you look at it from the street.This brings big fortune and luck into the house. If you can’t put a plant there, then at least make a red dot with paint or even nail polish on the left…
My Botox Fiasco

2 Jul 2009 | 4:48 am

I have had an issue for some time with my face having a mind of its own! I have hemi facial spasms. Which means 2 nerves in the back of my neck have gone haywire and my face does it's own thing. I didn't know for a long time what it was called I just knew I was blinking all them time and my mouth would curl up every time I blinked. I really thought it had something to do with having a stroke all those years ago or having had Bells palsy way back. I put it off as long as I could but when it was impairing my driving I just had to have it looked at once and for…
Obesity Rates Up And Other Weighty Matters

1 Jul 2009 | 4:20 pm

America has had her national weigh-in, and I think it’s time for an intervention. Twenty-three states have seen an uptick in their obesity rates, and no state showed any evidence of decline. For the fifth year in a row, Mississippi tilts the scales with 37.2% of its residents obese, but Alabama is hot on their heels. Overall, Colorado, Massachusetts and Connecticut are the “least worst” of all the states. New York, where I live, ranks 37th.I told my husband, and he said, “They say that every year. How did they figure that out, anyway, and why does it matter?” I said that…

Photostream from Daylife

wowOwow | The Women on the Web
Obama Tries to Sell Health-Care Plan, But Others Still Worry About Medical Bankruptcies (Video)

2 Jul 2009 | 8:50 am

There are too many people being sent into financial ruin with crappy coverage, experts say, so what’s Congress going to do about that?Health Care Reform | Today 11:50 am We here at wOw told you a few weeks ago about a horrible tragedy going on in America. It turns out, two out of three bankruptcies in America are due to medical bills. If you or your spouse suffers from a serious ailment that lands you in the hospital for any extended period of time, it just may send you into financial ruin. Now, The New York Times follows up on that, reporting on how even as Congress and Washington try…
Ex-Aide to John Edwards Talks to Grand Jury; Rielle Hunter-Edwards Sex Tape?

2 Jul 2009 | 8:45 am

Here we go again. More down-and-dirty allegations about the Edwards-Hunter affair; former aide to admit Edwards is baby’s daddy in bookJohn Edwards Affair | Today 11:45 am Andrew Young, the ex-aide to disgraced former senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards, was in court yesterday before the federal grand jury. Young’s appearance came during a secret investigation by the federal government into how Edwards spent funds designated for his presidential campaign in 2008, reports the National Enquirerand AP. Young was also the man who ...
'Britain's Got Talent' Star Susan Boyle Wows Ireland Audiences, Pays Tribute to Mother

2 Jul 2009 | 7:35 am

After not showing up for previous stops on the ‘BGT’ tour for health reasons, Scottish woman takes Ireland by storm with the voice heard ‘round the worldSusan Boyle, Belfast | Today 10:35 am Susan Boyle is back, wowing audiences in Ireland with her beautiful singing voice. The "Britain’s Got Talent" singing sensation, who took second place in the competition, gave an audience in Belfast last night a real treat, with a ten-minute performance. She sang "Memory" from the musical "Cats," and "I Dreamed a Dream," from Les Miserables…
America's Getting Fatter: Mississippi, Southern States Among Nation's Worst Offenders

2 Jul 2009 | 7:20 am

Study shows a whopping two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, and obesity rates for children are at or above 30 percent in 30 statesFattest States | Today 10:20 am When it comes to trimming the fat, Americans across the country are doing a really poor job. A new study out today shows that Americans — pretty much everywhere — are getting fatter. Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and didn’t decrease in a single state last year! And it’s not just adults who are losing the battle of the bulge. The percentage of obese and overweight children is at…
Is your best friend a man or a woman?

1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

It's a man A woman, of course Other (tell us below) Poll | Today 1:00 amArray

It's Different For Girls
Digital Hollywood LA Spring09 Visual Romp

LindaSherman

18 Jun 2009 | 11:47 pm

The sun shone brightly on the digital glitterati at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel poolside gatherings each evening May 4 -7. Alexia Tsotsis with Jeffrey Henderson Micki Krimmel with Sarah Szalavitz Tameka Kee with Kurt Heim Held both Spring and Fall (coming Oct 19 - 22) each year in Los Angeles, Digital Hollywood provides a forum to discuss what’s happening in the digital/new media space with industry colleagues. As Jeff Nolan from Silicon Valley noted, and I have previously written, Los Angeles is becoming more and more of nexus for the intersection of entertainment and tech, and…
Does Your View At Work Enhance Your Life?

LindaSherman

3 Apr 2009 | 5:37 pm

I love a good view. I will often choose a restaurant with outdoor seating. I enjoy working on my lanai when I am in Kauai. I believe that a gloomy room saps energy from your head and heart. If you work for a corporation (and today with many of us gratefully clinging to any job, who is to complain) you likely have no choice on where you sit during the day. If you are lucky, you can see out a window or they let you work remotely. Even if you work in an office, you still do some (a lot?) of work from home. When you are not working for pay, you are likely still spending time on your computer at…
Esther Dyson Visionary Extraordinaire

LindaSherman

24 Mar 2009 | 1:01 am

When I met Esther Dyson over 20 years ago she was already playing a very important role in tech. I subscribed to her Release 1.0 newsletter and flew in from Japan to attend her star-studded annual PC Forums in Arizona. From 1984 “Digital Deli” Esther has never stood still. She is an observer, analyst, connector, investor, philanthropist and advocate who never tires of learning something new. Early in her career following graduation from Harvard, Esther worked for Forbes. In 1974, she traveled to Japan, on her own vacation time to write an article that Wired Magazine referred to as…
Twitter Fashion Opportunity

LindaSherman

20 Feb 2009 | 5:53 pm

Intriguing Twitter fashion caused a notable comment spike on LaLaWag Feb 19 accompanied by the display of @LauriePercival’s adorable derriere. There is a business opportunity to produce items that display one’s Twitter address in a cool fashion. Where would you want to wear your @?
Love is Everywhere even on Valentine’s Day

LindaSherman

14 Feb 2009 | 3:51 pm

One thing I love about social media is the many opportunities for hugs, both on and offline. Love is everywhere waiting for us all the time. One of my favorite hug moments with Chris Brogan Tonight I will be with friends at a Gala benefiting the Center for Aids Prevention in Beverly Hills. Ray is preparing for a 6 am flight to Africa with the World Bank. Don’t worry. Every day is Valentine’s Day in our house. I’d like to share with you a few uncoupled Valentine’s Day posts: Valentine’s Day Is About Love Not Lovers Karen Gail Lewis Ph.D Vote Single - Be My Valentine…

Women Wired In
Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-07-02

digitalsista

2 Jul 2009 | 12:33 am

@isteconnects did you try to change the api settings? in reply to isteconnects # @isteconnects just create a search column in @tweetdeck and you will get the replies and your own tweets it’s not tweetdeck # @randomdeanna your welcome! sadly some of the rescanning will need to be done regularly #dtvtransitionFail in reply to randomdeanna # @creativeblogs glad [...]
Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-07-01

digitalsista

1 Jul 2009 | 12:33 am

@CharlotteAnne absolutely, check out http://is.gd/1jprX not sure how to tag this one yet, working on it in reply to CharlotteAnne # @glennette lol, that isn’t a fix, that is called “let’s hide the behavior” so no one will see it. in reply to glennette # @randomdeanna @batterista fuel for quote “tech is fixable, human behavior is……” , [...]
Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-06-27

digitalsista

27 Jun 2009 | 12:33 am

So need 2 go 2 maggie moos fyi @2serenity # #socialmedia is amazing I gain some connecting in reallife & then they leave so we stay connected in #socialmedia going to goodbye 2nite # thanks for the #FF @JustInCaseInc , SMfam is a good biz run by a mother-daughter team promoting sexual health of #wmn #fem2 fyi [...]
Women Wired Tweet LiveStream for 2009-06-26

digitalsista

26 Jun 2009 | 12:33 am

RT response 2 @wired @WIREDBiz “All I need is 2 minutes” here r some solutions http://bit.ly/1ZaqAk fyi @jennpozner @randomdeanna @koa #woc # @Jillfoster sorry I just realized link wasn’t included will resend http://bit.ly/14pdik @wired #diversifyrolodex in reply to Jillfoster # @OurManinSH I would agree #back2thefuture like I said in reply to OurManinSH # @DanielleRicks can i just say [...]
Dedication To My Teenage Crush: You Will Be Missed MJ

digitalsista

25 Jun 2009 | 4:38 pm

At 6:15 EST, Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by the LA Times. A heart attack left him in a coma and then his death. His family has yet to make a public announcement. The media has spent more time on the negative aspect of the last few years of his life. Hopefully more will be [...]

Learned On Women by Andrea Learned
On Reaching Today’s Sustainability-Minded Consumer

Andrea

1 Jul 2009 | 11:03 am

More and more, my personal passion for sustainable business practices is aligning with my knowledge of how women buy. But, as is my usual way, that is not to say I will lecture you on how to reach only environmentally-oriented women. Rather, I see my mission in serving as a bridge: between the behavior of the female consumer and that of men in the 21st Century (it’s less dissimilar than you’d think), and; between what we know about these more right-brain directed folks overall (no gender about it) and the expectations of the currently most critical consumer - the…
Feminine Sensibilities In App Design

Andrea

26 Jun 2009 | 7:23 am

Something is very different in designing and marketing gadgets and “apps” in today’s world. Performance, while important, is no longer king, and consumers demand that the darned things fit into or ease their lifestyles. Interestingly to me, that often means a re-think of a concept or product from its masculine beginnings toward the feminine sensibilities. Mind you, that means this is no simple “marketing to women” change. Instead, the thing to note is that lots of great products designed in years past came from minds mainly focused on performance, status,…
My Take: Bridging Old & New with Social Media

Andrea

24 Jun 2009 | 8:52 am

Christine (C.B.) Whittemore of Flooring the Consumer just published her interview with me for her series on Bridging Old & New. My use of social media is nothing groundbreaking, but perhaps I’m like the majority of you? I went into it with caution and parameters, and have been pleasantly surprised with the results (and fun new connections). Here’s one excerpt from the interview: C.B.: What 5 suggestions do you have for companies to implement so they can more effectively bridge old media with new media and connect with end users? Andrea: 1- Don’t make it a bigger deal…
On Nurturing A Fresh Gender Perspective

Andrea

23 Jun 2009 | 11:17 am

Set in our ways and enmeshed in our day-to-day work lives, it can be very difficult to stay on top of larger cultural trends. My re-energizing trip to San Francisco last week for a building industry conference reminded me of how important it can be to put yourself into, and share your work in, random and new situations. Within those few days, I managed to have some incredible conversations and make great contacts with men and women who share my fascination with a big cultural shift: the changing gender perspectives in marketing and management. A few examples of what bubbled up: -…
Marketing to the Recession Era Parent: My Adweek OpEd

Andrea

15 Jun 2009 | 11:30 am

All things being equal, parental duties were beginning to be noticeably shared in the U.S. by mid-2008. Men and women were requesting more flexible work schedules and deliberately mapping out who does what chore at home - and seeming to take it in stride. It was tough enough with two working parents, but then came the recession. Now, there are a lot more laid off men, specifically, taking on the bulk of child and home care. So, how does this affect parental “consuming” and what does it mean for marketers? It was from that question that Carolyn Hadlock of Young and…

Back in skinny jeans
When It's Time To Let Go Of The Skinny Jeans

Stephanie Quilao

16 Jun 2009 | 2:36 pm

Note: This was the very first picture I used in the blog header when Back in Skinny Jeans launched in November 2005. A while back, I was on one of those “let’s-meet-for-coffee-because-we-met-online-and-don’t-want-to-commit-to-anything-serious-like-potstickers-and-Kung Pao chicken” first dates. Here’s a snippet of our conversation: Him: “So, you’re a writer?” Me: “Well actually, I’m a blogger.” Him: “Really? Well that’s cool. I think it’s fascinating that people can make a living blogging. So what do you blog about?” Me: “I blog about healthy living, body image,…
Where Steph Will Be Bloggin' & Hangin' Online

Stephanie Quilao

16 Jun 2009 | 2:33 pm

On June 16, I officially retired this blog Back in Skinny Jeans. Here's the story behind that decision. The site will stay alive as a platform for Back in Skinny Jeans the book which will come out sometime in the near future...TBD.Back in Skinny Jeans may no longer be active, but the voice of yours truly will continue to live online. Oh yeah folks, you're not getting rid of me that easily :-) Here's where you can find me online to continue to receive splendid content to help you live more authentically. Noshtopia is my food blog about eating healthier in a hectic life. I'm…
Best of BISJ: Create micro goals for higher long term success

Stephanie Quilao

11 Jun 2009 | 1:18 pm

Best of Back in Skinny Jeans: Originally posted September 9, 2008----------------------------------- Better Than Nothin' is the concept that doing something even if it is minuscule is better than doing zero. One thing that can help you achieve long term success is the concept of creating micro goals, tiny tasks that are easy and effortless yet still contribute to achieving your bigger goals. For example, in the list above, we've all set goals that look like the "typical" column, and what ends up happening for many of us is that we are gung ho for the first week or so, and…
Best of BISJ: Struggling and frustrated? You're at the beginning if your success story

Stephanie Quilao

4 Jun 2009 | 12:07 am

Best of Back in Skinny Jeans: Originally posted March 16, 2007----------------------------------- "Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." ~ Dale CarnegieAt the beginning of every success story is a story about a really crappy, depressing, and seemingly bottomless pit experience. Seriously. Think about it. You can't have a really good tear jerking success story unless someone has started from some chasm of despair and then brought themselves out of it and are now rich, happy, and…
Best of BISJ: Now is the time to say, "I love you"

Stephanie Quilao

3 Jun 2009 | 12:05 am

Best of Back in Skinny Jeans: Originally posted April 18, 2007 -----------------------------------

Strong, Light and Beautiful™
Stanford Wellness Bike Class 7/16 and 7/23

SLaB

27 Jun 2009 | 10:28 am

I have the honor of helping teach a short class for Stanford's Health Improvement Program a.k.a. HIP! Sign up if you are interested in joining the class, focussed on the novice, to learn basics about bike fit and types of bikes, and how to jump start commuting and using your bike for errands if not exercise and training! It's a two part class - the 2nd class we'll ride over to a bike shop and
Old injury finally needing attention - Ankle surgery needed

SLaB

22 Jun 2009 | 11:43 am

Hi all -Just thought I'd let you know why I haven't been riding too much lately. I can actually pedal a bike pretty well, its the walking to and from the trail, and hike-a-bikes that hurt me. An old sprain from '99 and '04 has finally started to cause toooo much pain. Some holes in my Talus w/ large cysts filling them are impeding at certain angles , especially painful if pushing down hard and in
Come to Evolution Bike Shop tomorrow June 13, for Demo Day

SLaB

12 Jun 2009 | 10:08 pm

I'll be chatting with folks about future SLaB skills clinics and helping out in the morning at Evolution Bike shop! Come join the fun as they have demo bikes from Norco and more! Steven's Creek Blvd, across from Elephant Bar... near "Cupertino Square" (ak Valco mall). See you there!
Downieville Carraige House Inn!

SLaB

8 Jun 2009 | 10:26 am

Beautiful location and wonderful hosts! Thanks Luz and John Luster!
Yuba Expeditions Rocked!

SLaB

8 Jun 2009 | 10:24 am

The WIP: Byline portal + WIP Contibutors
The Water Is Mine

2 Jul 2009 | 4:09 am

by Yolandi Groenewald & Lynley Donnelly, Mail & Guardian, South Africa - Scientists and environmentalists are worried that burgeoning coal mining in the Waterberg might not be sustainable -- or ecologically desirable -- with the little water available in the region already exploited to the limit.
Who's A Low Level Terrorist? Are You?

2 Jul 2009 | 4:06 am

by Emily Spence, Counter Currents, India - Recently, an American Civil Liberties Union report pointed out, "Anti-terrorism training materials currently being used by the Department of Defense (DoD) teach its personnel that free expression in the form of public protests should be regarded as ‘low level terrorism’.”
Turks Defiant as Official Date for Anti-Smoking Ban Looms

2 Jul 2009 | 3:59 am

by Josie Ensor, Daily Star, Lebanon - For hundreds of years the intoxicating tobacco haze of Turkey's water pipes has filled its air, making up part of the cultural landscape as much as the country's Blue Mosque or Grand Bazaar.
Judaism Gets in Touch with Its Feminine Side

2 Jul 2009 | 3:23 am

by Margaret Stoner, Jerusalem Post, Israel - Jewish leadership is beginning to show a softer, more feminine face, with women flocking to the pulpit and much of the Jewish world becoming more comfortable with the notion of female religious leaders.
A Broken U.N. Promise In Congo

1 Jul 2009 | 5:53 am

by Eve Ensler, Washington Post, USA - The women of eastern Congo are enduring their 12th year of sexual terrorism. The girl children born of rape are now being raped. What will it take for the United Nations to finally do something meaningful to stop the violence?

Totally Her, Totally Real - TotallyHer.com
Cap and Trade: What’s the Big Deal?

Lores

2 Jul 2009 | 12:19 pm

Believe it or not there was other news happening last week besides the sad, untimely death of pop artist Michael Jackson. As a matter of fact, there was major news. And, as a result, there''s a good chance you didn't hear anything at all about one of the most important pieces of legislation passed in the House of Representatives last week.
How to Stop Procrastinating

Denise

2 Jul 2009 | 9:18 am

Procrastination, quite literally, gets us absolutely nowhere. Thankfully, there are things you can do to help kick the habit. The following tips will show you how you can switch from an "I'll do it tomorrow" mindset to "It's already done!"
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian

Sarah Eve

2 Jul 2009 | 9:08 am

The best way to watch Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian is at the actual Smithsonian. My husband and I were fortunate enough to be in Virginia this June, so we took the opportunity. I was thrilled to see many of my favorite characters back in action.
ADHD Drugs Linked to Cardiac Arrest

Lores

2 Jul 2009 | 8:43 am

For years now, children who used to be considered "hyperactive" or "disobedient" have been labeled with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. With the official diagnosis came the rush to medicate ADHD children. Many questioned the prescriptions from the very beginning. Would the benefits of the medication outweigh the already known side effects?
Can You Count Your Blessings?

Tzan

1 Jul 2009 | 9:56 am

With more and more people experiencing the phenomenon commonly referred to as “too much month at the end of the money,” it can be increasingly difficult to look on the bright side. So, with all the gloom and doom hanging overhead, is it possible to find, let alone count, your blessings?

Women On Influence
Being A Light In Your City

trish@womenofinfluence.com (Trish Jones)

25 Jun 2009 | 1:47 am

I would say, that of all the emails I receive from readers of Women of Influence, the prevailing concern is “I don’t know what my purpose is, how do I find it?” And though this post isn’t about finding your purpose , I will say this: Start with where you’re at! My English teacher would probably frown at me for that last sentence but, I mean well. I particularly want to focus today’s post towards mums (moms) who have School aged children which means they have to make regular trips to their child’s School. I want you to consider carefully the…
We’re Celebrating 20 Years …

trish@womenofinfluence.com (Trish Jones)

10 Jun 2009 | 10:55 am

… Of Marriage! June 10th 1989 was the day those words reverberated in Fishponds Baptist Church … “I Do.” In fact, so many of our guests commented on two things after the service: It was one of the few weddings they’d been to where the bride and groom said their vows to each other and loud enough so people could hear at the back of the Church – not difficult for me! And, previous to the actual day, during our practice, we started saying our vows and I stopped the minister … I told him “I want to say my vows to Chris, not you.” He…
Who Are You Trying To Reach With The Gospel?

trish@womenofinfluence.com (Trish Jones)

3 Jun 2009 | 7:32 am

One question I have to ask many online ministries when they seek my help is “who are you trying to reach with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?” The first issue and, I know I’m going to get some unsubscribes for saying this, but I hope after you read the four Gospels and, read about Pauls ministry, you’ll resubscribe when you learn the truth … Jesus didn’t preach Jesus, He preached the Kingdom! Jesus never said, Seek First Jesus Christ, He said “Seek First The Kingdom of God” So, if ”come to Jesus” is all we’re preaching,…
What Is Your Business In The Marketplace?

trish@womenofinfluence.com (Trish Jones)

18 Apr 2009 | 4:58 pm

For many months now, I have been spending some time looking at what it means to be a Marketplace leader and more importantly, what it means for us as Christian Women to play out our role as Marketplace Influencers. Dictionary.com defines the marketplace as: An open area or square in a town where a public market or sale is set up. The world of business and commerce. A situation or place in which values, opinions, and ideas are put forward for debate or recognition: a marketplace for new ideas; the literary marketplace. But before you look at these definitions and think they exclude you, I…
I’m Thankful …

trish@womenofinfluence.com (Trish Jones)

27 Nov 2008 | 8:32 pm

We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK but as I’ve been telling all of my US connections who didn’t know I was British (those are the ones I meet on Twitter or Facebook so, they’ve never heard my voice), that I celebrate Thanksgiving every day … almost. Yes I know, heard it all before and it sounds corney. It’s true though … I try to remember something I can be grateful for on a daily basis. It’s so easy to focus on prayers that need answering, the things we need and want and forget that we have life, food to eat, a home, a car, our…

theWAHMmagazine Updates
theWAHMmagazine Updates Sept. 6, 2008

TheWAHMmagazine Supports a Miracle! theWAHMmagazine has donated a special package in support of the auction for Simon Gabriel, premature infant son of fellow WAHM and writer/designer, Mysti Guymon. Proceeds from the auction go towards helping Simon's family temporarily relocate to Denver (two hours away from their home) while he remains in the NICU. Please join the cause. Learn more on our press page.
more September updates

The Sept./Oct. issue of theWAHMmagazine will be available soon.
the Editor's Blog is hopping!

Don't forget to check out theWAHMmagazine's Editor's Blog, the companion blog to theWAHMmagazine!
Get single issues of theWAHMmagazine

Don't want to commit to a full subscription? You can now purchase single issues of theWAHmmagazine!
Are you special?

If you're a member of a special group, you can subscribe at a reduced rate of 15% off the regular annual subscription rate.

Prospere Magazine
Former New York Gal Comes North to GISH

Admin

1 Jul 2009 | 11:00 pm

As a little girl, GISH Girls in Skirts founder, Susan Bosley wanted to “live in the city.” This wish was granted when she went to college at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. After graduation, she worked in design at Ralph Lauren for a few years before came to Canada, to work in its marketing department. Her position at Ralph Lauren was soon followed by a stint with Calvin Klein before she launched GISH. GISH, a line of comfortable skirts, dresses and tops, have received rave reviews since its launch just over four years ago. Wedding Bells…
Happy Canada Day!

Admin

30 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

Career profiles is taking a day off to enjoy our country’s birthday! We will be back next week with a brand new article. Thanks and have a great Canada Day! Enjoy the hotdogs and fireworks! Image courtesy of iStockphoto
June 28, 2009: Toronto Pride Parade

Admin

30 Jun 2009 | 7:00 am

Pride Week concluded with a big. energetic parade on Sunday, June 28. Caileen Weitz will provide a more detailed article soon.
Jon and Kate Should Really Go

Admin

29 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

Exactly half of you, at 50% believe that the show really should go off the air. After all, it’s nothing but a mess now that they’re ending their marriage. It isn’t Jon and Kate. It’s Jon MINUS Kate! However, 18.2% of you believe that the show must go on. After all, there’s a contract they have to honour. Another 9.2% believe that the show has to go on because the ratings are pretty good. Finally, there’s a good chunk of you (22.7%) who have never heard of Jon and Kate.
Did you go to Pride?

Admin

29 Jun 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)
i bitch a lot

2 Jul 2009 | 8:32 am

i kind of feel like an ass for this post because really? i'm bitching about the fact that i'm not going on vacation. boo fucking hoo. there is so much other stuff going on in the world that sometimes i forget to look outside of my own. i can get so wrapped up in my own sense of self and while i get that of course, my own self is important, there are other things that are important as well.i can only imagine a person who just lost their job after working it for 20 years reading my blog about me whining about wahhhh, i don't get to see my friends this year. and their probably sitting there like…
july the first

1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 am

i cannot believe it is already freaking july. can you??? i love love love july but since today is the first day of it, that means it's on its way out.i mean, today starts the countdown until july is over. july is like the saturday of weekends. it's the one month you get to enjoy from start to finish- no last day of school.. no first day of school... it's just gloriously summer break from day 1 to day 31. and usually it's filled with summer vacations and the beach and water and sun and dodger games (but never disneyland, cause hello.. disneyland in the SUMMER? are you high? unless you have a…
all day on a boat

29 Jun 2009 | 12:18 pm

means that while i'm sitting at my computer, i feel like my chair is rocking... ever so slowly in the waves. the waves that are NOT HERE UNDER MY CHAIR. yet still... i sit here rocking. thank the goddess i don't get sea sick. *knocks on wood*this past weekend brought out the summer weather (finally) and although it was ridiculously hot.... i was happy. i pretty much begged anyone who would listen to go somewhere with me to water and play in it. i suggested the beach. i suggested the river. i really wanted to rent something and play around in the river all day. BUT NO ONE WANTED TO GO! blake…
the post where i am super freaking girly (read, emotional)

25 Jun 2009 | 10:10 am

no more wedding stuff. i don't want to post anymore.. you don't want to read anymore.. so it's done! as quick as it came... it's over. (that's what she said)i am going flipping stir crazy lately. i think subconsciously i realize that i have absolutely NO vacations or small trips planned this year. last year we took blake to new york, and had a vegas getaway with a bunch of our friends. the year before that was our wedding and our honeymoon in st lucia. and then there's my yearly trips to new york to see my girlfriends that happened every year before that. not to mention my trips to the south…
the afterparty

24 Jun 2009 | 9:40 am

it's the week of the wedding people, didn't you get the memo?after the wedding was over... we had a party back at the penthouse. everyone was loaded (except for me. i didn't have a single drink. for reals) they all went and changed out of their wedding clothes and then showed up with ridiculous amounts of food and alcohol! i mean, so much freaking alcohol that anyone who came to visit on sunday before we checked out left our room with at least a 12'er of beer and whatever else i could convince them to take.it.was.awesome.just got married and already getting fondled by other men. sweeeeeetred…

Mostly Lisa: Canada's Sexy Geek Blog
Mostly Animals from the San Francisco Zoo

Mostly Lisa

12 Jun 2009 | 3:43 pm

Shot with the Sony DSC-T500. The last time I was in San Francisco, I was determined to go to the zoo to catch some wildlife shots to add to my growing collection of animal portraits. I had such an amazing time at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in the Gold Coast of Australia with the roos, koalas, and attack emus and I was excited to get up and close with some other cute, but ferocious beasties. But as usual, there were several things that prevented me from acquiring some awesome animal portraits. 1. I arrived at the zoo, one hour before closing. Nice one, sleepy pants. 2. It…
5 iPhone Photography Apps to make your Shots Spectacular

Mostly Lisa

25 May 2009 | 1:16 am

Sublime Sunset on Kits Beach captured with an iPhone. So many people whine about the iPhone's camera quality and say that it can't take good pictures. It's my strong belief that you can take great shots with any camera, even a 2 MP iPhone camera. It's definitely a greater challenge to get a good exposure on an iPhone vs a 5D MkII, but it's not impossible. If you are up for the challenge, here are 5 apps that will help you take smashing iPhone pictures: 1. Blurry photos? Use Fast Tap Camera $.99 Fast Tap Camera snapped my awesome new scooter trick. :P Shaky hands =…
#WorstDayEver

Mostly Lisa

15 May 2009 | 1:28 am

1. I missed an early morning Fedex pickup for an iMac that I needed yesterday because I was sleeping and didn't catch the phone until the last ring, so I ran down to the street after the Fedex guy in my pajamas, and literally missed him by a second. 2. I gave myself whiplash as I was running down the stairs to catch the Fedex guy and couldn't turn my head to the left for about 3 hours. 3. The hot water in my shower ran out as I was trying to alleviate my neck pain. 4. I DROPPED MY iPHONE IN THE TOILET when I was calling the landlord from the bathroom. I hit my funny bone on…
Sharing a Photo: Canada Geeselings.

Mostly Lisa

12 May 2009 | 1:04 am

24-105mm lens, 90mm, f/4.0, 1/320, ISO 200. Processed in PS. I snapped a shot these two Canada goslings or “geeselings” as I like to call them, on Granville Island. I had to lie in geese poop for about an hour to get this shot. I basically had to become one with the geese, a part of their family, to be accepted enough to get super close. Every so often a bratty kid would come running at them, whooping and waving plastic toys and the geese would go berserk hissing and flapping their wings and I'd have to wait for them to settle. Here's some behind the scenes footage of me…
Photographic Stop motion experiment: Bokehlicious

Mostly Lisa

5 May 2009 | 5:21 pm

I'm always looking for new ways to create cool things with my photography. Last week I saw a couple of really sweet photographic stop motion video of NYC by Cdow and an experimental series of Japan by Dave Lee. I thought it would be cool to try an experimental photographic stop motion video of Vancouver at dusk highlighting moving bokeh. So I took a late night drive from China town to Kitsilano and snapped a ton of photos using my Canon Xti with the LensBaby composer & heart-shaped aperture disk. I compiled 300 images at 10fps in Adobe After Effects and then edited it with FCP.

Women's Voices For Change
Fourth of July Poetry Friday: The Truth is Marching on

We last mentioned Julia Ward Howe in connection with Mother’s Day, and her work in campaigning for a “day of peace” to heal from the Civil War. But many, if [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]
Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…

The state of California may soon issue IOUs to its business vendors, students awaiting financial aid payments, and taxpayers expecting refund checks. When I first read this story, I had [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]
Skinny Girls Don’t Have All the Fun

My Way, “mine own” 23-and-a-half-foot sailboat, has been in the water for almost two months. But due to travel and other commitments, today is just the second time I was [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]
Toni Geyelin: Give Madoff Some Cellmates

So, Mr. Bernard Madoff is going to jail for 150 years. Seems like a fairer sentence than the twelve his lawyers asked for. But you know what? I don’t think [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]
My Breasts Are Not Boobs, Thank You Very Much!

I do not, do not, understand the unfortunate predisposition of the American public to refer slangily to the mammary glands of the female as “boobs.” So I looked up the word [...] [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)
Traditonal Publishing & Social Media New BBF?

Toby

28 Jun 2009 | 11:30 am

This morning, after I washed the news print off of my fingers from the Sunday New York Times, I downloaded some sample chapters on to my Kindle. Several of those books were recommended to me by my dear friends at amazon.com. Others I found on blogs and through Twitter. The world of publishing is not simply changing .. it is colliding with technology and the world of social media. Don't just take the word of a digital author but people in traditional publishing are taking out their red pens and looking at their current models with a critical eye. If the publishing business is to stay in…
The Marine General "Gets" Social Media

Toby

24 Jun 2009 | 9:30 am

The best quote from the aima (Atlanta Interactive Marketing Assoc) June meeting last night was from Carl Warner, JWT/Atlanta who told us what a Marine general had to say about social media. "Web 2.0 is undisciplined theater." Seems the agency had briefed the General (the Marines are a client) on social media. My sense is that Carl was a little disappointed in the General's response. Not me! I would have jumped up and hugged the General (Is it against protocol to hug a Marine general?) and said, "Yes! Sir, that was brilliant! You get it. Social media is undisciplined. It is…
Diva Marketing Talks Keepin' The Conversation Real With CK Kerley & Valeria Maltoni

Toby

22 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

Diva Marketing Talks is a live, internet radio (BlogTalkRadio) show. 30-minutes. 2-guests. 1-topic about social media marketing. Why? To help you understand how to participate in the "new" conversation without getting blown-up. Miss today's show? You can pick it up as a podcast or listen on your computer. On today's Diva Marketing Talks CK Kerley - Epiphany and Valeria Maltoni -Conversation Agent join me to discuss what is frequently at the center of social media marketing .. the infamous "conversation." Can tools like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc., that were created for…
TweetChats #socialmedia

Toby

17 Jun 2009 | 8:45 pm

Add one more virtual place to network to your list .. TweetChats. Oh no! girlfriend you might be thinking not another social media thing to add to my running list .. and what is a tweetchat anyway? Anita Campbell, Small Business Trends, has a great definition. A tweetchat is simply an organized group chat that takes place using the Twitter platform. Participants use an assigned hashtag (say, #sbbuzz) for their tweets during the discussion. When Marc Meyer asked me to host one of the most popular Tweetchats this week I said .. of course! Held weekly, Tuesdays from noon - 1p, #socialmedia…
bTrendie New Idea In Online Shopping

Toby

16 Jun 2009 | 9:35 pm

Passing along a rather cool "by invitation only" shopping site, bTrendie, that is modeled after QVC. Items, discounted up to 60%, are available for only a short time. Products are for kids so any mommy bloggers popping by check it out. BBF Jeneane Sessum is behind the marketing and created a special code of us - BlogDiva. Would be cool if they expand into Diva Stuff! Hope to win the free birthday party package for Olivia who turns 13 this month and is still bravely batteling Cystic Fibrosis.

Menstrual Poetry
Amnesty’s Newest Domestic Violence Awareness Billboard is First to Respond to People Looking at It

Click here for larger image Amnesty International’s newest billboard to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence is the first billboard in the world to to react when people look at it, by an eye tracking camera that registers when someone looks directly at the poster. The billboard was created to let people directly [...]
Healing Through Creativity Calls for Artists, Performers & Presenters

Healing Through Creativity has begun accepting submissions from artists, performers, and presenters for their week-long October art festival. From Healing Through Creativity: Trauma Survivors and Supporters of Survivors of Trauma are invited to share art, music, writing, poetry and other creative forms at the Healing Through Creativity Festival. When: October 17-24 2009 Where: Heart of Virginia Foundation [...]
The Feminist Majority Foundation Works to Expose Crisis Pregnancy Centers

This Spring, the Feminist Majority Foundation has worked to expose fake clinics, which are known publicly as “crisis pregnancy centers.” The campaign has two goals: to warn women, especially students, about the fake clinics in their communities and to let the government know that deception on the public dime has got to stop. I used [...]
The New Christian Attempt to Convert–”It’s Not a Cult”

A few days ago, the boyfriend and I were heading into a store. As we got out of the car, the moment the boyfriend closed the car door, a woman appeared in front of him as if out of nowhere and yes, it was super creepy. And as if that was not creepy [...]
Warning: Anti-Choicers Hijack the Internet

I know I haven’t been blogging very much this past week, which is due to the fact that I’ve been working pretty much every chance I get and I have also been experiencing flareups with a medical condition that I have that has caused me to sleep more than 15 hours every day, which I [...]

Social Honeycomb
The Facebook 3-Strike Rule

Amanda Gravel

17 Jun 2009 | 3:25 pm

I’ve blogged about Facebook etiquette before, and have since gotten a bit lax with my denial of random would-be friends who don’t give me any reason to know who they are or why we should be connected. Well, my laziness has come back to bite me in the tush, so I’m putting a stop to it and introducing the Facebook 3-Strike Rule. With me? Lately on my Facebook account - and I know I’m not alone - I’ve been getting tons of requests to join this cause that has nothing to do with me or my life experience, to be a fan of that brand I’ve never heard of, or…
You Can Find Me in the Shower…

Amanda Gravel

12 Jun 2009 | 6:08 pm

Seriously - because I have amazing new soap! The always elegant Shelley Greenberg, perhaps better known as @thespottedduck, recently did a giveaway on her blog that got me pretty excited. To a commenter chosen at random, she was giving away a bar of soap from DeShawn Marie, a Boston-based artist/magician/creator of all-natural, gorgeously unique handmade soaps. Needless to say, I asked Shelley if it would be OK if I entered 1,000 times, since I love cool soaps (and fancy soaps, too, RL), but to be fair I could only get one shot. Well, toss me in the shower and pat me dry, I am one…
Oh Yeah, I Live in New York

Amanda Gravel

2 Jun 2009 | 12:25 pm

So, it’s been a while since your favorite brunette bee posted a legit update here - well, I’ve got one that I’m sure you already know, but just in case: I live in New York now. But let me be crystal clear: I do not live in NYC. I go there to attend tweetups, visit museums, and meet up with friends and colleagues, but I don’t spend every day and night in NYC. So when you ask “How’s life in the BIG CITY today?” or “Have you seen the Cupcake Truck yet?” or “How’s NYC treatin’ ya, kid?” for me it’s like,…
Returning Soon…

Amanda Gravel

26 May 2009 | 12:39 pm

Didja miss me?
This Struck Me As Really Funny

Amanda Gravel

12 Apr 2009 | 7:46 pm

if you want kin, you must plant kin ...
Crowd Control

girlgriot

29 Jun 2009 | 7:35 am

My Living Colour memoir got me thinking about all the concerts Fox and I have been to. We went to all kinds of shows, even camped out all night in the cold to get tickets. We weren’t exactly groupies (well, not all the time), but we were … dedicated. The thing about me and Fox at [...]
Hits and Misses

girlgriot

27 Jun 2009 | 9:02 pm

The other night, just after I came up from the subway and crossed Pacific Street, there was a car accident on 4th Ave and Pacific. Someone trying to make it through the intersection as the yellow was changing to red, someone else anticipating the change from red to green. The sound was huge and scary. [...]
Uncounting my chickens.

girlgriot

23 Jun 2009 | 6:20 pm

faint hope sunken in folded under disappointment confidence slinks off doesn’t bad news come in threes storm clouds still hang over me Got home to a kindly-worded form email telling me I didn’t get the fellowship. I don’t think I had a strong chance at getting it, but I wanted it more than I can articulate, and this rejection feels [...]
Magic Words

girlgriot

22 Jun 2009 | 2:08 pm

I met Kenrick on the beach. I was sitting in front of the fisherman’s supply store at Calabash Bay. I was about halfway through my early morning bike ride, sitting on the low wall in front of Mr. Graham’s shop, writing in my journal. It would have been impossible not to notice him: a tall, beautiful [...]
Flights of Angels

girlgriot

20 Jun 2009 | 10:27 pm

skin caramel gold blond dreads, sly grin, handsome face gone from us all now how can he, so young, be dead how can my heart understand Tonight I learned that one of my friends in Jamaica has died. I really can’t process it. This is the second friend in less than a year. Certainly I didn’t know either of them [...]

Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters
Marching with the Barren Bitches Book Brigade--Tour Twenty

Lollipop Goldstein

2 Jul 2009 | 5:37 pm

Here is the master list for the twentieth tour of the Barren Bitches Book Brigade. What is the Barren Bitches Book Brigade? It's a book club from the comfort of your own living room. The book club is conducted entirely online and open to anyone (male or female) in the infertility/pregnancy loss/assisted conception/adoption/parenting-after-infertility world (as well as any other related category I
The 59th Circle Time: The Show and Tell Weekly Thread

Lollipop Goldstein

1 Jul 2009 | 2:51 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 found out about Show and Tell for the first time today. So yank out a photo of the worst bridesmaid's dress you ever wore
IComLeavWe: July

Lollipop Goldstein

29 Jun 2009 | 9:59 pm

There is a new way to sign up. Please read the directions below.Welcome back to IComLeavWe. It stands for International Comment Leaving Week, but if you say it aloud, doesn't it sounds like "I come; [but] leave [as a] we"? And that's sort of the point. Blogging is a conversation and comments should be honoured and encouraged. I like to say that comments are the new hug--a way of saying hello,
Read Along: Barren Bitches Book Tour #19

Lollipop Goldstein

28 Jun 2009 | 6:01 pm

Welcome to the nineteenth tour of the Barren Bitches Book Brigade--a book club from the comfort of your own living room. Grab a cup of coffee and start clicking away at the links below.Just to explain, this book club is entirely online and open to anyone (male or female) in the infertility/pregnancy loss/assisted conception/adoption/parenting-after-infertility world (as well as any other related
Ferris Wheel

Lollipop Goldstein

28 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pm

children mentioned...They may have entered as always with their hands over their ears and they may have ducked out of a few lines after waiting in them for a few minutes, but the twins actually went on the rides at Funland (a series of carnival rides at the beach) this year and we didn't even need to ask the operators to stop them mid-ride this time around.I was that parent who was jumping up and

Feminist Daily News
New Delhi Court Rules to Decriminalize Homosexuality

The Delhi High Court ruled today to decriminalize sexual activity between consenting same sex partners in New Delhi, India’s capital. This groundbreaking decision was made after eight years of proceedings and campaigning from gay rights activists. The first lawsuit seeking legalization of homosexual...
DOJ Will Not Appeal Transgender Discrimination Decision

The Department of Justice chose not to appeal a decision in which a US District Judge ruled that the Library of Congress violated the Civil Rights Act in the case of Diane Schroer, a transgender woman, whose job offer from the Library of Congress was rescinded when she announced she was transitionin...
HHS Proposes Regulations to Eliminate HIV Travel Ban

The US Department of Health and Human Services has released proposed regulations that would repeal a ban preventing HIV-positive foreigners from entering the country. The law, originally enacted in 1987, prohibits foreign nationals with HIV from obtaining visas for travel to the US and prevents them...
Marriage Referendum Denied in DC's Superior Court

The DC Superior Court rejected a proposed referendum yesterday that aimed to overturn recent legislation in the District that would recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed in other jurisdictions. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said in a
El Paso Planned Parenthood Closing

The Planned Parenthood in El Paso, Texas, is closing after 72 years due to financial difficulties. Interim Executive Director Analinda Moreno announced the closure, which will affect six offices in El Paso that service more than 12,000 women, on Friday. She told the

Joy Unexpected
Top 10 List: BlogHer Edition

1 Jul 2009 | 7:51 pm

BlogHer 09 is less than one month away. Everywhere I go, I see posts and tweets about how nervous people. Will they feel left out? Will they get snubbed by The Populars? What will they wear? Oh, the anxiety! I remember how nervous I was the first year that I went. I worried about the same things I'm seeing pop up on twitter. But decided I wasn't going to let those fears keep me from having a good time. I was going to MAKE MY OWN FUN! And do you know what? That's exactly what I did. I made the experience my own. When a friend had to ditch me to go to the Super Exclusive Hotel Room Part-ay, I…
Just a Reminder...

30 Jun 2009 | 6:05 pm

That you can enter to win a Bedtime Kit (worth over $250) and the grand prize-- one of two $2,500 room makeovers. Go here now to enter.
You know things aren't good when you're crying over french toast.

30 Jun 2009 | 12:06 am

Yesterday was one of the most beautiful mornings I can remember. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, the clouds were white as cotton. The air was crisp and cool, but the sun was shining brightly. It was breathtaking, really. I pushed back the curtains to let the rising sun light up the house. I opened every window in the house at 6:30 in the morning to let the cool, fresh air in. I sat in front of the window, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting to catch my breath. It felt good to sit there, to relax and enjoy the moment. I'm having a…
My Babies Daddy

21 Jun 2009 | 7:42 pm

I regret publishing the previous post. I wish I had waited until we had kissed and made up. That way, I could have written something I was proud of. Sigh. In any case, we ended up having a wonderful day with our children and really, that's all that matters.
Happy Fathers Day. I'm sorry I called you an A-hole.

21 Jun 2009 | 11:29 am

Lately, it seems I'm a constant disappointment to the people in my life. Let's take today for example. I called my Dad this morning, 20 minutes before his service started, to wish him a Happy Fathers Day and to tell him I wanted to come over after church to bring him his present. "All morning I thought you were going to surprise me and come to church... that's all I wanted. That would have been the best present in the world." Guess who was still in their pajamas? And who had no intention on going to church? I hung up with my Dad, feeling awful, knowing I had disappointed hm yet again. That is…

Shakesville
Question of the Day

Melissa McEwan

2 Jul 2009 | 4:08 pm

Given the below post... What's your favorite movie featuring dancing?This could mean a musical, or it could be a movie whose central theme is dance, like Girls Just Want to Have Fun or Stomp the Yard.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Dance TV Dance-Off

Melissa McEwan

2 Jul 2009 | 3:10 pm

For Shaker Xerophyte.
Welcome to "The Ledge"

Melissa McEwan

2 Jul 2009 | 2:19 pm

This week in Chicago, the Sears Tower opened a series of glass balconies suspended 1,353 feet in the air and hovering four feet out from the 103rd floor Skydeck. I can't wait to go visit these stinking things! I'm even willing to sit through the required "Blah Blah Chicago Blah" movie to which visitors are subjected before hitting the Skydeck for 'em.If you're scared of heights, I sincerely recommend against watching the below video, because you might actually throw up your spleen or shit out your lower intestine. But, if you're like me, and heights give you a heady rush of vertigo that's…
Daily Kitteh

Melissa McEwan

2 Jul 2009 | 1:53 pm

Livsy, Queen of All She Surveys
Quote of the Day

Melissa McEwan

2 Jul 2009 | 1:35 pm

"No one noted all the white chicks covering Laura Bush."—Washington Post reporter Robin Givhan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and African-American woman, to Howard Kurtz, who, despite noting in his piece that "no one raises questions when an Irish American male reporter covers a pol named Murphy," nonetheless wonders: "Are [African-American female] reporters inadvertently invested in [Michelle Obama's] success?"Without a trace of irony.

ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES
How Now Howard?

echidne

2 Jul 2009 | 11:37 am

Howard Kurtz writes about reporters on the Michelle Obama beat and their race and gender. It's an odd piece, sort of like an embroidery with several unfinished ends dangling from it, and I can't make up my mind which of those ends I should tug on to see what might come unraveled.To take it in steps, the beginning of Kurtz's article suggests that the selection of journalists who get access to Michelle Obama is racist and sexist:While Michelle Obama was meeting with doctors and patients at the Upper Cardozo Health Center, nearly two dozen journalists stood behind a white rope in a small room…
Today's Funny Post

echidne

2 Jul 2009 | 10:42 am

Comes courtesy of Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern and friends. They have written something called "Oklahoma Citizen's Proclamation for Morality" and invite people to sign it next month at the State Capitol. You ready for it? Here it goes: In her proclamation, Kern also blames people outside of Wall Street and Washington for the national recession.The proclamation states: "Whereas, we believe our economic woes are consequences of our greater national moral crisis; and Whereas, this nation has become a world leader in promoting abortion, pornography, same sex marriage, sex trafficking,…
Get Thee To A Nunnery!

echidne

2 Jul 2009 | 10:22 am

This sounds like fun:The Vatican is quietly conducting two sweeping investigations of American nuns, a development that has startled and dismayed nuns who fear they are the targets of a doctrinal inquisition.Nuns were the often-unsung workers who helped build the Roman Catholic Church in this country, planting schools and hospitals and keeping parishes humming. But for the last three decades, their numbers have been declining — to 60,000 today from 180,000 in 1965.While some nuns say they are grateful that the Vatican is finally paying attention to their dwindling communities, many fear…
Tell Burger King to shove it (by Suzie)

Suzie

1 Jul 2009 | 11:25 am

Please see Pam Spaulding's smackdown of a Burger King ad that ran in Singapore, with a "seven incher" headed to the open-mouth of a pornified woman. The link includes where to write to complain.I've seen this phenomenon in other countries, where U.S. companies feel free to run much more sexist ads than they would here. I also find it interesting that the woman is white and blond since this ad was produced for the local market. Although Singapore is a multiracial society, people of European descent are much less common. It may be more acceptable to have a Western-looking woman in the ad…
California Dreaming...

echidne

1 Jul 2009 | 11:24 am

Harold Meyerson has written a good piece on the basic reasons for California's current troubles:The list of states -- Democratic and Republican, old economy and new -- is sufficiently diverse to dispel any notion that the fiscal crisis of the states is disproportionately the problem of one party or one region. It is, rather, hard-wired into the American system of governance, wherein virtually all the states have required themselves to produce balanced budgets even during depressions -- which means they must slash services and lay off workers even though such actions actually deepen the…

Girlfriendology
July Girlfriendology Contest

Girlfriendology

1 Jul 2009 | 12:24 pm

Start the celebration! July 4th gets us celebrating summer and independence. However, as girlfriends, it’s still all about the friends on whom we can depend. And summer is ‘funnest‘ when we’re with our favorite female friends. So, for our July Girlfriendology…
BowlHer & 5lbs of Hershey’s best Chocolate!

Girlfriendology

1 Jul 2009 | 12:03 pm

Mix wonderful women, bowling and chocolate - and what do you get? A FUN time. THE BlogHer party (of the decade?!) will happen on July 25th in Chicago. (BlogHer is a conference for women bloggers but the party is open to other women…
It’s about their lives …

Girlfriendology

26 Jun 2009 | 8:48 am

June 25th will go down as just a weird day. The passing of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson made it strange, surreal and sad - especially for their close friends and family. What we remember is their ‘glory days’ - iconic poster,…
Get the morning started right!

Girlfriendology

26 Jun 2009 | 4:46 am

Hey girlfriend - want a great way to start your day? Well, we’re coming to the end of June Dairy Month and I just had to share the latest recipe because it looks so good. (Can you tell I’m writing this in…
Girlfriendology BlogTalkRadio guest KERRI NEUBEK, Games for Dames

Girlfriendology

25 Jun 2009 | 6:29 pm

You’re faced with a girlfriend dilemma - What’s a Dame to Do?! KERRI NEUBEK knows! Kerri and her sister Patti created “Games for Dames” - a company dedicated to friendship and bringing BFFs together to connect, share and seriously laugh!Ever face a dilemma? Like…

Girl Power: Female CEOs
When Business Gets Emotional

25 Jun 2009 | 2:00 pm

I have been in countless business situations and discussions where emotions tend to take over and we end up harboring some sort of resentment towards the other party. “Remember when Sally told me that I could be doing a better job? Even though she’s my boss, I’ll never forget that.” Conversations like this happen all the time and in general, it’s likely a woman talking. I am so jealous that men seem to be able to air their dirty laundry and just move on, in business and outside of business. It drives me nuts! Ladies, I don’t mean to generalize but we do act this way. We’ll…
Dealing with Office Gender Dynamics

19 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

It doesn’t matter if you’re in fashion or you’re in law, working in an environment where there are a lot of women can be either really fun, or an incredible challenge. In the early years at my company VerticalResponse, we used to have a lot of women in the office, though now we’ve evened out for the most part. One thing’s for sure, where there were a lot of women, there are some recurring ‘characters;’ that pop up over and over again. Here are some of the personas we’ve experienced, that you might identify with within your own company: Copycat Carrie - One woman would admire a…
It’s OK to Run a Company Without an MBA

29 May 2009 | 2:40 pm

I’ve met many women who are truly amazing leaders. I’ve followed many women who are top-notch and have amazing degrees. One of my best friends has a Masters degree in HR, and two others have their PhDs; one in metallurgical sciences and one in statistics. They are truly brilliant women. Me? No way. In high school I held down 3 jobs, 2 lifeguard gigs in the summer, and I worked as a restaurant prep person all year. In college, I was a Resident Assistant, worked at Public Safety, and at the local tavern slogging drinks. I was the person who was sick of school the day it was over. I started…
The Power of the Apology

21 May 2009 | 2:31 pm

I’ve worked for a bunch of companies spanning from New York to the Bay Area, both large and small. I have noticed in all of these companies that women apologize in our everyday language--me included. I’ve had times where a woman will walk into my office with a pre-scheduled meeting, and sheepishly say, “Sorry, is now still a good time?” I cannot remember a single time when I had a scheduled meeting with a guy who did that. In certain meetings, I have even found myself starting sentences like, “Sorry if we’ve covered this and I can’t remember…” or “Apologies, if I don’t…
A Mother's Day Tribute to Women in Business

8 May 2009 | 3:19 pm

Earlier this year, my company VerticalResponse signed on as the lead sponsor for StartupNation’s “Leading Moms in Business” competition, because let’s face it, being a woman in business presents its own hurdles. Hence this column. Add kids, and there’s a whole host of other challenges women face. So, hats off to the 200 women selected – and Happy Mother’s Day! According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, there are 10.6 million women-owned businesses in the United States generating $2.5 trillion in annual revenue. With women starting businesses at nearly twice the…

The-F-Word.org
Dieting, repackaged

Rachel

2 Jul 2009 | 10:38 am

Self magazine isn't known for embracing body diversity, so I was semi-surprised to see the oh, so cleverly titled Self piece "Sip 'n Starve: Dangerous diets in disguise" republished on MSNBC today. Authored by Janelle Brown, who used to run the feminist 'zine Maxi in the 1990s, the focus is on LA trendsetters who "starve themselves skinny" via "socially acceptable quasi-anorexia." A marketing survey last summer found that the percentage of American adults on a diet has decreased by 10 percent since 1990, but those numbers might be disingenuous. As Brown explains, it's no longer trendy to be…
Stripping fish AND women alive is not okay

Rachel

1 Jul 2009 | 6:45 am

It looks like Dutch animal rights group Animals Awake is taking a few cues from Peta, an organization I've criticized heartily for treating women like pieces of meat to get men to stop eating meat. Warning: the video is quite graphic in its depiction of violence against women, so if you're especially sensitive to this, please don't watch. Here's a sanitized description of it: Playboy Playmate and all-around sexy vegetarian Ancilla Tilia is shown performing a Burlesque kind of strip tease for a roomful of ogling men. It's all in good taste until a fisherman approaches her and hits her across…
Fat and successful? The horrors!!

Rachel

30 Jun 2009 | 12:45 pm

Quick -- name a famous fat celebrity who isn't famous just for being fat. Who comes to mind? Oprah? Queen Latifah? Rosie O'Donnell? Beth Ditto? Now, name a famous thin celebrity. Too many to list? Exactly. Try telling that to Michael McMahon, a so-called "obesity expert" who's accusing the meager numbers of fat celebrities of proving that it's possible to be, get this... fat AND successful. Oh, the horrors! Read more...
Food Finds: Quince

Rachel

30 Jun 2009 | 8:35 am

Before I went vegetarian nearly seven years ago, vegetables for me basically came in a handful of varieties: green beans, potatoes, corn, carrots and the lettuce and tomato atop a burger. Newly-veg enthusiasm and sheer culinary boredom compelled me to expand my agricultural repertoire and I soon began to discover new-to-me fruits and vegetables I love like pink lady apples, plantains, sweet potatoes, dandelion greens and kale, parsnips and okra. There were a few I still don't like (eggplant, yuck) but now whenever I see a new fruit or vegetable at the grocery story or farmer's market, I make…
The Day the Music Died

Rachel

29 Jun 2009 | 1:19 pm

I thought Brandon was kidding when he messaged me earlier this morning with the cryptic note, “I think Cary died.” One hurried Facebook message to Cary’s girlfriend and a phone call a split second later confirmed it. Cary, one of my husband’s best friends from high school and his former band member, died in a [...]

Laurin and Kelly Talk
White Onesie Wednesday

Laurin

1 Jul 2009 | 7:40 am

So, it's Wednesday and I had a post all ready to go. Then, I checked my email this morning and Today's Mommie Goodie is featuring MookiMoo sleepwear. No, I'm no longer in the baby sleeper market, but these instantly caught my eye with their cute starfish, surfboard and fish designs. I just adore that white starfish one! The MookiMoo sleepwear zips up the back, something that would have been useful when the twins started taking off their diapers during every naptime and every single night. They both did it, the little monkey-see monkey-doers. How do you plan a cohesive and sustained…
I AM Busy, and Thank You Mashable

Laurin

30 Jun 2009 | 5:09 am

A post from Mashable alerted me to this nifty Twitter tool, Twitter for Busy People. Personally, the only thing I dislike about Twitter is the feeling I've missed something, or someone, when I've been off Twitter for a while and their tweets are pushed off the page. Twitter For Busy People is an application that shows the faces of your friends on Twitter who have tweeted in the last hour, day or longer. Just mouse over and you get a popup of their last few tweets. I love it! Best Twitter application EVER!
White Shirt Wednesday Kinda White

Laurin

24 Jun 2009 | 9:48 am

I’m on an extended vacation, hence the tumbleweeds here. I’m in Mississippi again and it’s waaay hotter here than in Florida. The tee that is saving me from completely melting into the pavement where my carcass would be picked over by giant mosquitoes is a gossamer light tee from Erge Designs. It’s a white (of course) v-neck patterned burnout tee with the most wonderful black floral design in a couple of places. Sadly, I couldn’t find a pic to show you as it must be sold out. I got it from Marion’s, a local boutique in St. Petersburg, a couple of weeks ago. It seems Erge is one of…
White Shirt Wednesday - The It Tee

Laurin

10 Jun 2009 | 6:55 pm

I happen to really like this LnA tee, and it's not just because a lot of celebrities have been spotted wearing it. I like it. I do. I think that little zipper pocket is adorable. I'm trying to get over the fact that Megan Fox is wearing it, because I find her quite annoying. Not as annoying as this guy does, but annoying nonetheless. By the way, I think that Jessica Biel looks kinda glowy and possibly preggers in this picture. I don't know, it's just a vibe I'm getting. Maybe she's just happy that she's dating Woody Allen. Photo credit: Jessica, Woody and child - Singer22 Screenshot Related…
White Shirt Wednesday - I'm not doing shit today.

Laurin

3 Jun 2009 | 12:19 pm

My least favorite thing about working from home is when my husband asks me some variation of "What are you going to do today?" or "What did you do today?" When he asks me this I imagine all sorts of inflection, undertone and attitude and I immediately burst into flames. I do things. I do a lot of things. I sometimes don't work as much as I'd like, however, because I'm busy doing all of those things that keep our house from being condemned. That really is the biggest problem with working from home - being distracted by a tumbleweed of Labrador hair rolling past me at the computer and the…

In Women We Trust
Go Ask Alice to do your Shopping

InWomenWeTrust

2 Jul 2009 | 2:49 am

You want easy? Go ask Alice. You want green? Go ask Alice. Alice.com is the new shopping site that promises to deliver the best priced items that you routinely buy to your door. The green items aren't there in mass yet, but that's ok, at least "Alice" has made it easy for you to find them and buy them along with your other purchases. That's what I like about Alice. In a few years the world will be green and we won't need to have a special spot for such things. On the other hand we will need excellent service...
Sunnygram for Grandma's and Grandpa's

InWomenWeTrust

30 Jun 2009 | 10:54 am

You know the world is turning in the right direction when a couple of guys come up with a way to stay in touch with aging parents who can't handle email, but can still open a letter. Why I know about them is because another evolved male friend (Mark) flagged their service to me. Mark had another killer idea on how the flat rate could be used, what if a school adopted grandparents and used the writing exercises to teach writing and caring at the same time? The service is called Sunnygram, for a flat fee of $9.99 a month,...
The Mom's Guide to Growing the Family Green

InWomenWeTrust

29 Jun 2009 | 9:10 am

Can you imagine a world without the Internet at this point? I would not only miss the speed at which I can conduct business, but REALLY miss hearing the collective wisdom of the women who are finally are able to put their opinions and wisdom out there. Terra Wellington is one of those women, her blog MomsandthePlanet.com takes on a multitude of issues facing our planet, from toxic food to over fishing to how to buy green. In her new book, The Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green, she provides step-by-step, issue-by-issue examples for "saving the earth and protecting...
A Waterless Washer? Really?!?

InWomenWeTrust

19 Jun 2009 | 8:40 am

When one washer door closes, another opens... Just when California and the Southwest as a whole is facing a massive water shortage a "Polymer-based cleaning company Xeros and Cambridge Consultants have developed what they say is the world's first 'virtually waterless' laundry washing machine prototype." The article posted in Greenbang says that it uses reusable nylon polymer beads. The beads clean cloths faster using far less water and electricity.(saves 90% of water!) Read the whole write up here. What is impressive is that the creators already commissioned a Life Cycle Assessment…
June 5th - World Environment Day

InWomenWeTrust

5 Jun 2009 | 6:08 am

Today is the United NAtions World Environment Day. The United Nations started World Environment Day. Their site has a nice list of things you can/should do. Just for the heck of it, I went down the list to see what I've changed in my life. Looks like I've already incorported most things, but need to do just a bit more, including planting a tree for their Billion Tree campaign. Taken from http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/content/tips.asp IN GENERAL: Plant a tree! Help achieve UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign target of planting seven billion trees – one for every person on the planet – by…

The Downtown Women's Club womensDISH blog
Make July 4th Your Innovation Day

Diane K. Danielson

2 Jul 2009 | 9:48 am

What better day to talk about innovation than the few days leading up to July 4th. Think back to the situation the Founding Fathers faced. "Yay! We have our independence! OK, now what ... oh yeah, we have to create...
DWC Guest Post: Five Biz Tips Flushed Straight from the Poker Table

Erin Murphy

1 Jul 2009 | 1:16 pm

Here at the Downtown Women's Club's Women's Dish blog we've been following the adventures of Annie Duke, the poker player who should have won Celebrity Apprentice. So, when Tiffany Michelle, another female professional poker player submitted this article about what...
Self Value - Empower it.

JT

30 Jun 2009 | 7:41 am

Experience and Education is not just for the prospective employer to evaluate - its something for you to consider as you review your own value and consider what to do with it. My son started his first job yesterday. I...
Making it real

Nancy Loderick

24 Jun 2009 | 9:25 am

I have found the secret to successful networking. Well, it's not really a secret, but a lot of people overlook this. It's all about being yourself and being authentic. I recently had coffee with an old friend, someone who I...
What risks are you willing to take?

Kathleen Kingsbury

24 Jun 2009 | 4:55 am

Last month my husband did the ultimate New England skiing adventure and went to Tuckerman's Ravine. For those non-skiers out there, going to Tuckerman's is an annual pilgrimage for skiers who love the back country and the way skiing was...

The Crone Speaks
Our Sex-Crazed Nation

archrone

25 Jun 2009 | 5:35 am

OMG! Yet another politician had an affair, and that is burning up the media waves. Okay, I over simplified the situation…a lot. What makes the Sanford affair newsworthy is not that he had the affair, but that he left SC without notifying the Lt. Governor and transferring power, literally leaving the state unattended in his absence. Or that some of his trips to his lover were (may have been?) paid for by taxpayers. Then we have the hypocrisy, and I mean blatant hypocrisy, that being backing the impeachment proceedings of Bill Clinton. Additional hypocrisy lies in the whole “family…
Why Aren’t Gas Prices Going Down?

archrone

24 Jun 2009 | 6:57 pm

Demand at the gas pump is still down, yet prices continue to rise. According to Jim Hightower, Foreclosure Phil has everything to do with pick-pocketing your wallet at the pumps. (note, abiding by fair use is going to be very difficult in this instance, with apologies to Jim Hightower) But hold your BPExxonMobilShellChevron horses right there. Supply and demand? The supply of crude oil has risen this year to its highest level in nearly two decades, even while the demand for gasoline has dropped dramatically, having fallen this month to a 10-year low. Let’s see – supply up, demand…
SCOTUS for the United Corporations of America

archrone

23 Jun 2009 | 5:33 am

If there was any doubt left in your mind that our country is run by and for the corporations, SCOTUS’s ruling yesterday in Coeur Alaska Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, should clear that remaining doubt. The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Clean Water Act does not prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from allowing mining waste to be dumped into rivers, streams and other waters. In a 6-to-3 decision that drew fierce criticism from environmentalists, the court said the Corps of Engineers had the authority to grant Coeur Alaska Inc., a gold mining company, permission to…
Where are the jobs?

archrone

22 Jun 2009 | 5:31 am

While regular folks that have been unemployed so long they are no longer on the unemployment rolls and newly unemployed are searching for jobs, you should rest easy that former Bush administration officials are cashing in, big time. In May, the U.S. economy lost 345,000 nonfarm jobs, pushing the unemployment rate from 8.9% to 9.4%. According to official statistics, 14.5 million Americans are now looking for work and, as a recent headline at Time.com put it, “The jobs aren’t coming back anytime soon.” In fact, a team of economists at the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank…
Health Care Reform: 1993 Redux

archrone

22 Jun 2009 | 5:09 am

As bad as the health care situation in the US is, republicans are still thinking it’s 1993. But, there are a few dems that are stuck in the last century as well, as Krugman notes. And this is a severe problem, for the people most impacted by the lack or health insurance and those that are underinsured. The real risk is that health care reform will be undermined by “centrist” Democratic senators who either prevent the passage of a bill or insist on watering down key elements of reform. I use scare quotes around “centrist,” by the way, because if the center means the position held…

Pink Lemonade
Hannah Montana 3 Listening Party

Pink Lemonade Liz

2 Jul 2009 | 3:21 pm

Hannah Montana 3, debuts July 7th and we've got a fantastic listening party just for our readers!More info to come on Monday!
Meet Sherry

Pink Lemonade Liz

2 Jul 2009 | 11:52 am

Sherry is 47 years old, a wife, mom of 4 divas and one grandson she also has 5 dogs! Life can get chaotic but she likes it that way.She has many passions including family and friends, anything in the kitchen, writing, music and generally enjoying life.Sherry will be joining our contributor lineup on Mondays writing about all things kitchen and food related. She currently blogs at Loon-atics In The Kitchen.If you are interested in becoming a contributor for Pink Lemonade, pop on over to our Contributor Information page.- LizPosted by Liz of Pink Lemonade
Cough, Cough

Chris

2 Jul 2009 | 8:00 am

The sound that is striking terror into the minds of parents across the globe these days is the cough. That simple sound brings to mind images of the post World War I flu pandemic that took more casualties than the Great War itself. On June 12th, the World Health Association officially declared the current situation with the H1N1 (aka Swine Flu) a pandemic. But really, although it can be a serious condition, today’s outbreak can in no way compare to the pandemic of the past. Our knowledge of the spread of disease and basic hygiene makes our circumstances significantly less tragic than the…
StillTasty Tells You How Long Your Holiday Food Will Last

Pink Lemonade Liz

1 Jul 2009 | 9:26 pm

Is Your Fourth of July Food Still Safe on July 9th? StillTasty Has the AnswerThis Independence Day, millions of Americans will gather around the grill to enjoy some classic all-American fare. But once the holiday is over, how long can you safely store your hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad? And what’s the best way to keep them fresh and tasty?StillTasty.com, the ultimate shelf-life guide, has the answers. This comprehensive site is your one-stop resource for food storage information.The heart of StillTasty is the “Keep it or Toss It” search engine, which contains shelf-life data for…
1 Jul 2009 | 9:11 pm

Pink Lemonade Liz

1 Jul 2009 | 9:11 pm

he 4th is quickly approaching, and as you work to plan out the perfect holiday BBQ, here are some tips from LIVESTRONG.COM to make your holiday BBQ a healthy one.Everyone has their favorite summer BBQ items, but unfortunately, many traditional summer foods are high in both calories and fat. The team at LIVESTRONG.COM has compiled some healthy (and tasty!) alternatives to help keep you on track throughout the summer season.Below are some ideas for healthy alternatives to traditional BBQ fare, as well as an example of one of our original recipes for “Susy’s Everything Marinade,” a healthy…

Heroine Content
A League of Their Own

17 Jun 2009 | 7:00 am

I don't know if you've noticed, but things here at HC have been a bit negative of late. We haven't given anything more than a couple of stars since March. Depressed by this, I thought it was time to pull out an old favorite and see how it held up to a re-watch. It didn't disappoint. I love A League of Their Own. And how could I not? It features two Heroine Content all-stars, Geena Davis (from The Long Kiss Goodnight) and Lori Petty (from Tank Girl). It's got Madonna, back when Madonna was cool. It's directed by grrl-power director Penny Marshall (making her Heroine Content debut!). And it's…
Terminator Salvation

6 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

We apologize for the delay in issuing this review of Terminator Salvation. You see, after I took one for the team and reviewed Terminator 3, I was kind of hoping that Grace would step up and save me from what I feared would be a race and gender FAIL. Alas, no. So here it is. Ladies, be not afraid! In the future, your important roles as accessories to men's Important heroic actions will not be disturbed! You will be free to be kidnapped, knocked around, and rescued just as before, with no concessions made to the fact that the future of humanity depends on every person fighting tooth and nail…
Heroine Content Summer 2009 Film Preview (and some thoughts on discouragement)

25 May 2009 | 7:48 pm

Here at Heroine Content, we are blessed with a wonderful community of readers. Two of them have become guest posters, and during our email exchanges they have each asked very good questions which I'd like to address today - before walking through our list of films for the rest of 2009. First question is from d (who apparently is spending her time writing really long comments here and at Women & Hollywood instead of getting me those final Matrix trilogy review edits). She asked this: Do you ever get discouraged about the state of women in action films? Sometimes I feel like we, we as in the…
On Anachronisms, Sexism, and Reality

25 May 2009 | 7:38 am

We just received a comment on the Wolverine review that I'm not going to publish because it doesn't even begin to respect our comment policy. However, I had to share this one bit of it: Of course it's a bunch of men, most of the movie was set in times before women were allowed in the army, much less help with anything non-medical or teacher related. Let's leave aside the incorrect statement that "most" of the movie was set in times before women were allowed in the military. The part that interests me is the appeal to historical accuracy in a movie about a man with magical self-healing powers…
Monday Links: May 18th

18 May 2009 | 7:34 am

First of all, it's time for everybody to get involved with Racebending.com, the protest effort over the casting of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Please go ahead, I'll wait. Thanks! Allrighty, so here are some links about items we've discussed lately, which you may already have seen since you probably read these blogs, but presented for completeness: X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Same Old Story by the angry black woman at Feminist SF - The Blog! X-Men Origins: Wolverine - The Greatest Story Never Told? at Fantasy Magazine. Star Trek doesn't update the gender roles by Ariel Wetzel at Feminist SF -…

Boudoir Mon Cheri
The White Sheet Sessions!

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 layout of…
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 was…
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 get…
Good News! Spring Specials! Boudoir Photography in the Heights - Houston, Texas

admin

14 Jan 2009 | 11:45 am

More photos from Mrs. L’s session coming tomorrow! Good news! Good news!!! GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!! (That is me, shouting it from the rooftops!) After what is a rather long, boring story, I’ve made the decision to take over the ENTIRE building where my studio is located at in the Heights! The whole thing! I’ll be working on adding new vignettes for photo shoots, and maybe even props we can use over the next few months - in addition to the ones that are already set up. Wheeeeee! I’m so EXCITED!!! The holiday special packages were SO popular, I’ve decided to continue them…
Sneak Peeks Waiting to be Unwrapped - Houston Boudoir Photography

admin

20 Dec 2008 | 10:43 pm

I have so many fabulous photos to share! But I can’t share them until after Christmas, as I don’t want to ruin the holiday surprises! There are some fabulous albums waiting under trees to be unwrapped! Matter of fact, our holiday specials were so well received, I’m going to extend them through Valentine’s Day! There are just a few weekend sessions left, plus weekday sessions as well. Not in Houston? I’ll travel anywhere for very reasonable rates. Gather up your friends and you can split the travel costs! Here is a sneak peek from one of the studio sessions of…

finslippy
Please, oh please, no advice.

Alice Bradley

26 Jun 2009 | 8:29 am

This week over at Momversation, Rebecca brought up the topic of picky eaters, and I laughed; oh, how I laughed. If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you may remember my periodic rants about Henry's eccentric eating habits. I wish I could report that my son's diet has evolved even a little since that time, but alas, I cannot. We are dealing with it, in our usual clumsy manner, with the help of a nutritionist. It is not easy. Our son is more than a little strong-willed. It is a characteristic I'm sure I will someday come to admire. As you may have noticed…
Introducing…

Alice Bradley

22 Jun 2009 | 9:45 am

I am kind of unbearably excited to unveil the hitherto-unnamed project to which I’ve been referring for the last few weeks. So here we go: Eden Marriott Kennedy and I are proud to announce our new website, LET'S PANIC ABOUT BABIES! LET'S PANIC ABOUT BABIES! is meant to be a helpful and soothing companion during your child-bearing and –raising years. In this comprehensive and frighteningly detailed site, we answer such questions as, should I avoid cats? (Answer: more than you know.) Or how did this baby get in me? (Science has yet to find an answer to this mystery.) Or why does…
Wherein we display our enviable dramatic skills

Alice Bradley

18 Jun 2009 | 7:51 pm

I baked oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies the other day. Because I wanted to give my son a treat. Because sometimes I can be a kind and loving Mother. It’s not like Henry never gets treats, kids; he gets them pretty much every day, but for whatever reason, these cookies made him suspicious. What is she planning? What is she trying to accomplish, with this whole homemade cookie junk? At least I think that’s what was going on. All I can say is, he ate a single cookie in the oddest, most irritating way possible. As if there might be sprouts or poison lurking somewhere within the cookie. I was…
We didn't die after all.

Alice Bradley

12 Jun 2009 | 9:02 am

Us at the Louvre.Originally uploaded by finslippyInstead of dying, we just had an incredible time. Huh. Go here to see our complete Flickr set.
Au revoir à jamais

Alice Bradley

2 Jun 2009 | 9:15 am

Oh, my friends who live inside the computer, Scott and I are leaving tomorrow for Paris. It’s our tenth anniversary on Friday, and it was my 40th birthday last week, and since we sold our house we had some cash lying around (technically not lying around; we used it as padding for Charlie’s dog bed). So we thought, why aren’t we going to Paris? What kind of jerks are we? So Henry’s going to hang out with the grandparents while we cavort and gambol around Paris for six days, and I should be ridiculously excited. Except now that we’re getting ready, I’m pretty we’re going to die. I…

Petunia Face
Guimauve

Petunia Face

2 Jul 2009 | 7:39 am

At three Zoey has already surpassed me in coolness. She has better clothes than I do, her shoes are glittierererer, she is a way better dancer what with the way she hops and twirls as if no one is looking, and now she has better hair.The ladies at her daycare like to play with her hair, and sometimes when I pick her up she looks like this and I feel like maybe we should make some grand elaborate plans on account of her hair looking so pretty--go to a party or a club, get a drink somewhere for Happy Hour. Instead we stop at the grocery store to buy some milk and I find myself looking random…
Bid'ness

Petunia Face

1 Jul 2009 | 7:20 am

Pssst! You! Yeah, you! I need some help over here! Okay fine. This photo has nothing to do with this post and this post has very little to do with entertainment (but everything to do with this blog). This post is about me and how you can help me and blah blah boring, a # sign here, an @&asterisk followed by a question mark there. If you're still reading this drivel you must really like me which means I really like you and we should totally dry hump on your parent's couch.So here's my question: Lately I have been getting some requests from companies wanting to advertise which is awesome…
6 Signs of the Apocalypse, i.e. Happy Tuesday!

Petunia Face

30 Jun 2009 | 7:48 am

As we were driving back from the beach on Sunday I said something about all of the dead trees. Dutch Elm or Live Oak, something: the rolling hills of West Marin were dotted with the brittle skeletons of dead trees. It's a sign that the end of world is coming, Bryan said, and then I fell asleep, not so much because I am indifferent to the impending death of our planet, more so because there is something about a hot car on a windy road, salt air and the sound of an open window that seriously knocks me the shit out. Anyway, since then I've noticed that he might be right. The dead trees are…
If One Drowns, Do They All Drown?

Petunia Face

29 Jun 2009 | 7:57 am

This here is Zoey's 12th birthday present:Although with the hormones in the tomatoes these days perhaps I ought to give it to her for her 10th birthday. I mean, surely I have some time to think about this, but really, I just want her to know how very stupid it is to try to be like other people. Years ago I went to a psychic. Which is sort of the antithesis of what I'm trying to say here--not to follow the herd, to listen to yourself... But honestly this woman was eerie. She said that Bryan should watch his blood sugar (he's diabetic), that she sees him around boats and water (he surfs and…
Dancer in the Dark, i.e. Where the Sun Now Shines

Petunia Face

26 Jun 2009 | 7:37 am

In my family we have a word called "heaviosity." It describes a certain thud of thought, a self-conscious heaviness much like a goth sweating in the sun but unwilling to take off his black coat. Remember that Bjork movie where she was going blind while working in a factory and singing those nutty off-key songs while clomping across metal bridges? That right there: perfect definition of heaviosity. This week I feel like Bjork. A goth. A goth listening to Bjork while working in a factory and closing her eyes and maybe eating black licorice. My posts have been long and drab and then long again.

Our Bodies Our Blog
Trading Women’s Health for Votes: Legislators Call for Excluding Abortion Services from Government Health Plan

Nineteen House members sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stating that they will not vote for health care reform legislation "unless it explicitly excludes abortion funding from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan." Right-o. Because nothing says "crafting broad support" than cutting off health services ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]
List of Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities Released

We've mentioned in previous posts that comparative effectiveness research (research that directly compares the effectiveness of different treatments for the same illness) received funding in the stimulus bill, and that the Institute of Medicine was gathering public input in order to inform a report providing specific recommendations to Congress for ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]
Political Diagnosis: Roadblocks and Lines (Not) Drawn in the Sand - the Week in Health Reform

This Week’s Super Fun Health Reform Graphic: The Kaiser Family Foundation's side-by-side comparison of healthcare reform proposals now includes details about the House Tri-Committee proposal (discussed here last week). Check it -- We also direct your attention to the Center for Policy Analysis, a resource for information on progressive health reform. ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]
Two Hospitals to Address Access to Care for Patients with Disabilities

Despite ADA regulations regarding accessibility of public buildings, people with disabilities often face barriers to accessing healthcare that are not addressed by the law, including a lack of appropriate staff training and accessible equipment. A report in Friday's Boston Globe indicates that two nationally known, Harvard-affiliated area hospitals - Massachusetts ... [This is a content summary only. Click the headline to visit Our Bodies, Our Blog for the full post, links, other content and more!]
Double Dose: Pregnancy, Prison and HIV

Woman Shackled During Labor Sues State: A former inmate at the Washington Corrections Center for Women who was shackled while in labor is suing the state of Washington for violating her constitutional rights. Read the full complaint here (pdf). The Seattle-based women's rights organization Legal Voice filed the federal lawsuit last ... [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

Miriam

2 Jul 2009 | 2:16 pm

Five things you can do right now to help Honduras fight for justice from RaceWire New efforts in Montana to redefine their constitution to add fetal personhood. Sigh. Interesting NY Times article about progressive US nuns facing scrutiny from the Vatican. Carmen over at Racialicious launches the Racialicious Experience, a six week workshop series via weekly phone discussions. More details here!
Indian court decriminalizes homosexuality

Miriam

2 Jul 2009 | 1:39 pm

File this one under good news. Via Akimbo: In a landmark Indian Supreme Court ruling today, Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah struck down Penal Code 377, overturning a colonial-era law criminalizing "carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal." The victory is a historic step forward for human rights only days after people worldwide took to the streets for gay pride, particularly in a country where LGBTQII individuals face discrimination, stigma, and violence on a daily basis. While the original petition against 377 cited its adverse impact on HIV/ AIDS…
Feminist Artist Watch: Melissa Giges

Vanessa

2 Jul 2009 | 11:50 am

New York native Melissa Giges just released her national debut of Evident, where she sings with a soft yet almost haunting voice which conveniently matches the production of the music in the album, particularly the song, Evident. (Listen below.) Utilizing off-key notes in the crux of a song - and making them work - come from of my favorite songs and artist, like Fiona Apple, Portishead, etc. She's no Fiona or Portis, but surely has great potential. She told us why and how feminism effects her life and music: I grew up in a family where there weren't gender-defined roles: Mom and Dad were…
Sexist Advertising FAIL and Jenny Lewis to Boot.

Samhita

2 Jul 2009 | 10:51 am

Ew! And why Jenny Lewis, why?
Not Oprah's Book Club: Along for the Ride

Miriam

2 Jul 2009 | 8:58 am

Talking about this book today. Transcript after the jump! Hi everybody! I'm Miriam and I'm doing this week's Not Oprah's Book Club. I'm standing in for Courtney because I wanted to talk about this book I just read. Today I'll be talking about Along for the Ride, a new book by Sarah Dessen. It just came out last week and it's a YA fiction novel. I've actually been reading Sarah Dessen's books since high school, when she actually came and did a reading at my high school public library in Chapel Hill NC. It turns out Sarah is also from Chapel Hill and actually went to my high school. She's…

blue milk
Pop, drag, baby

blue milk

28 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

How much do I love this article about ‘Pop’, the gender-free toddler? A lot. Sometimes when I dress Cormac I feel almost like I am playing with ‘drag’. Gee, I’ve really dressed you “Boy” today, little one. Cormac is still so young that there seems little reason to dress him in a way that highlights gender, particularly when he looks so beautiful in white (instead he is regularly mistaken by passers-by for a girl, and I try to reassure them that I’m not insulted that ‘he’ might have been thought a ’she’ for a moment,…
Tireds

blue milk

28 Jun 2009 | 5:03 am

Everybody in this house has a bad case of the tireds.
I messed up

blue milk

27 Jun 2009 | 5:26 am

In relation to my last post, this one. Someone has emailed me privately and very politely (more than I deserve) pointed out to me that the hairstyle I refer to as “crazy” in the photograph in that post is in fact a very common hairstyle for African and African descended girls. They were understandably offended that I described the hairstyle as crazy. Now that they’ve told me this I can of course recall seeing the hairstyle many times on little girls, but I rarely recall seeing the hairstyle on white girls (at least in the places where I’ve grown up) such as is seen in…
Photography contest winners: mothers and daughters

blue milk

25 Jun 2009 | 2:43 pm

The Association for Research on Mothering has announced the winners of its 2008-2009 photography contest. The competition had the theme of “Mothers and Daughters”. The photo above by Helen M. Stummer came third place. I love it, the daughter filing her mother’s nails, the mother’s cigarette, and the crazy hairstyle* the little girls are wearing. “Shirley and Her Twins – E 6th St. – Lower East Side of Manhatten”. Check out the ARM site to see the other winners. *this was an insensitive thing to say, please see this post for my explanation and…
23 Jun 2009 | 5:18 am

blue milk

23 Jun 2009 | 5:18 am

Image: From here, a site that parodies parenthood websites (the subject is rich with material, no?), though sadly some of it isn’t as funny as it is trying to be.

Pam's House Blend - Front Page
Buck-naked man on US Air flight forces detour

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 pm

Gee, this event would have made my American Airlines dual flight cancellation drama the other week much more entertaining.A passenger who stripped naked aboard a Los Angeles-bound US Airways jet, forcing its diversion to Albuquerque, will be arraigned Thursday and possibly be ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination, the FBI confirmed today. Keith Anthony Wright, 50, a resident of New York, was being held in federal detention in New Mexico pending his appearance in court on charges of interference with a flight, said FBI spokesman Darrin Jones in Albuquerque. "He removed his clothing…
Mental Junk Drawer TWO....open topics

2 Jul 2009 | 3:42 pm

Here's a question I thought might be of interest.What websites were you on before Pam's House Blend, and which forums/blogs are you currently on? I began in chatrooms on Gay.com, usually in the POZ (HIV/AIDS) room. I was on John Edwards' site before that the Kerry/Edwards' site, then that morphed to Common Grounds/Common Sense. I was on Huffington Post, and still post there. There was a bizarro site Volcanvo I was on for awhile, (I don't recommend it.)If this questions doesn't generate interest just post things which interest you, that don't fit…
The Top Ten Ways You Know You're A Christian Fundamentalist

2 Jul 2009 | 3:11 pm

(Top Ten Top Ten) 1 - You are a christian fundamentalist when you actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian. 2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God. 3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be…
Sailor killed at Camp Pendleton may have been target of hate crime

2 Jul 2009 | 2:00 pm

Seaman August Provost, 29, is dead. His body was found on June 30 at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego, CA. At this time the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is calling it an apparent homicide and are looking for a "person of interest" in custody. There is evidence that this could be a hate crime.Rep. Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista) said today he had asked the U.S. Department of Defense and the Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of a sailor, who was gay, at Camp Pendleton was a hate crime...Gay leaders in San Diego had asked Filner to intervene. Nicole…
Referendum 71 Authors NOT Hiding Expenditures

2 Jul 2009 | 1:41 pm

CORRECTION: An astute Blend reader has notified me that the reporting deadline for expenses incurred in June by referendum PACs is July 10th. I've re-read the PDC documents, and he is correct. I have, therefore, made a regrettable error in calling out Stickney and Randall for not yet reporting their printing and related expenses. They have not earned the accusation of hiding their campaign expenditures. I am sorry for this error and I do apologize. Now the question is, do I yank the diary, or leave it up with corrections? After some deliberation, I have…

Simply Stated By RealSimple.com
Is Bing a better search engine?

kristinbrandt

2 Jul 2009 | 5:06 pm

I've never thought much about the search engine that I use because, most of the time, I use Google. Even when I don't go to Google.com, I end up using Google because it is the default search engine for so many web browser start pages (such as the Mozilla Firefox page) or built into so many other pages (we use Google on ManicMommies.com for site search).I say this all to explain why I didn't understand why the launch of Bing, Microsoft's new search engine, was such a big deal. And why I decided I needed to check it out.There is no question that on looks alone, Bing has it all…
Want to Be Happier? Check Out These Tools!

gretchenrubin

2 Jul 2009 | 1:29 pm

I’m thrilled, because after months of preparation, my Happiness Project Toolbox has been unveiled to the world. As I was working on my happiness project, I stumbled across several methods that helped me to boost my happiness. I wanted to encourage other people to try these tools, and I also wanted to pull them together to make it easier for other people to do their own happiness projects. So I created the Happiness Project Toolbox. It’s a free collection of eight Tools to make it easier to make changes in your life to boost your happiness. With the Resolutions and Group Resolutions Tools,…
Celebrating the Fourth: Festive (and Easy) Food and Drink

kateparker

2 Jul 2009 | 11:59 am

The Fourth of July is quite possibly my favorite Holiday. There's nothing like a summer day spent celebrating our freedom as Americans with friends and family. I love getting everyone together for a festive meal and some celebratory cocktails before heading out to watch the fireworks. Aside from the incredible guide to easy summer drinks, dips, and desserts put together by Real Simple's food team, here are the "go-tos" I'll be turning out this year:Watermelon and Feta Salad - my guests rave every time I serve this dish, and it couldn't be easier to make. It's very refreshing - the perfect…
Got Student Loans?

kateashford

2 Jul 2009 | 10:00 am

If you’re struggling every month to make a huge student loan payment, boy, do I have good news for you. This week, the Education Department started offering a new type of repayment plan—based on your annual income and family size. In other words, someone making $30,000 a year will make lower monthly payments than someone making $60,000. It’s called an Income Based Repayment plan, or IBR. (Personally, I think it should be called the It's About Time Someone Thought of This plan.) How does it work? Here are the details: Do my loans qualify? Probably. This repayment plan is available for…
4th of July Cocktail Recipes

jennifersbranti

2 Jul 2009 | 7:52 am

Looking for a festive cocktail to serve this weekend? Here are 5 fun, patriotic signature drink ideas from 'round the web: 1. Fourth of July Cocktail from Guy FieriA thin slice of jalapeno or serrano pepper adds a fiery kick to this tequila-based cocktail, which gets it's pretty colors from cranberry juice, watermelon schnapps, and blue curacao.{via Food Network} 2. Strawberry SuckerStrawberry schnapps, vodka, and club soda make up this sweet & fizzy afternoon drink. Add a skewer of blueberries for a splash of blue!{via Rachael Ray} 3. Watermelon Mint Cooler Ingredients• 4 cups…

BlogHer
BlogHer '09 Badges and Bling

loriluna

2 Jul 2009 | 3:30 pm

Thanks to all your input and amazing ideas we have really great blog bling in preparation for BlogHer '09...all of you are so clever!. Now, with LobbyCon Bling!!!: <a href="http://blogher.com/blogher_conference/conf/9/general/1"><img src="http://assets2.blogher.com/files/BH09-125-LobbyCon.jpg" alt="I'll Be at LobbyCon!" /></a> Here are the newbies: <a href="http://blogher.com/blogher_conference/conf/9/general/1"><img src="http://assets3.blogher.com/files/BH09-125-Shoes.jpg" alt="I'll Be Wearing Cute…
Explore Chicago on Foot: Walking Tour One

jes

2 Jul 2009 | 2:58 pm

This is the first in a four-week series to help BlogHer '09 attendees explore Chicago. My favorite way to explore a city is on foot. I think it has something to do with the experience of using all five of my senses in a way that driving (or boat-riding) tours just can’t match. (Not to mention that walking is good for Earth, good for you and good for your wallet. Well, potentially good for you and your wallet. I suppose that depends on your discipline when in such close proximity to Garrett Popcorn Shops.) So if you’ve planned a little extra time before or after BlogHer ’09, and were…
For Independence Day: Solo Travelers!

Pam

2 Jul 2009 | 1:52 pm

During my first trip to Disney World in 2005, I had dinner at Chefs de France, which I was a little nervous about (there’s no bartop dining here, and I wasn’t sure if the restaurant would be filled with couples and families). As it turned out, it was one of the best solo dining experiences I had at Disney World, and the food was divine.-- Solo Friendly Have you ever traveled alone? It's been some time since I've done a true solo trip -- I got married and my husband loves to travel, and while I typically find time to wander off on my own on work-related travels, it feels like it doesn't…
So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 14 On Point

Jeanne B.

2 Jul 2009 | 1:06 pm

We're down to seven couples -- only one more week to go before we a. get our Top Ten and b. start splitting these pairs up! The guest judge this week was Mia Michaels, in her first turn at the table since Vegas. Quick note before I get into the dancing -- did you know that Cat Deeley is blogging this season for Entertainment Weekly? I didn't, but I'm glad to know! - First up were Janette and Brandon with a Jean-Marc and France Genereux cha cha to the Pussycat Dolls' "Hush Hush; Hush Hush". This was a very well-done cha cha, with lots of energy and good footwork. I thought they might have…
A Reminder to Not Drive Drunk This Fourth of July

Jody DeVere -- Ask Patty

2 Jul 2009 | 12:07 pm

The Century Council sent me an innovative eCard for the July 4th holiday that reminds viewers to stay safe this Independence Day and not drive drunk. Click here to view the eCard here at The Century Council. I first learned about The Century Council and its efforts to stop underage drinking when we reported on the organization's support of Brandon Silveria and his "Make the Right Choice" Program. The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking; through educational efforts such as the…

Gizmodiva.com
Four-inch Lego Michael Jackson to feature in LEGOLAND this Friday

shubha

2 Jul 2009 | 5:59 am

Pop star Michael Jackson was more than just an icon to the world of music and his sudden, mysterious death has caught many a fans by shock and anguish. Nevertheless, what is done cannot be undone, and all we could do is, pay a tribute to the King of Pop. This couldn’t have been done in a lighter way than the four-inch Lego version of Michael Jackson which will be added to LEGOLAND, a Lego themed park. The section of the park known as Miniland will have a four-inch tall Minilander of Jackson, leaving his Limo in front of Grauman’s Chinese theatre. The scene will also inevitably include a…
Swivel Fiberglass Chair swoons in the shape of Love

shubha

2 Jul 2009 | 5:55 am

We don’t always need Valentine’s Day to appreciate Love, just as we don’t need an occasion to display our affection. The Swivel fiberglass chair from Giovanetti is a product that is sure to woo whoever has a fixation or fascination of the iconic Love heart. The attractive armchair comes in a choice of three or four shades and swears to add a touch of glamour and excitement to your living space. The molded fiberglass seat is reinforced with draw steel and is available in brushed or satin finish or stained in the same color as the swivel seat. The padding of the seat is a firm,…
ButterMate measures your butter slabs with ease

shubha

2 Jul 2009 | 5:48 am

Butter is an essential ingredient for baking cookies and cakes, but it is also one messy deal. Because measuring butter with table spoons and tea spoons could end up showing the wrong proportion sometimes. The ButterMate Pro from kitchenArt is one effective cooking tool, which measures butter slabs with ease in proportions of one slab to 8 tablespoons. This ease of measurement tempts me all the more to try baking some sumptuous cookies at home! The tool also allows for storage of the butter in the unit, which means you could take it right out of the refrigerator and slice it. The slicer comes…
Cute Flower Webcam equipped with 12 LED lights

kim

2 Jul 2009 | 3:51 am

TThis little device is for girls only and boys who like flowers. It's an adorable Lotus USB 2.0 web camera that stands out in a sea of webcams that are clones of each other. It's not all looks either, it has some pretty decent features like a 640×480 resolution at 30 frames per second, a built-in microphone and 12 bright white LED lights. So even if the lights are dim or turned out, there will be no real problem with the picture quality. You can buy the Flower Webcam for $25 at Uxsight. [Geekalerts]
Rumors running wild about Microsoft's "Pink" smartphone

kim

2 Jul 2009 | 3:44 am

I've never heard of a smartphone coming in pink ever before. Possibly because people think girls won't appreciate anything more than the pretty looks of a phone. However, good news for all the tech loving girls is that the rumor mill has started churning out some pretty good information on Windows Mobile 7 and Microsoft's mysterious "Pink" smartphone. It seems that it's a Microsoft-branded phone running a custom UI on top of Windows Mobile 7, developed by what's left of the Danger team and targeted at the Sidekick market. The rights of manufacturing this phone will go either to Motorola or…

Feministe
Thoughts on disability and respectful language

amandaw

2 Jul 2009 | 3:24 pm

There are several different topics I’m trying to write about. Sometimes, when I start typing, the words just flow out and I end up in a totally different place than I was intending to go. The following was part of another post, but it was just too incongruous with the style of the rest of the piece, and long at that. And these topics deserve to be addressed on their own. Before we go any further, you guys are going to need a quick tutorial on models of disability. There are a number of models, but the two primary models are the medical model and the social model. These are the two most…
Troy Davis Decision Postponed by Supreme Court

Cara

2 Jul 2009 | 3:03 pm

Tentatively good news in the case of Troy Davis, the man on death row for the murder of a police officer despite his maintained innocence, no physical evidence tying him to the crime, and seven out of nine witnesses having recanted. The US Supreme Court has put off their decision regarding whether or not to take up his case until they reconvene in September. What that means is firstly that there can be no execution date set in the mean time, and secondly that they may be giving his case more careful consideration than they had previously. It seems like both Amnesty International and the…
NYC woman allegedly punched and grabbed by misogynist cop

Jill

2 Jul 2009 | 11:46 am

Chrissie Brodigan was getting off the subway with her sick pug when a cop tried to issue her a ticket. According to Brodigan, the situation quickly turned ugly; she became upset, and in response the cop reportedly said, “If you’re going to act like a woman I’m going to treat you like a woman” (a witness heard the cop say, “”Do you wanna talk like a woman? Do you wanna get knocked around like a woman?”). Brodigan told Gothamist, “He punched me in the back (there are bruises), he handcuffed me, and in the scuffle grabbed my breasts and pinched…
Good news out of India

Jill

2 Jul 2009 | 11:23 am

The Indian Supreme Court struck down a colonial-era law criminalizing intercourse between people of the same sex. The decision had some great human rights language, too: “The inclusiveness that Indian society traditionally displayed, literally in every aspect of life, is manifest in recognising a role in society for everyone… It cannot be forgotten that discrimination is antithesis of equality, and that it is the recognition of equality which will foster the dignity of every individual.”
Thursday afternoon Youtube cheer-up

amandaw

2 Jul 2009 | 10:28 am

I’m having a hard time settling in without fazing out and completely losing cognition. What else to do but turn to youtube? MOON SHOE IT UP! Second, here’s Billy Mays (RIP) going through the drive-through at McDonalds. (I’ve heard that (surprise, surprise) the morning radio show people this is associated with are assholes, and I’m sure they are, given that it’s pretty much a requirement in the genre. Fortunately, they don’t appear to have part in this video — it’s all Billy.) What’s been cheering you up this week? (Cross-posted at Three…

Breakup Girl
Edward Cullen: Sexy or Creepy?

I recently watched Twilight for the first time and I couldn't understand why Bella (Kristen Stewart, who I will always identify as the little boy in Panic Room) was attracted to Edward (Robert Pattinson) at all. But then, I'm a guy. I guess there was that saving-her-life thing. That's sexy. ...
Married with Children of Dune

Check out this awesome gallery of the nerdiest wedding cake toppers we adore via io9.com!
Web Site Story

Who knew collegehumor.com was doing such quality videos? While it doesn't have the originality of Doctor Horrible, this retelling of the Tony-Maria love story still impresses with its production values and its spot-on parody lyrics. A sample: (to the tune of "Maria" naturally) "Pandora/ Type it in and there's music ...
Now at MSN: They Bonded Over a Death

Ask Lynn, Breakup Girl’s alter ego’s advice column at MSN.com (powered by Match.com), is now being updated monthly rather than weekly, so now you’ll get two new letters each month, starting with... 1. Do I Have To Lose Him, Too? has become close with the boyfriend of her friend who died ...
Fling forward, fall back

Going balmy on February 16, 1998... Dear Breakup Girl, I dated this guy over the summer and fell in love with him. He was real nice, sweet, and caring and I didn't think I would lose him, but I did. Ever since then I've felt empty and just use guys as some ...

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
Learning to be a Sephardic Mother

Leah Jones

29 Jun 2009 | 3:11 am

Step One: Drop your luggage and hit the shuk at 1PM on a Friday afternoon. Then ditch shopping for a nice lunch, while someone else does your shopping* for you. At the end of lunch, pick up the last few items on the list and head to the kitchen you've borrowed to cook a shabbat meal.Step Two: Stare at all of the bags of fresh produce and cheeses. Wonder how you'll ever manage to cook lasagne, a soy stir fry, salads, dessert and the mysterious Matbuchah. Step Three: Wash you hands for the first of 100 times.Step Four: Turn all of the burners on the gas stove on. All of them. No…
Hotel Galileo, Tel Aviv

Leah Jones

26 Jun 2009 | 1:07 am

The morning I was leaving for Israel, I gave myself one more hour to make a decision about where to stay my first few days in Israel. Like I said in my previous post, I've finally accepted that I should stay in a hotel those first few days while I battle jet lag and adjust to Tel Aviv heat. As someone who usually stays in big-chain hotels and never looks at TripAdvisor, I got completely overwhelmed by the reviews of hotels and hostels in Tel Aviv. I thought about staying in Hayarkon 48 again, where I stayed in 2007, but couldn't stomach the thought of paying $80/night for a hostel.
Three times is a trend

Leah Jones

24 Jun 2009 | 8:38 am

Two summers ago, I got to Tel Aviv, checked into my hostel on Hayarkon, had dinner and went to bed. I spent the next day sleeping fitfully and walking around Tel Aviv. I wasn't much for company or chatting, just focused on sleeping and the heat.Last summer, even though I was staying with people, I spent my first day in Israel sleeping and getting used to the heat. Terrible company to the people I'd just met in person, but excellent company to my pillow.This year, I've accepted that how I deal with jet lag and Tel Aviv heat is by sleeping. Instead of accepting the hospitality of…
Jet Lag before the Jet Lag

Leah Jones

21 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pm

I don't know how to explain it, but I think I got jet lag before I've even left for Israel. If you haven't kept up, in the last 3 weeks I've been out of state every week. A trip to Austin, a trip to Dallas, a trip to New York. I'm finishing up my last day at home before heading to Israel for three weeks. Lucky for me (and Spidey) my good friend Billy is house-sitting for me this year.Each trip was great, but it left me exhausted. After Thursday night's launch party and showcase of Natiiv bands, I went to sleep and slept until 4PM the next day. Granted, there were some…
Yay! Natiiv Arts & Media has a home!

Leah Jones

2 Jun 2009 | 11:03 am

Run, don't walk, over to the new online home of Natiiv Arts & Media. Built by Idan Gazit of Pixane design, I'm completely in love with my site. I would marry it if I could. He built the site using Django, which will mean something to the programmers out there, and we're using markdown on the blog instead of a WYSIWYG editor. Not only is Idan a great designer and programmer, but he is also a sound business consultant. He really helped me think through ways of how Natiiv will function as a company. He's based in Tel Aviv, but that didn't hinder our trans-atlantic…

Notes to self
On the Road

29 Jun 2009 | 8:11 am

Well, this is an experiment in mobile blogging from the road, so forgive any formatting irregularities. The Great (North) American Family Roadtrip is underway, and we are zipping up I-81 into Virginia. Pretty country! We set out yesterday morning, and though it makes me THAT mom, I have to crow over how amazing the kids were all day. We haven't driven more than a couple of hours at a stretch in
The Great (North) American Family Roadtrip '09:Preparing for Take Off

24 Jun 2009 | 4:46 am

Telling people you plan to make a 5,000 mile road trip with three kids is like telling people you plan to have three kids. Those who haven't been there/done that, think we are nuts. Those who have been there/done that assure us it will be the time of our lives.I like to think they are both right. It's not exactly the first crazy journey Patrick and I have taken together. We've always loved being
The Meeting Place

21 Jun 2009 | 9:36 am

Two lifetimes ago, a generation and thousands of miles apart, two boys set out to be men, along paths that were in no way parallel.Patrick's father:and mine:They met each other, as men, one time.They dwell together, in spirit and in flesh, every day:In memory of PawPaw and Poppy, on Father's Day.
Put that Cosmo quiz down!

18 Jun 2009 | 6:59 am

And take this one instead, brought to you by the sparkly brilliance that is the collective mind of Kirtsy to test your fluency in social media:A. When you hear the term social media, you think:It should be followed by the term optimization.Greatest thing evah!I love Page Six!I have no idea what you’re talking about.B. When you see things like ‘twitter’, ‘flickr’, ‘etsy’, ‘vlog’, ‘flagr’,and ‘
Cannonball

15 Jun 2009 | 7:26 am

I should have started work an hour and a half ago, but Mondays...what are you gonna do? So a quick update before I get down to it. Summer is officially underway. The kids got out of school June 5, and their nanny started last week. She shows up at 8 every morning, and I run past her to one of several coffee shops that are serving as satellite office space this summer. I write all morning and come

Immoral Matriarch
Rented: Gaydar Schmaydar

Maria

30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

If I weren’t my mother’s daughter, I would have seen this coming. But I am, so I didn’t. On my way home from a shitty date with a boy who was younger and more immature than I had anticipated…..but totally hot…and with huge guns…. Sorry, I got sidetracked. So, anyway…..I’m driving home and I call my friend to tell her exactly what a failure it was. As she often does, Yajira invited me over for coffee and a chat. This was not unusual. I can’t count how many times I have stopped at her house in the evening on my way home from either work, my…
Innocent until proven guilty.

Maria

29 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

Some people are not mourning Michael Jackson. Fine. I don’t care. Some of those same people are criticizing others’ mourning him by screaming that he was a child molester. That, I do care about. I would like to reiterate that he was not a child molester. He was found innocent, remember? There was never any proof, remember? And many, many people have had their lives destroyed by false accusations from children, at the behest of money hungry parents, over zealous social workers and authority abusing police detectives. Or sometimes because the kids themselves are just liars. I…
Sometimes I don’t want to be a mom.

Maria

28 Jun 2009 | 9:04 pm

It’s too hard. I’m too tired. It’s too much work. It’s too expensive. I’m not capable. I didn’t sign up to do this alone. They get on my nerves. I want to be free. I want to be a “normal” 24 year old. I want to have a life. I don’t want all the responsibility. I’m sick of the whining. I don’t want to get up at 6am and make breakfast. I have cramps. I’m sick. I’m in a pissy mood. I want to watch something besides Spongebob. I want to be able to do what I want to be able to do, when I want to do it. I want to walk the…
Answers: 26 Questions Men are Afraid to Ask Women

Maria

23 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

So, C.J. asked them, and I’m answering. 1. Do you have the same threesome fantasies that we do and if so, what’s the right way of going about making a threesome happen? I do. My fantasies are for two men, and I sometimes think that most guys are less ok with that than the alternative. I don’t blame them, really, I’m definitely too straight to sleep with another woman. I’d fondle her boobs, but that’d be about it, so I’m sure the dude would be all “this is lame”, zip up and walk out. Making it happen? Is by presenting it, making sure you…
“But baby, even your imperfections are perfect.”

Maria

21 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

I was doing The Bella’s hair today and asked her to hold a certain piece of it so that I could pin another into place. It was on the left side of her head. She tried to reach it with her right arm but couldn’t, so she used her right hand to lift her left arm by the elbow high enough to reach it. I watched as she tried to grab ahold of it a few times before finally working it between her fingers. Her shoulders and head began to lean to the left, as she was using her hair to support her arm in the air. “Bella, you have to hold your head up straight or your hair won’t…

Outblush
SimpleTech [re]drive External Hard Drive

2 Jul 2009 | 2:04 pm

See, one of those little things about living in the information age, our lives are really tied up with computers. So if something happens to said computers...poof, we have no...Visit Outblush for the full post.
Sales & Steals: 7/2/09

2 Jul 2009 | 11:37 am

It’s 4th of July weekend, and to us, that means celebrating our right to shop, shop, SHOP. Just don’t forget to take a break to do some BBQ-ing and pool...Visit Outblush for the full post.
St. Germain Liqueur

2 Jul 2009 | 11:16 am

We're aware that St. Germain ($25) elderflower liqueur has been a favorite of snooty french bartenders for ages . . . but the new St. Germain packaging might just warrant...Visit Outblush for the full post.
Keel's Simple Diary

2 Jul 2009 | 11:15 am

"Dear Diary... today was Wednesday and I went to work." Feeling like your journal could use a little creative energy? Keel's Simple Diary ($15) helps you beat the mundane aspects...Visit Outblush for the full post.
Nic's Sticks by Opi

2 Jul 2009 | 11:09 am

We’re longtime fans of Opi nail polishes already, but they’ve just earned our loyalty for life with the introduction of Nic's Sticks. ($7) The polish is pre-loaded into an applicator...Visit Outblush for the full post.

Splendicity » Accessories
Paul Smith Sunglasses On Sale

Kelli DesRochers

2 Jul 2009 | 3:40 pm

There is a great sale on Paul Smith women’s sunglasses at online discount designer retailer Gilt Groupe. These stylish sunglasses in some of my favorite trends for summer are on sale for up to 70% off! I have been posting a lot about sales on Gilt Groupe lately because I think it’s a really great site, but if you are unfamiliar with it you can check it out with my invitation. The Paul Smith sunglasses featured at Gilt Groupe are on sale until Sunday, July 5 at midnight. I love the colored plastic frames with oversized lenses. Here are my picks from the sale: Image: Gilt…
Celebrate Independence Day with White Bags

Star Stevenson

2 Jul 2009 | 10:13 am

Celebrate Independence Day by treating yourself to a new handbag in the colours of red, white and blue! If you don’t already have a bag in these three colours you’re in luck because for the next three days I’ll be showing you an assortment of bags in the shades of red, white and blue. The fact that these three colours are all primary shades, they’ll go with just about any outfit and occasion depending on the style of bag you choose. Let’s begin with the cool and crisp white handbags! Here are just some of the ones I spotted while browsing the Saks Fifth…
Fringes & Feathers for Fall

Chloe Findlay-Harder

2 Jul 2009 | 9:00 am

It looks like two of the summer’s hottest trends are going to be following us into the fall season. Fringes have been around for a couple of seasons now, but I love Prada’s unique take on them: Their black Nappa leather ankle boot is accented with a short line of studded fringe. I have to admit - I’m not a big fan of fringed shoes that look like you’ve suddenly grown fur, but this short fringe adds a fun detail to these restrained ankle boots. Feathers aren’t as common as fringes, but it’s shown up in a few accessory collections now. Pedro Garcia has…
Fun Hats for Your July Fourth Party

Kelli DesRochers

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

Fourth of July is one of the best holidays to spend outside. Summer is in full swing and it’s the absolute perfect time for barbecues and watching fireworks decorating the night sky. If you are, like most Americans, spending your Independence Day outdoors, then make sure to wear a festive hat that protects your skin and looks fashionable. Here are some of my favorite summer floppy hats that would be perfect for Fourth of July in vibrant red, white, and blue: Image: Anthropologie Anthropologie Swirling Winds Hat $58 This bright red and white striped raffia hat with angled stripes is…
Red & White Fun for Canada Day

Chloe Findlay-Harder

1 Jul 2009 | 10:55 am

Today is Canada Day, when Canadians celebrate our country’s birthday. I thought it would be fun to share some red and white (the colors on the Canadian flag) accessory picks. After all, there are lots of ways to be patriotic - you don’t need to wear a pair of flag shoes image: Zappos Red & white striped bangle bracelet by Betsey Johnson. image: Zappos Patent leather “Naomi” low heel peep-toes by RSVP. image: Etsy Striped cotton tote by Sinem Inugur. image: Etsy “Coco” necklace, made with a red lucite heart and white faceted opalite beads by…

ELLE News Blog
Brighter Skin Challenge, Day 9

ELLE.com

2 Jul 2009 | 12:57 pm

Today's challenge was easy! If there’s one thing I can do, it’s go for the gold. I’m obsessed with metallic, golden shades that enhance my eyes—and I’m all about shimmery, gold-flecked blush. I usually lay off the bronzer, but today I added a touch to my cheeks and around the perimeter of my face. Here’s a pic of the finished look… My camera isn’t the best, but you can get a feel for things, at least. Hopefully the next face-brightening tip is as simple as today’s! Fingers crossed... —Emily Hebert Follow ELLE on Twitter!
Versace Launches Art Unites

ELLE.com

2 Jul 2009 | 12:47 pm

Yesterday, Donatella Versace hosted an afternoon of art-making to celebrate the start of Art Unites, a new program created in collaboration with the Whitney Museum of American Art’s education department. Kids with serious illnesses from the New York chapter of the Starlight Children’s Foundation gathered at the museum to produce colorful interpretations of the idea of friendship; their drawings will subsequently be emblazoned on Versace tote bags, which will be available at Versace boutiques and through ecommerce site Gilt (100 percent of proceeds will go to charity). —Erin…
Roger Vivier Sandals

ELLE.com

2 Jul 2009 | 12:12 pm

Ellyn Chestnut, Accessories Director, in Roger Vivier sandals Photo: Kelly Stuart
Fashion From Far Away

ELLE.com

2 Jul 2009 | 12:03 pm

I love to get decked out. Give me any reason to don a little Lanvin or a piece of Prada, and this girl is in heaven. But there’s another fashionable side to me, one that doesn’t get out so much—the side that pays homage to my South Asian heritage and loves, loves, loves to wear traditional clothes of the Indian subcontinent. Wrap me up in a sari for a black tie affair and call it done. The occasion this time: my younger sister, Saira, was getting married in an over-the-top ceremony in the City, and the weekend affair (short by South Asian standards) called for all sorts of…
ELLE's Office Best

ELLE.com

2 Jul 2009 | 10:20 am

Before I head out to my favorite place to celebrate my favorite holiday, it occurred to me I hadn’t written up one of my “Office Best” features in several weeks. Shame on me! Warmer temperatures and bidding adieu to the second rainiest June in New York City’s history are definitely perking up the spirits (and styles) of the recently September-issue-consumed ELLE staff. Today, we’ve got a mixed bag of Summer sweetness, and as you can see below, a sizable dose of the season’s more aggressive side as well. Have a safe and lovely holiday with your friends and families, and I’ll see…

ConstantChatter
Grilling Ideas for July 4th Weekend

Chatterblog

2 Jul 2009 | 3:13 am

The 4th of July is the country’s most popular grilling day, according to the Barbecue Association, so it’s likely that you’ll either be throwing a barbecue or going to a friend’s barbecue this weekend. If you’re looking for something beyond burgers and hot dogs, consider putting some of these on the grill: Pizza - Trader Joe’s has premade pizza dough for just over $1 a bag. Let everyone assemble their own personal-size pizzas and toss them on the grill. They cook up in just a couple of minutes, and you won’t believe how good the dough tastes when…
Self Tanner Tips and Tricks

Chatterblog

30 Jun 2009 | 3:08 am

Summer is officially here, which means that it’s time to dig out your swimsuit and stock up on sunscreen. Your goal for this summer should be to stay sunburn free — and also suntan free, because sun exposure is sun exposure, and tanning damages your skin just like burning does. So slather on the SPF 50 and save your skin. Not a fan of the healthy pale look? Opt for a self-tanner to fake the bake. Star Stevenson at Spendicity has these tips for getting the perfect faux tan: 1. Gently exfoliate your skin. You want a smooth surface for the tanning agent to adhere to so the…
Finding Love with Cargo’s Plant Love

Chatterblog

23 Jun 2009 | 3:14 am

I recently had the opportunity to try two of Cargo’s Plant Love products; their Plant Love Botanical Lipstick and their Plant Love Loose Mineral Powder. I’m happy to say that I’m loving both. What you might not know is that I seem to have a bit of a lip balm addiction. I can’t seem to go anywhere with at least one lip balm nearby. In fact, when my friend recently went to Switzerland, I didn’t request Swiss chocolate, I requested Swiss lip balms. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken the more adult step and have eased up a bit on my lip balms and…
Giveaway: Gaiam Stress Relief Gift Pack

Chatterblog

19 Jun 2009 | 3:00 am

In our modern, fast-paced lives of technology and consumerism, stress is an increasingly common affliction. Dr. James Rouse, hosts this informative program about relieving stress and its damaging effects, sharing his techniques and tips for alleviating symptoms of stress, including breathing and meditation exercises and a diverse array of recipes. In addition, yoga guru Rodney Yee leads a session of calming poses. CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN GAIAM STRESS RELIEF GIFT PACK
6 Simple Ways To Wear Red Lipstick And Always Look Hot

Chatterblog

16 Jun 2009 | 3:00 am

For The Love of Red Lipstick This is one of the favorite topics of discussion amongst my girlfriends. Finding the right shade of red (my color of choice Rocker by MAC) for my dark skin was a match made in heaven. Wearing the right red lipstick is one of the simplest ways to achieve a high fashion look and why this beauty trend continues to reign supreme. Red Lipstick is classic and timeless. No matter what era there’s always a woman sporting a red pout in pictures. The unfortunate thing about red lipstick is if’s not worn properly it can send out the wrong message. Here’s how to look…

CrazyAuntPurl
Always with the resolutions

2 Jul 2009 | 9:32 am

On New Year's Eve and again on my birthday I make resolutions. One set of resolutions is for the new calendar year and usually involves a list and revisions and sometimes even sub-headings and font changes. The other is for my birthday calendar year which happened last month, and that resolution is usually just one or two things, generally meant toward self-improvement or becoming a marginally nice person. Anyway, my recent birthday resolution was a good one but has been harder to keep than I thought. I resolved that once a day (at least on days when I drive) I will actively allow someone…
Dublin!

30 Jun 2009 | 6:42 pm

Yes, that's the place. I didn't plan on going to Dublin, I actually had a flight booked in January to somewhere else and ended up having to cancel it at the last minute. So when I called the nice lady at the airlines to figure out what I could do with my unused ticket, maybe go somewhere in mid-June, I just left it up to the Gods Of Cheap Destinations. Take me where you will! The lowest priced destination available for that date was Dublin, so that is where the Gods sent me. And it seemed like a good spin of fate, Ireland is a country I've never visited and they speak the same language and I…
Let the madness in the music get to you, life ain't so bad at all if you live it off the wall

26 Jun 2009 | 11:13 am

I do plan on getting around to blathering on and on about vacation but it's a little hard to ignore what's happening in the world, especially when Ventura Boulevard in Encino is a parking lot with Hayvenhurst closed down and people streaming up and down Hollywood Blvd. in sparkly gloves and carrying flowers. I guess I have a selective rememory because when ever I think of Michael Jackson I think only of MJ in his early days. Still to this day "Off the Wall" is in my top ten albums of all time. When I was 12 I got this poster from a record shop in Lafayette, Louisiana and taped it carefully to…
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

25 Jun 2009 | 10:44 am

I've been off gallavanting, this time to a place I've never visited before. I actually got back a few days ago but brought some kind of bug with me, I blame all those hours cooped up on a plane with coughing maniacs. I have completely lost my voice, which people at work are calling "a godsend," a term that apparently means "oh we miss your sweet voice so much." Anyway, I have no voice and no energy and no mascara on, but I do have a picture or three: Tomorrow I'll tell you all about it. Oh, and there was yarn shopping, too!
Do not disturb! The Queen is resting.

18 Jun 2009 | 2:18 pm

Sizzle Says
Diagnosis: Summeritis

Sizzle

2 Jul 2009 | 8:14 am

I think I am suffering from Summeritis. All I want to do is be near the water with a good book, some shade and time. Precious, glorious time. With work deadlines looming, my days are sucked into reports and spreadsheets while on the homefront, I’ve got three tenants vacating and five new tenants moving in. To say I’m busy would be an understatement. Plus, it’s going to be in the 80’s today so I might actually melt while at Zoo Tunes watching Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin(!), Shawn Colvin and Buddy Miller rock the stage tonight. I’m grateful I have tomorrow off so…
Operation Happy: Take Two

Sizzle

1 Jul 2009 | 7:20 am

Meet Etta: (Named after the woman I bought her from, not the pseudo-masturbating-on-stage-legend.) Back story: When I was ten my parents bought me an acoustic guitar and payed for lessons. Unfortunately, I had the discipline of a gnat and didn’t practice enough even though I had natural talent (so said my teacher- I’m not just tooting my own horn). I kept that guitar until I moved here three years ago. For those of you who don’t feel like doing math, that’s 23 years that I kept that guitar. And I never learned more than some Christmas carols and “When the Saints…
Kicking It With My Main Squeeze

Sizzle

30 Jun 2009 | 6:41 am

I had a hot date with Finn Saturday night while his parents went to a show. During the course of the evening the following was said: Running up to sniff a outside garbage can, he puts his face right up to the plastic and smells. “What are you doing?!” I ask suspiciously. His reply? “I’m sniffing. IT SMELLS LIKE WAFFLES!” Uh, whatever you say weirdo. In the bathtub he’s got a gajillion toys floating around him in the water, including tiny bowling pins. It looks like he’s sitting on one so I say, “Careful that you don’t sit on the bowling…
Rude Awakening

Sizzle

29 Jun 2009 | 6:57 am

It seems like I had just fallen asleep when my buzzer rang repeatedly. {BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!} I drag myself out of bed and pick up the intercom line. “Hello?” I say groggy and disoriented. “Hi. This is Ali.* I don’t have my keys, can you let me in?” She says in a bit of a rush. “This is Ali? You don’t really sound like Ali.” I say hesitantly, not trusting myself entirely to remember voices since I was just woken up. “Yes! This is Ali! I am here with Monica at the front door!” She says exasperated. “Then let me talk to Monica.
What It Means To Be A Friend

Sizzle

27 Jun 2009 | 8:25 am

Today calls for celebration. For revelry and big belly laughs and smiles so wide they test the expanse of cheeks. It’s a day for love and sharing and dancing- because this man loves to dance. Because today is Tomato’s birthday. I talk about Tomato a lot on this blog (though he’d probably like it if I talked about him even more- he is afterall the guy who asked me if I talked about him therapy and was disappointed when I hadn’t). We live 954 miles from each other and yet he is a part of my every day. This is what happens when you’ve been best friends for nineteen…

Juicy Dreaming Diva
Just a dream in your heart?

Jennifer t-g

23 Jun 2009 | 2:14 pm

There was a girl who lived inside of a small square room. She had everything she needed, all the time. Food, clothing, water, books, etc. But there was a pretty little window in her room. And every day the girl would stare out the window into a beautiful garden of stunning flowers, ivy, grass and tall trees. It was a square garden that was much larger than her room. She would say, "One day I will enter that garden and smell those roses and the lilies and feel the green grass in my toes...." Every day, her heart longed to live outside of…
Life Lesson - if you love him, give him a kiss goodbye

Jennifer t-g

7 May 2009 | 1:35 pm

Nearly 5 years ago now a phone call brought my family to their knees. My childhood friend from so many years that he seemed more like family than friend - had been killed instantly in a motorcycle accident. Perhaps you might think that this was the life lesson - that life is precious and that life is valuable. But no. While that is completely true, something else rings in my ears as a reminder - today it struck me again.It was after the funeral, we sat together with the family and friends gathered. Through the grief and elements that help people to move on, we were told…
Don't you DARE give up on the Dreams...

Jennifer t-g

15 Apr 2009 | 11:52 am

I have been a big dreamer for years now. My inspirations have come from small and large places. I have hoped that somewhere there would be a moment when I could say I am doing something with my bigger dreams. Doing exactly what I am meant to be doing, what God designed for Jenn. I have dreamed that my life would be, could be...simply should be more than a tiny speck on this earth. As time marches forward...I sometimes find myself wondering if the biggest of my personal dreams will come true. Will I truly do all that I am meant to do or will I somehow be swallowed up by…
What would they hear, if they tapped into your heartbeat?

Jennifer t-g

20 Mar 2009 | 8:25 am

If someone could listen to your heart, what would they hear? (Feeling grateful!)
With childhood memories comes a certain sweetness...

Jennifer t-g

9 Mar 2009 | 7:25 am

You can't really duplicate it today...well perhaps they could but it would require a bunch of artists with a great deal of patience...the way they used to create the magic of cartoons...where everything has such fluid, individual movement. I doubt it will ever come around again.I miss that. Simplicity. Diligence on one project...like this: My sister sent this scrumptious little cartoon to me and I found myself parked in front of YouTube.com for the next hour with my sons. Me, remembering how great it was to see these sweet innocent flicks. My boys, learning to love the…

MGH Center for Women's Mental Health
What Would You Do? A Pregnant Women on Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

mghcwmh

29 Jun 2009 | 10:25 am

Ms. A is a 27-year-old woman who is seven weeks pregnant and is currently taking duloxetine (Cymbalta). She has a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) and has had a good response to duloxetine at 60 mg per day. She has had four previous episodes of major depressive disorder (most untreated) and has been [...]
Do SSRIs Increase the Risk of Preeclampsia?

mghcwmh

22 Jun 2009 | 9:03 am

Hypertension in pregnancy is generally defined as a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater or a systolic pressure at or above 140 mm Hg. Preeclampsia is defined as the development of hypertension with proteinuria or edema induced by pregnancy, generally in the second half of gestation. It is more common in women [...]
OCD in Pregnant and Postpartum Women

mghcwmh

18 Jun 2009 | 6:44 am

The lifetime prevalence rate of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been consistently estimated to be 2%-3% in the general adult population throughout the world, making OCD one of more common psychiatric diagnoses; however research on OCD in pregnancy and peurperium has been limited. Although most studies have not been designed to estimate the prevalence of pregnancy-related OCD [...]
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines for Menopausal Hot Flashes

mghcwmh

29 May 2009 | 7:49 am

Approximately seventy percent of all women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats (also called vasomotor symptoms) during the menopause transition (Stearns et al. 2002). Until recently, estrogen therapy was the treatment of choice for most women who sought treatment for hot flashes. Since the results of the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002 noted risks of [...]
Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Increase the Risk of Smoking Relapse

mghcwmh

19 May 2009 | 7:34 am

While many women who smoke successfully quit smoking during pregnancy, most of these women return to smoking within 12 months of delivery. Several studies have suggested that certain factors may increase the risk of postpartum relapse, including unwanted pregnancy, multiparity, and stressful life events. Two recent studies indicate that postpartum depressive symptoms may also increase [...]

Confessional Highway
With My Dad

deezee

25 Jun 2009 | 9:47 pm

When I see the news blurb that Hugh Hefner is selling one of his mansions, I feel a rush of panic. I’m not concerned about the health of Playboy, an empire about which I have mixed feelings. My concern is personal. As an LA native, through the years I’ve seen my past erased, sometimes slowly, sometimes with the abruptness of thievery in the night. And now I fear that the Playboy mansion, the majestic estate in Holmby Hills, is up for sale.In third grade I was extremely popular with the boys, presumably due to my tomboy demeanor, how I slid into the boys’ games at recess like I was one…
Puff

deezee

29 May 2009 | 9:42 am

I’ve never been a smoker, but I’ve never been a vicious anti-smoker either. Well, except for that time my mom lit up in a doctor’s office waiting room when I was a precocious child. Despite my requests, she wouldn’t put the thing out, not even when I feigned a coughing fit. I asked the receptionist for a piece of paper, pencil, and tape, and made my own ‘No Smoking’ sign that I posted on the wall. That sufficiently embarrassed my mom into snubbing out her cigarette.That moment aside, I’ve always been laissez faire about smoking. I’ve traveled Europe and sat in smoke-filled…
Black Thumb

deezee

23 May 2009 | 11:11 am

I don’t know how it happened, but walking towards my bedroom door, I tip my head to the right, and there it is, my plant in bloom. For many, this is an annual occurrence, the resurgence of blossoms that definitively demonstrate life’s cycles.The typical cycle in our household begins when I impulsively and optimistically buy a cute little plant, usually something on display at Trader Joe’s, imagining it the center of attention on the island between the kitchen and living room, or perhaps on my nightstand greeting me as I start my day. During the next phase, I kill said plant either with…
Venice, CA... my hood

deezee

4 May 2009 | 10:01 am
:: taken too soon ::

deezee

21 Apr 2009 | 3:22 pm

It’s the image that always comes to me when I think of my relationship with my brother, the royal blue and white striped peashooter he gave me for my fourth birthday. It must have been his idea at age eleven. I don’t think my parents would have suggested arming a four-year-old.He may not have thought it through, the fact that once armed I would request ammunition – unpopped popcorn kernels – and permission to follow him outside with his gang of friends. They’d shoot slyly at the moving cars that passed our house, raising peashooters to mouth at just the right moment, puff out their…

flutter
Dreamless

flutter

30 Jun 2009 | 9:50 pm

It used to be that I would dream of him, carving his “s” shaped terror into me with a dirty knife. His sweat falling onto my face like rain from an angry cloud, even on that cold December day. I would awaken cold and clammy and heaving with the fresh recollection of the death of my spirit. As years passed, so did the focus of this dream. From crisp bruises and blood, to the aftermath. I kneel, my green dress folded carefully over the door of a bathroom stall. Shivering, with caked blood under my fingernails. My hair is piled into a tormented bun at the back of my head. My own…
The Luxury of Safety

flutter

24 Jun 2009 | 8:57 pm

Hot water isn’t difficult to come by here. It springs from our pipes without the slightest provocation and scalds in seconds. But it is there and handy and clean. I could drink it, if I needed to. I bathe in it daily and let it scrape the sweat and the salt and the grime of my work from my body. My body, with the rounded curves of my luxury. I pour a powdered soap into my washing machine, turning on this scalding water to froth up cleansing bubbles as I shove sheets into the mouth. One set after another as I do, 5 days every week. Wash and dry, fold and pack, unpack and use, repack and…
The sound of no silence

flutter

20 Jun 2009 | 1:22 pm

No matter what the temperature in this baked land, the whirring of a fan can be heard. If you are near me, the light licks of mechanical breeze will fan across your face. With it, carried a scent. Maybe of figs or citrus, maybe of my body heating up the subtle perfume I wear from time to time. But these fans, while making me feel less claustrophobic, serve a greater, less obvious purpose. Noise. I am an addict of noise, in its most egregious and subtle forms. I do not enjoy all of it, but I cushion myself in the staticky cocoon of the vibrations against my eardrums. At night, the silent skies…
No. Effing. Whey.

flutter

13 Jun 2009 | 12:13 am

Day one, the great whey experiment. Whey protein with soymilk in my passenger side seat? 1. flutter? 0. *sigh* Although, if I am telling the truth, this particular brand of whey tastes like shit. Scratch that, it tastes like the shit that shit eats to taste more like shit. In other words, it’s yucky. So, the fact that it flipped out of my hand and into the passenger seat when some douchebagalamadingdong cut me off on the freeway? Not such a huge loss. Except. There is always an exception. It now smells as though hell has belched in my car. This stuff, which tasted like shit? Now smells…
9 Jun 2009 | 3:46 pm

flutter

9 Jun 2009 | 3:46 pm

We have a socially acceptable bias against fat people. People with weight problems are made fun of, reviled, rejected and thought less of across the board. In movies, on television, in our media we are bombarded with the stereotype that women with weight problems curl up and eat french fries and ice cream from a bucket and men with weight problems are the funny guys who play side kick to their more attractive friends. The assumption is that weight carries with it, pound for pound an inverse relationship to worth. The more you weigh, the less you are worth, as a person. The larger you get, the…

iVillage Diet & Fitness
5 Ways to Master Your Emotions

Get the top five ways to tweak your emotions and feel great.
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
At the mall with Natalia

2 Jul 2009 | 4:06 pm

I was at the mall on Thursday with Natalia and she brought her four year old son J, we hung out in the kids play area and chatted while he had fun.Nat to J: stop growling at the little kids, they don't know you're playingNat to Me: I worry that other little kids won't know he's not being mean, he just growls because he's pretending to be an animalMe to Nat: I know what you mean, Max (my dog) growls at people sometimes and its not a mean growl, sometimes when he's happy he makes a growling noiselater....Nat to J: stop walking in front of Diana, she isn't used to having someone walk in front of…
Its getting hot in here

1 Jul 2009 | 8:04 am

Our air conditioner isn't working. Its blowing air but its not COLD air. We just had it repaired at the end of May and a new one would cost about $4000 that we just don't have right now. They will be here some time this afternoon so please send good thoughts for an inexpensive bill. It was a rough night last night, we were quite hot and the dogs were so hot they kept crying to be let out of their crates to get a drink. Ken actually got up at 2am and got a cool shower. Its another very raining morning here, we didn't get to go for a walk but the the guppers don't seem disappointed. I really…
Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 26, 2009

29 Jun 2009 | 4:41 pm

Week 26, half way through the year, how has the first half been? Are you ready to push for a good finish? We have Canada Day this week and Independence Day in the States, lots of parties and BBQ's and temptation. I plan on staying close to the grilled chicken, veggie tray and fruit salad. How about you? What are your plans for this weekend and the rest of the year?WELCOMEThe Sunny Side of Lifehttp://sunnygee.blogspot.com/If you'd like to join the HYC please read about it HERE and then email me at healthyyouchallenge at gmail dot com with your blog name and blog URL.For the rest of us, lets…
Good guard dogs

26 Jun 2009 | 12:15 pm

It was raining quite hard and the thunder was shaking the windows, lightning was flashing all around the house. Then came this crashing BOOOOOM that shook the whole house and with that booooom the power went out for what would be five long hours.I wasn't home alone, my guard dogs Sadie and Max were here to protect me. When they heard the BOOOOM they immediately ran to the back patio door to investigate. There were pawing at the door demanding to go out and protect me and protect their yard. It was raining so hard I could barely see the neighbors house just 20 feet away, the wind had…
The things I do for handbags

24 Jun 2009 | 5:14 am

Handbags have always been a favorite splurge item of mine. I think a lot of overweight women compensate in the area of shoes or handbags when it comes to shopping because they its easier to find something stylish that works for you, not always the case when it comes to clothes. I wasn't looking for an expensive handbag, in fact I had set a strict budget and I promised myself (and Ken) that I wouldn't exceed that amount. After all we're still trying to get back on our feet financially and a high priced designer handbag was out of the question. I had a minimum standard I was looking for. It…

BettyConfidential.com
Your Horoscope: Friday, July 3, 2009

2 Jul 2009 | 3:45 pm
Betty on The News: Brad Pitt, David Carradine, Michael Jackson, and more ...

2 Jul 2009 | 3:45 pm
Are You Really Hungry?

2 Jul 2009 | 3:45 pm
The Birth of a Patriot

2 Jul 2009 | 3:45 pm
Result: Have You Found YOUR G-Spot?

2 Jul 2009 | 3:45 pm

Twenty Four At Heart
Random Shit

Twenty Four At Heart

2 Jul 2009 | 12:05 am

I guess everyone is on vacation. My readership numbers are really high this week (thank you for visiting!) but comments are low. Of course, I haven't been writing real exciting comment worthy stuff. Nonetheless, I'm expecting low readership for the next few days due to the 4th of July holiday. In honor of no one reading, I'm just going to throw some randomness out into the blogosphere today. First up ... Twitter. If you've followed me on twitter, please don't be shy. Make conversation, send me an @ message so I know you're there. It's hard…
Famous Plastic Surgeons Can Be So Sensitive

Twenty Four At Heart

1 Jul 2009 | 12:05 am

I was counting down the days and finally, yesterday, I had my three week check up with the plastic surgeon who did my breast reduction. The "recovery" is supposed to be six weeks but a whole lot of things get better at the three week point. I was anxious for my appointment all day, and typically, it fell at the very end of the day.I might have been annoying at my appointment.I didn't mean to be but I couldn't seem to help myself. I realized later, I have trouble trusting doctors. I don't know why. It might have something to do with the fact that it took…
This One's For The Chicks

Twenty Four At Heart

30 Jun 2009 | 12:05 am

I apologize in advance to my male readers. If you read this today, I'm sure it will bore you to tears. I've got some girly things on my mind. I'm not very girly, so I need to get the girliness out of my system while it's there.I went shopping yesterday. [Pausing while my male readers make a quick exit.]While I was laid up, I had become bored and ordered a couple things online from Nordstrom. I ordered some Haviana flip flops for $12 and I ordered a couple new bras to try with my now smaller boobs. Well, of course, nothing fit when it arrived. I knew that…
Curing My Withdrawals

Twenty Four At Heart

29 Jun 2009 | 12:05 am

Today makes three weeks since my surgery. Three weeks without much activity. Three weeks of being pretty bored if I'm honest.Last weekend was hot. Very hot. On Saturday I was booked solid with activities I probably shouldn't have been participating in. On Sunday I was overwhelmed with chores. I'm supposed to be resting, but I'm so over resting. It was 95F/35C in our backyard Sunday afternoon. I'm not allowed to swim yet. I'm not even allowed to go for walks yet. I couldn't stand it.At 4:00 in the afternoon I drove down to the beach. I…
Money Town Bitch

Twenty Four At Heart

26 Jun 2009 | 12:05 am

We have some good friends who moved to Money Town recently. They're very nice people and we've known them for over fifteen years. Their youngest son is also a good friend of PR's. Yesterday PR was invited to come over after football and spend the day. I agreed to drop him off.I drove through the gates of Money Town and noticed nothing has changed there in the last few weeks. Nothing ever really does change in Money Town. I drove to our friend's house and walked up with PR to say hello. PR ran off the minute he was reunited with his buddy. I chatted with my…

Latest entries from leahj.blog-city.com
Learning to be a Sephardic Mother

Leah Jones

29 Jun 2009 | 3:11 am

Step One: Drop your luggage and hit the shuk at 1PM on a Friday afternoon. Then ditch shopping for a nice lunch, while someone else does your shopping* for you. At the end of lunch, pick up the last few items on the list and head to the kitchen you've borrowed to cook a shabbat meal.Step Two: Stare at all of the bags of fresh produce and cheeses. Wonder how you'll ever manage to cook lasagne, a soy stir fry, salads, dessert and the mysterious Matbuchah. Step Three: Wash you hands for the first of 100 times.Step Four: Turn all of the burners on the gas stove on. All of them. No…
Hotel Galileo, Tel Aviv

Leah Jones

26 Jun 2009 | 1:07 am

The morning I was leaving for Israel, I gave myself one more hour to make a decision about where to stay my first few days in Israel. Like I said in my previous post, I've finally accepted that I should stay in a hotel those first few days while I battle jet lag and adjust to Tel Aviv heat. As someone who usually stays in big-chain hotels and never looks at TripAdvisor, I got completely overwhelmed by the reviews of hotels and hostels in Tel Aviv. I thought about staying in Hayarkon 48 again, where I stayed in 2007, but couldn't stomach the thought of paying $80/night for a hostel.
Three times is a trend

Leah Jones

24 Jun 2009 | 8:38 am

Two summers ago, I got to Tel Aviv, checked into my hostel on Hayarkon, had dinner and went to bed. I spent the next day sleeping fitfully and walking around Tel Aviv. I wasn't much for company or chatting, just focused on sleeping and the heat.Last summer, even though I was staying with people, I spent my first day in Israel sleeping and getting used to the heat. Terrible company to the people I'd just met in person, but excellent company to my pillow.This year, I've accepted that how I deal with jet lag and Tel Aviv heat is by sleeping. Instead of accepting the hospitality of…
Jet Lag before the Jet Lag

Leah Jones

21 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pm

I don't know how to explain it, but I think I got jet lag before I've even left for Israel. If you haven't kept up, in the last 3 weeks I've been out of state every week. A trip to Austin, a trip to Dallas, a trip to New York. I'm finishing up my last day at home before heading to Israel for three weeks. Lucky for me (and Spidey) my good friend Billy is house-sitting for me this year.Each trip was great, but it left me exhausted. After Thursday night's launch party and showcase of Natiiv bands, I went to sleep and slept until 4PM the next day. Granted, there were some…
Yay! Natiiv Arts & Media has a home!

Leah Jones

2 Jun 2009 | 11:03 am

Run, don't walk, over to the new online home of Natiiv Arts & Media. Built by Idan Gazit of Pixane design, I'm completely in love with my site. I would marry it if I could. He built the site using Django, which will mean something to the programmers out there, and we're using markdown on the blog instead of a WYSIWYG editor. Not only is Idan a great designer and programmer, but he is also a sound business consultant. He really helped me think through ways of how Natiiv will function as a company. He's based in Tel Aviv, but that didn't hinder our trans-atlantic…

moosh in indy.
change my hair, change the whoorld.

Casey

2 Jul 2009 | 1:40 pm

Last year just before BlogHer I had my hairs done. Not only was it the best hair did session I had ever had, I had also finally found someone. Someone who I could just sit down in her chair and say “FIX THIS” and she did. Perfectly. The stylist ended up breaking her shoulder about a week after she did my hair. I was one of her last clients. (Try not feeling really guilty about that. She’s the one that breaks her shoulder and I’m the one that’s boo hooing because she won’t ever be able to do my hair again.) One of the most shocking things about this haircut…
corny life skill number one.

Casey

29 Jun 2009 | 9:06 pm

***this is the post that is going to be known as corngate ‘09. this post is for THOSE people. who burn boiling water. who have to call their sisters to find out how to make canned tomato soup. who think frozen waffles are fine dining. true corn lovers know that grilling is the best way to cook corn. But I feel this post is needed, because THOSE people? Should never know corn can be cooked by an open flame. I’m only trying to save the innocent ears.**** It has come to my attention Internets (serious eyes) that the Fourth of July is coming up and a lot of you don’t know how to…
Oldfields-Lilly Gardens Indianapolis, Indiana

Casey

27 Jun 2009 | 8:08 am

My mom has traveled the world with her camera and said that the Oldfields-Lilly Gardens just outside downtown Indianapolis was one of the most beautiful places she had ever (EVER!) been. The rain stopped just long enough last week for us to take pictures before I had to throw her back on a plane back to New Mexico. (Seriously, pouring rain until we pulled up, pouring rain as soon as we got back in the car.) 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…
so! what’s next?

Casey

25 Jun 2009 | 8:11 pm

HI HI HI! So it’s been about two and a half days since my innards were spelunked and I currently feel as though there is a very full puce colored balloon in my tummy that just has to be full of very nasty noxious gut gas. Got a visual on that? Good. Just imagine the worst gas of your life but not being able to get it out the front or the back. (Which reminds me. What did the stomach say to the burp? Give up? “I’ll let you out the back if you go quietly.” HA!) So far the shoulder pain that a lot of you warned me about hasn’t been much of a bother. Of course from…
to all eht blogs i’ve loooved….

Casey

24 Jun 2009 | 3:42 am

hi hi hi! I MAAADE IT! my ugerus was in saaaad sorry shape but is almost all bethter now. neeesdels to say the goood drugcs have not left my ssystem and with binking being exhausign and lifing my head to find backspace nect to impossible typing is kind of abug fat joke. But i had to say THAANNNK YOUUU to everyone for makeing me giggle and weke[[p dammit weep wih all of your supprot on teh twiters. i hurt pretty bad. no sense in lying aboruht that. my anetsheisioloigrst was Hot. i wauss supposed to have some spry redhead lady with freckles and instelad i got dashingdocntor mcdashypants. he had…

Blogger For Hire
Truth In Advertising

MomGrind

28 Jun 2009 | 7:00 pm

The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 established truth in advertising law. It says that advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive, and advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims. An ad is considered deceptive if it contains a statement, or omits information, that is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances. Obviously, there are many gray areas when it comes to truth in advertising. The following ads, from as early as the 1920s and from as late as the 1970s, demonstrate it well: 1. Pepsi Cola is wholesome and light Image credit: Miss…
Friday Links

MomGrind

26 Jun 2009 | 1:00 am

Photo credit: Hamed saber Ten of the blog posts I enjoyed this week. What is a Browser? - Kim Woodbridge wonders if people are less tech-savvy than she realizes. These Are The Good Old Days - Life coach Tim Brownson suggests that we ask ourselves a few important questions, such as “what’s really important to you? If you could do anything at all today and presuming it’s actually possible, what would it be? What stops you doing that anyway?” Your 24 Possible Personal Strengths - Daphne of Joyful Days outlines an excellent framework for identifying personal strengths. Self…
Activities For Kids

MomGrind

21 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pm

Activities for kids are essential in helping us parents stay sane during the long summer break. After all, it’s summer break for the kids, but not for us. I work from home, so for the next couple of weeks, until the kids go to summer camp, I will have to find a way to keep them busy at least a few hours each day while I work. I do plan on getting out of the house and doing something fun every day, and I will definitely allow more screen time than usual, but I do want my kids to keep themselves busy for a few hours each day doing something creative. I created this list of activities for…
Friday Links

MomGrind

19 Jun 2009 | 1:00 am

Photo credit: I Shutter Ten of the blog posts I enjoyed this week. The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease - Barbara of Blogging Without A Blog tackles the issue of a temporary, or a permanent drop in blog traffic and readership. The Zen of New Ideas - Sean Platt of Collective Inkwell discusses the value of keeping a journal or writing daily pages. What is Marriage? - Patricia of Patricia’s Wisdom tries to figure out what the institution of marriage is all about. How To Win a Race in Last Place - Alex Fayle of Someday Syndrome, in a guest post for Marc and Angel Hack Life, gives a new…
Cupcake Recipe

MomGrind

14 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

We use this cupcake recipe every time the kids’ school announces a bake sale. The recipe is super easy, the cupcakes are fun to decorate, and they are always sold out within minutes. Ingredients: 1.5 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup sugar 0.5 cup (1 stick) butter, softened but not melted 3 eggs, lightly beaten 0.5 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons whole milk 1 tablespoon high quality vanilla or coconut extract For frosting: 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature 1.5 cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon high quality vanilla or coconut extract For decorating:…

Contented Me
tgif + happy fourth of july!

2 Jul 2009 | 6:57 am

Yay! A long weekend! Fireworks! BBQ's! Ice cream treats!I'm signing off a little early this week, so...Have a good weekend, and see you next week!xo, KristinAs We Do giclee print by Leah Giberson)Leah's super cool shop is here.
spotlight: berta's photography

1 Jul 2009 | 6:45 am

wow. i'm swooning over here.check out her photography. Fragile One for Eve & One for SnowWhite A New Beginning DreamplaceVia Mary Ruffle. thank you thank you thank you, mary!
i want it now: mexican bedspreads

30 Jun 2009 | 6:35 am

It must be summer... because I am loving the brilliant colors and lively patterns on these hand-embroidered coverlets.At no other time of year do I gravitate toward these kinds of colors as I do when warm, sunny weather finally arrives. Mexican Bedspreads from l'aviva)
design inspiraton: a bathroom that's pretty in pink

29 Jun 2009 | 6:14 am

I've been keeping a design ideas binder for years. Any time I see a photo in a magazine or online that catches my eye, I rip it out and add it to the binder that's organized by room and then specific ideas: colors, furniture, table settings, etc.Well, the other day, I had the urge to page through it to see how my tastes have changed (not too much!). Here is a page I tore from an old Martha Stewart mag that I wanted to show you today because every time I see it, I just find myself swooning over it. I hope you like it, too! There are so many special touches here, but what I'm really loving is…
tgif

26 Jun 2009 | 6:32 am

The weekend is here!I do hope you find a little time to do something just for you.See you next week!xo, Kristin Bathtub by Jane Heller)

Lipstick Lifestyle
The Top 5 Most Pet Friendly Hotels in Miami

Ellen Mirza

26 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

Vacations are meant to be a time to relax, but for pet lovers everywhere, finding a place to leave your four-legged friend can add a touch of unwanted stress to your travels. For those traveling to Miami, Oyster Hotel Reviews has compiled a list of the top five pet friendly resorts that go above and beyond to ensure 100 percent pet satisfaction. Amenities include pampering services, pet beds, and which hotels have off-limit areas and/or additional fees. 1. EPIC HOTEL (Downtown) The Epic is a pro at pampering - doggie mats, bowls, placemats, and Yip-Yap breath-mints come standard in the rooms…
Father’s Day Gift Suggestions

Ellen Mirza

19 Jun 2009 | 4:05 am

June 21st is fast approaching, and the hunt for the perfect Father’s Day gift is on. Dads do so much; it’s only fair to return the favour with something special. Check out our gift ideas for inspiration. http://lipsticklifestyle.com/2009-fathers-day-gift-guide/
Divine Deals

Ellen Mirza

19 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

Here are some divine deals worth taking advantage of.
Switch Up

Stephanie OBorn

19 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

Flip-flops are a summer staple and we all have a few pairs in the closet, but none are as versatile as Switchflops. These customizable sandals allow you to pick from one of three different soles and change the look with over 70 colourful straps. It is really easy to match your shoes with your outfit or your mood. High style doesn’t necessarily mean high maintenance. What we love about these cute slip-ons is that to wash them all you have to do is remove the straps and pop them in the laundry machine. Let them air dry on their own, and reattach the straps. It doesn’t get any easier than…
Up and Away

Stephanie OBorn

12 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

Make any flight more comfortable with the Undercover Traveler by MY Tagalongs. This plush set includes a blanket with a pocket for your iPod or glasses, an inflatable pillow that slips into the pouch, which doubles as a pillowcase, comfy socks and an eye mask that comes equipped with Velcro signs that say “DO NOT DISTURB” and “I WAKE FOR FOOD.” We took the kit on a 13-hour test drive – to Tokyo – and never want to travel without it again. The eye mask helped us get some much sought after shut eye and the blanket kept us warm when the temperature outside of the plane reached -70…

Viva la Feminista
Viva Las Vegas!

29 Jun 2009 | 7:39 pm

I'm off to Las Vegas with Senor Feminista to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary!I'll leave you with my usual list of what I've written elsewhere:Awearness blog:And Tango goes to the Pride ParadeFrom Pin-up to Role Model? How Will We Remember Michael Jackson? What is Justice? What does the future hold for feminism?Why Letterman and Palin Owe Us All an ApologyAre Women's Clubs Discriminatory?Obama Will Support Marriage Equality Once Congress Gets Around to ItBetsy Ross Behind BarsBitch blog:Featured Mom Blog: This Woman's WorkAnd Tango goes to the Pride ParadeBelated Father's Day postFamily…
Ack!

26 Jun 2009 | 9:03 am

I have no idea why my template keeps messing up everyone. I'm going to try to find a new template for this baby because well, it's pissing me off. I changed the font so you can read it, but if the template bug fixes itself, you won't be able to read it again. ack!!And if you are a blog designer...leave a comment. I may need to speak to you soon.Thanks for reading folks!
EVENT: Children and Suicide

26 Jun 2009 | 8:53 am

I can't make this event, but if you, please report back! Can't wait to see the film. You should also note that Kevin Roy of ABC7 is hosting this event. He won an Emmy a few years ago for a segment on his own trial with the suicide of his mother. Should be a great event.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*HBO and the American Foundation for Suicide PreventionHost Chicago Premiere of the HBO Documentary Film“BOY INTERRUPTED” on June 26Filmmaker Dana Perry will attend and participate in Panel DiscussionWhat: In the wake of recent suicide deaths involving children and teens in Cook County, HBO and the…
Girls just wanna have a nap!

24 Jun 2009 | 9:16 pm

I'm not one for all the LOLCats stuff, but me thinks I need one to describe today. Whooooweee!The day started off by being named one of the top Latina/os to know in Chicago. Quite an honor, especially since I get to share it with the husband.Then I had an op-ed published at NPR.com on Sonia Sotomayor's decision to quit a women's group:As a vocal feminist, my opinions are often antagonistically questioned at parties and backyard barbecues. What is it about wanting to support women and women's rights that makes others, especially men, so uncomfortable? I find myself asking this same question in…
The day after...

22 Jun 2009 | 3:52 pm

Thanks to everyone who has linked here about the NOW conference, even those of you who I don't agree with. I think it is a healthy thing to have a debate over issues.I do want to make one thing very clear - I do not think that Terry O'Neill is a Palin supporter. I have no idea. There have been comments flying in the blogosphere and Twitter that the Palin people were a rumor. I took pics of at least one of them. One of the women I took a pic of has a blog that has ripped Kim Gandy for having NOW support Barack Obama.Now some might say, "Hey we're Clinton supporters!" But if you truly supported…

WIMN's Voices: A Group Blog on Women, Media, AND…
Help Independent Media on Independence Day!!!

lflanders

2 Jul 2009 | 4:26 pm

GRITtv has until Midnight, Sunday, July 5, to raise $5,000! Help Independent Media this Independence Day!
What Would Buffy Do? Notes on Dusting Edward Cullen

GuestBlogger

1 Jul 2009 | 10:04 pm

By Guest Blogger Jonathan McIntosh I usually try to stay away from the forces of darkness, but last week I killed a famous vampire – and let me tell you, it was fun! Actually, I didn’t stake him myself — I used new media tools to allow one of the strongest female television characters of [...]
Why Women in Media Matter to the Future of Progressive Leadership

GuestBlogger

18 Jun 2009 | 12:02 pm

By Guest Blogger Jennifer Nedeau Chief Technology Officer, New Leaders Council It is with much gratitude that I am able to honor Jennifer L. Pozner, Executive Director of Women in Media & News (and editor of WIMN’s Voices) with a “40 Under 40” Award from New Leaders Council. The “40 Under 40” Awards were created to [...]
Studios Won’t Cast Women as Leads Because “Women Don’t Go to Movies”

GuestBlogger

9 Jun 2009 | 12:56 pm

By Guest Blogger Nia Vardalos A little-known fact: some studios recently decided to no longer make female-lead movies. Lately, I’ve been in meetings regarding a new script idea I have. A studio executive asked me to change the female lead to a male, because… “women don’t go to movies.” Really? When I pointed out the box office successes of [...]
Jackasses on Sotomayor

lflanders

4 Jun 2009 | 6:58 am

OK, let’s get this right: Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is making the rounds of the Capitol this week and some jackasses are still saying she has to explain her “wise Latina” comment? In a 2001 speech Sotomayor said, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often [...]

Parent Talk Today
Enjoy the 4th — But Keep it Safe

Kathy Sena

2 Jul 2009 | 4:31 pm

It’s impossible to picture July 4 in America without fireworks. But they can be dangerous, causing serious burns and eye injuries. Of course, it’s always best to attend a community celebration where fireworks are handled by the pros. But if fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:° Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.° Read and follow all warnings and instructions.° Be sure other people are out of range before lighting…
Sexy Avatars Can Lead to Trouble for Teen Girls

Kathy Sena

1 Jul 2009 | 8:31 am

Heads up, parents of teen girls. A new study shows that girls who would depict themselves online in a provocative way, and girls with a history of child abuse, are more likely to receive online sexual advances — and then meet those individuals offline. Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center studied girls between ages 14 and 17. Each was asked to create an avatar — an electronic image to represent herself — and to then complete a questionnaire regarding her computer and Internet usage, sexual attitudes and other factors. Forty percent of the 173 girls in the study…
Once a Mom, Always a Mom

Kathy Sena

30 Jun 2009 | 12:19 pm

As parents, we're used to saying to our kids something along the lines of "Buckle your seat belt, honey. If it isn't buckled, we're not going anywhere." Right? I've said it to my son, and to his friends, countless times.Well, I guess that line is pretty ingrained in my head. My husband and I were car shopping on Saturday and we decided to take a test drive. I was driving and Randy took the passenger seat. The salesperson — a guy in his late twenties, I'm guessing — got in the back seat. I started the car and automatically turned around to make sure the back-seat occupant was buckled up…
Does Your Child Have Diabetes? Here's Help

Kathy Sena

29 Jun 2009 | 1:47 pm

If your child has been diagnosed with diabetes, you know that it affects the entire family in many ways. How do you deal with the range of emotions that arise when it becomes a consideration in everyday events, such as finding a babysitter and educating him or her about your child's diabetes? Taking a family vacation? Helping your child gain more independence as she heads off to summer camp? The American Diabetes Association has compiled an easy-to-use resource to help families live with these unique challenges. “Everyday Wisdom” provides helpful ideas for families of children with…
"Mommy, I Have to Go Potty!"

Kathy Sena

28 Jun 2009 | 8:22 pm

We've all been there.Sometimes you're out and about with your child in a public place and he or she has to go to the bathroom NOW. If you have a PDA with a Web connection, visit SitorSquat.com. Just enter an address, ZIP code, city or even just an intersection in the search bar. When I visited the site, it boasted more than 59,000 rest rooms in their easy-to-use database. Check it out. We parents on the go need all the help we can get!

Tales of Wit and Charm...
Reason # 345,234,938 Why I love my Mother

Sarah

2 Jul 2009 | 2:22 pm

“Sarah, are you coming down here for the 4th of July?” “I will try, but I’m super stressed out and can’t think straight so I may end up in the wrong small town.” “Bring your brother. Between the two of you perhaps you can make one functioning person.” Related posts:A Phone Conversation with My MotherAnother Time I feel like my Mothergot sundance? ticket giveaway!!Comments (0) ©Sarah Nielson—Tales of Wit and Charm All Rights Reserved...Or Else
That’s What She Said… About 1997

Sarah

1 Jul 2009 | 8:00 am

Read this week’s “That’s What She Said.” I want to hear what you would get rid of from your time with 1997. There must be someone out there with a worse 90s tattoo than I have. Right? If there’s a God let one of my readers have a Taz or Tweety Bird tattoo. Do they have RSS feeds in heaven? GOD ARE YOU THERE IT’S ME SARAH! If you’re there and reading I’m asking for a miracle. A tattoo miracle. Let me wake up tomorrow and be ink free. Please? Related posts:Barbie Knows BestBroken Scooter, Broken HeartCast of Characters in the Show of my…
When Personality Gets in the Way of Life

Sarah

30 Jun 2009 | 10:27 am

I think I might be an emotional loner. I like people well enough and I enjoy spending time with my friends, but I have the hardest time letting new people in. This does not bode well for any new relationships. When someone tries to get close to me I’m extra abrasive, overly critical and sarcastic. There’s only so far pretty hair can get you in a relationship. I wouldn’t date me. I wouldn’t encourage my male friends or brothers to date anyone remotely like me. So what makes me think I will find someone who WANTS to date me? Heavy stuff for a Tuesday morning, I know. If you want some…

No Cleaning Here
Resveratrol: Just the Beginning

29 Jun 2009 | 4:36 am

I found out about a new drug last week from an advertisement in my spam folder. At first I thought it must be too good to be true - Really??! A pill that I can take to get the same antioxidant benefits as a glass of red wine!?! But sure enough, I looked it up on Wikipedia and found that the ingredients in Reservatrol are found in the skin of red grapes and are also a constituent of red wine. How lucky that I no longer have to drink red wine to get its benefits! It got me to thinking there must be similar drugs out there. I did a little research, and here's what I found:Humulus Lupulus: One of…
Neighborhood Watch: Sunless Tanning

26 Jun 2009 | 4:36 am

I hate to report this next neighborhood infraction, but I would be doing my immediate community a disservice if I did not. This particular neighbor was planning to run one of her silly little races - she don't look like no runner I'VE ever seen, so I think she must either run only every 5th step, or have that hot husband of hers* drive her just short of the finish line, and she runs the remaining 100 feet. But, whatever.As she was leaving for the race, I caught sight of her legs below her XL running shorts. She has very fair skin - but to be honest, we all do. The sun only shines on our bare…
Undercover: Amish

23 Jun 2009 | 7:37 pm

It was after dark Sabbath night when I landed on the front porch of a "distant cousin" in southern Wisconsin's Amish community. I introduced myself as Mrs. Annie Yoder, the young, childless, grieving widow of the late Joshua Yoder, from Lancaster, PA.I was trustingly shown to a plain bedroom on the second floor. The walls were white-washed, and a beautiful double wedding ring quilt lay quaintly on the bed. The floors were bare wood, except for a small braided rug that lay nearby. I was tired from my journey, so fell quickly asleep; my last thought being "Ever hear of air-conditioning?"4:45 am…
Neighborhood Watch

10 Jun 2009 | 4:36 am

In an ongoing effort to clean up our neighborhood, I am starting a regular post on weird things we catch the neighbors doing in hopes they will read this blog and see the error of their ways. This was inspired most recently by my discovery of some "play money" belonging to one boy who lives near us*.You can see in this picture that he takes beer bottle caps from his irresponsible parents and pounds them with a hammer until they are flat. He then puts them in the change compartment of his wallet and pretends they are coins. He seemed very proud of the 4** coins he has collected and pounded…
Greenland: It Goes Both Ways

8 Jun 2009 | 4:36 am

I'm half crying, half mad, half in shock. I can hardly type. I just looked at Google Analytics, and I've had blog visitors from all over the world...except for Greenland. So I quit. I am boycotting Greenland. It goes both ways, folks. You don't visit me, I don't visit you. One would think that out of 2.1 million square miles of terrain and 57,564 inhabitants, at least one person would Google the words "egyptian porn" and find my blog.

ConfessionsOfAnITGirl.com
Going to BlogHer? Don’t miss out!

Ellen

17 Jun 2009 | 11:17 am

Wondering what Wiley is doing at BlogHer this year? Well, we’ve got a great offering for ya… Our rock star photography author Erin Manning will be hosting a FREE photography workshop for a select number of attendees. Join us for a lunchtime outing to explore and learn about digital photography techniques and quick fixes to improve the quality of your photos without the need for expensive editing software (lunch will be provided for all participants). More details can be found here. Don’t wait! This will fill up, and fill up soon!
Sick Bay

Ellen

15 Jun 2009 | 5:30 am

The lack of bloggy newness here can be attributed to the fact that IT Boy and I have both been under the weather. It started about a week ago, and for me, it came on top of a month of really heinous allergies. I thought it was just a build up of pollen resistance, or a reaction to the non-stop rain we have been having. Unfortunately, I quickly realized it was a cold. A bad cold. IT Boy spiked a fever on and off, with a cough, sniffles and general aches and pains. I stayed home most of the week, but was able to work at home a bit of the time. Boy missed school and therapy for…
Soundtrack of Your Life

Ellen

4 Jun 2009 | 5:44 am

Since I am all about reuse, I bring to you content originally seen in a Facebook note… Pick the “top twenty” songs for the “soundtrack of your life”! You can write in NA for anything not applicable (e.g. #2 if you’re an only child or #10 if you’re single) or come up with an alternate category for that number. 1. Song that reminds you of a parent (or grandparent): “Sprits in the Material World” by The Police. Mom doesn’t like anything not classical, but she thinks this song is da bomb. “Can’t you hear the syncopation?!?”…
IT Girl’s “World Famous” Pancakes

Ellen

3 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

Most everyone who follows my Twitter feed has noticed me on a Saturday or Sunday talking about making pancakes for the family. It’s a weekend tradition that won’t seem to die. And that’s a good thing. Seeing Al’s adventures in pancake making had me chuckling a bit. I used to make Bisquick pancakes until I started using an Alton Brown recipe. About a year ago I was too lazy to create the mix and used Bisquick. Both Mr. IT and Soccer Girl protested, saying that they really preferred my homemade batch and wouldn’t I please go back to making that. So I…
BEA Day 0

Ellen

1 Jun 2009 | 4:32 am

Wanted to post a couple of notes from BEA (BookExpo America), which took place this past weekend. The Expo part runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. BEA holds educational sessions on Thursday, as does the ABA who run their “Day of Education”. Hence, I call it “Day 0″. The sessions are pretty hit or miss. Some are good, some are just dreadful, and few are really great. Because I tweeted enough about the really awful ones, let me focus on some of the good ones. Tim O’Shaughnessy from Living Social gave a talk about what publishers need to think about when it…

Formerly Fun
Mauna Kea Kisses

formerly fun

23 Jun 2009 | 11:54 pm

My husband, the technosexual man, had Mauna Kea on his short list of must sees.Okay, first a quick briefing for those of you unfamiliar with Mauna Kea(like I was).Mauna Kea hosts the world's largest astronomical observatory, with telescopes operated by astronomers from over eleven countries.Telescopes found at the summit of Mauna Kea are funded by government agencies of various nations. Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO): CaltechCanada France Hawai'i Telescope (CFHT): Canada, France, University of Hawai'iGemini North Telescope: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Australia,…
Greetings From Hawaii

formerly fun

20 Jun 2009 | 12:45 pm

In spite of the very, very relaxed expressions on our faces, we do in fact miss you guys. Izzy, we miss you shouting from your crib because you threw all of your favorite stuffed animals out because you were mad you had to go to bed an now you want us to retrieve them so you can go to sleep. Josh, we miss telling you to pick up your socks and take out the garbage and to get your fingers out of your mouth. Clare, we miss the whining, the head in the clouds huhs? that are exclusively yours.Okay, we don't really miss that, but we do miss this.We'll see you in seven more days guys.
Things I Do When I Should Be Working

formerly fun

14 Jun 2009 | 1:12 pm

Gene and I are getting ready to go on vacation Wednesday and I have been telling him to get a haircut, maybe pestering is more accurate. So I made a little movie to let him know that I realize I can be kind of bossy.
Well At Least There Were No Issues With Wire Hangers

formerly fun

13 Jun 2009 | 6:35 am

The Milwaukee Public Museum was always my favorite with its dark and vaguely ominous Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit and the oddly static but roaring dinos that every city's museum seems to have. With a great downtown and Chicago at our doorstep we did schloads of field trips, the art museum, the Field Museum in Chicago, the symphony, the kids theatre, the kid's science museum. The field trips are some of my fondest school memories.My mom was a single working parent, and more than a little fly by the seat of her pants. So while most of the kids got kickass paper sack lunches with Capri Suns…
Oh Oh, She's Back on Her Soapbox Again

formerly fun

12 Jun 2009 | 2:03 pm

Yes, here it comes, a small but significant rant.I have a problem, a bone to pick with some of you. I am beyond tired of women saying they are not feminists. "Oh, I'm not one of those(pause) feminists(said in a slight whisper)" they utter, like their name might be added to a black list somewhere.A woman saying she is not a feminist is like a human saying they are ambivalent about oxygen. When did feminism become the exclusive bastion of man-hating, "men and women are the same," sensible shoe-wearing, eschewers of deodorant?Can you be a stay at home mom and a feminist?Uh, are you at home…

Women on Business
Has Email Marketing Become Obsolete?

Kristin Marquet

1 Jul 2009 | 2:59 pm

Even though we are bombarded with thousands of emails per week, email marketing has not become obsolete. In fact, email marketing is one of the most effective ways to stay in touch with existing customers as well as attract new customers if it used correctly. However, many business owners waste countless hours putting together email marketing campaigns with weak copy, bad graphics, and inadequate offers, which end up in the trash bin. So what’s the point of spending countless hours and money on marketing that isn’t going to work? To prevent your emails from getting tossed in the trash…
Prisoners making great workers in New Zealand

Allison ONeill

1 Jul 2009 | 3:00 am

Ex- prisoners can struggle to find employment once they are back in the real world again. Faced with the benefit they find themselves turning back to crime to be able to afford to live. The cycle continues – back behind bars they go even if they sincerely wanted a fresh start and a life free of crime. They need employers that are willing to give them a chance. Getting a job could turn their whole world around as they form a new identity – that of a hard worker and EX-crim. A lot of employers are too scared to give prisoners a go. They worry they’ll steal, take drugs at work, scare the…
Use Your Web of Influence

Bonnie Marcus

30 Jun 2009 | 8:09 am

Years ago, I went through a training program on customer retention that emphasized the importance of identifying a web of influence within a client account. The web of influence not only included that main contact or champion, but other individuals within the company that could “influence” your success. Having more than one contact is of utmost importance to maintain stability and ongoing communication to retain the account and hopefully expand the current business. After all, what if your main contact leaves the company? Without more influential contacts in that organization, you…
What is Your Company’s Corporate Culture?

Susan Gunelius

29 Jun 2009 | 11:22 am

Post by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women On Business writer Each organization has its own personality and reputation, which usually starts at the top and permeates down, and heavily influences how individuals view others and behave towards their co-workers. For example, some companies are more political than others, and even departments or divisions within a company can sometimes be identified as having a more “game-playing” reputation. Each organization has an unstated protocol on how decisions are made, and has its own rules on things like who mingles with whom, how high a profile…
Graduating with Grace

Chrysty Beverley Fortner

29 Jun 2009 | 2:30 am

I was honored to be asked to introduce the 2009 graduating class from Nashville OIC (opportunities industrialization center), a not-for-profit center designed to provide GED and soft skills education to ANYONE who wants it. 117 adults who defied odds, social stigma, economic condition, or whatever obstacle prevented them from graduating high school the first go around walked the stage into opportunity. I cried. I was moved at the stories, the range of ages, the hearts of the families who supported them and the barriers each of them rose above to be on that platform today. For all the…

Blisstree » Parenting
If It Is ‘The Change,’ I’m Not Touching HRT

Jennifer Walker-Journey

2 Jul 2009 | 6:12 am

My birthday is looming. I’ve never been concerned about my age, but I’ve never been this old before. I still picture myself as a 27-year-old woman and yet, I am so far removed from that age group it is depressing. I was driving home from my friend Linda’s house (by the way, she is older than me) in this 90-degree heat with my air on 70 (because I don’t like to freeze, especially in summer), when I felt my seat warmer come on. What was so strange about it is that my seat only warms from the seat area, not the back, and that’s where I was feeling the heat. I checked the dial on the…
Spending Time With the Family

Eliza Ferree

1 Jul 2009 | 2:08 pm

This past week was all about getting out with the kids andIMG: The life of a Home Momjust enjoying our time together. Course, even like the posts I recently wrote there were some times that my parenting skills weren’t the greatest. I mean I was in the car when someone pulled right in front of us and we screamed at them a curse..not that they heard us but the kids sure did. So, just showing it happens even when you don’t mean it, I did hear that choice word later on by the youngest. (bad mommy) IMG: The Life of a Home Mom We decided to finally meet the hubby’s co-workers and…
July 4th for Alzheimer’s Parents

Mary Emma Allen

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

July 4th memories often entertain the Alzheimer’s parent and help you preserve your family heritage…for yourself, your children and future generations. Since Alzheimer’s patients like to reminisce, you may be able to do this with them about memories of this holiday. Image: sxc.hu Record the memories Jot them down Pull out pictures and have the patient tell you about them (if they’re able) Make some scrapbook pages with these memories Involve the whole family so they can have memories of doing this with the Alzheimer’s family member Take the patient to July…
Things We Teach Kids: Cell Phone Drivers

Eliza Ferree

30 Jun 2009 | 12:33 pm

Have you ever sat down and thought about what you teach your children on a daily basis? I mean, right now just thinkIMG: Sxc.hu about it. A child will drive somehwere with a parent at least once during the week, or at least weekend.They will more than likely hear you discuss something over the phone or with a family member face-to-face. Hear the way you talk with others, etc. Now, how is it we have good and bad children? I was chatting it up with a friend the other day and talking about the whole seat belt thing. I mean I’ve read where some have stated yes they should wear them but…
The Best Coupon Sites for Moms

Christine Gooding

30 Jun 2009 | 9:57 am

Because we have a big overseas trip coming up later this year and the recession not showing any sign of easing, I do try to find ways to save and of the things I like doing is using coupons or discount vouchers whenever I purchase something. It makes me feel good getting things on discount. Image: Coupon Cabin That’s why it’s so good to know there are great coupon sites out there for discerning mommy shoppers like me! www.flamingoworld.com www.couponcabin.com www.couponmountain.com www.thecouponclippers.com www.savingsmania.com www.retailmenot.com www.swapbabygoods.com Hope this…

Mama Manifesto
operation grocery acquisition #2: total disaster

2 Jul 2009 | 4:45 am

I am trying so hard not to be Chaotic Mom. You know her: she's the mom who is sweating at the restaurant as her unruly children run circles around the table, or the mom with screaming and kicking kids on the plane. She's the mom on Supernanny. The mom you don't want to stand next to in line. The one whose kids make a scene at the grocery store.And today, she is me.Oh, I had the best of intentions. After my last grocery shopping fiasco, where someone threatened to call the cops on me, I decided I would do most of my shopping online for a while. Last night I placed an order with Vons.com, and I…
WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY: two kids, one computer

1 Jul 2009 | 3:10 am

This is an oldie, but a goodie, and still works for me.My two-year-old daugther really wants to play computer games like her big brother. However, every time I let her sit down to the computer, she would bang on the keys and move the mouse like a toy car, which usually resulted in opening files, prompting printer boxes, and any other number of right-click functions that threatened to crash the computer. Not to mention, her brother didn't like being kicked off his game only to watch her terrorize the hard drive.I finally figured out a solution that makes everyone happy, and cost me about $15…
TALK BACK: Breastfeeding on Facebook

30 Jun 2009 | 4:36 am

In case you haven't heard, there is quite a stir going on at Facebook about breastfeeding shots. Several months ago, Facebook deleted any photos of women breastfeeding their children. The removal of the photographs has many women outraged. Some who post the pictures believe the photographs are helpful to other women, while others find the pictures offensive. Some believe that breastfeeding is a private matter between mother and child and should not be posted online. Others find the pictures beautiful.What do you think? Should these photographs be removed? Are they obscene or is it…
Smoothie Recipes

29 Jun 2009 | 4:48 am

Last year, a couple of our readers asked us to post some smoothie recipes beyond the typical OJ/strawberry/banana routine. I made my kitchen became a smoothie testing lab, and I'm sharing the best results again. If you've yet to hop on the smoothie bandwagon, here is your official invitation! It's an easy way to get picky eaters an extra serving of fruits and veggies.For most of my smoothies, I start with a base of orange juice, plain kefir, ground flax seeds, and spinach. Yes, spinach. THEY WILL NEVER NOTICE. The kefir adds a nice tart kick, and is full of healthy probiotics. Plain yogurt…
Books on the Cheap

27 Jun 2009 | 4:47 am

Love books, but don't love the cost? We have some great sites that offer a way to get books for little to no money.Bookmooch is essentially an online book-swapping community. You list a book you are willing to give, and send it to someone who "mooches" it from you. Every time you give someone a book, you earn a point and can get any book you want from anyone else at BookMooch. Once you've read a book, you can keep it forever or list it again for someone else. They carry all types of books, from the classics to children's books. Paperbackswap works in a similar way to Bookmooch, but focuses…

Corporette
Weekend Open Thread

C

2 Jul 2009 | 11:45 am

We thought we’d give this a try — on the off chance you’re stuck at the office and want to talk about, well, anything, we thought we’d open a post for you guys. Enjoy! Pictured: Mikasa “Pure Red” Coffee Cup and Saucer, 10 oz., available at Macys.com for $15.99 (was $25). Share and Enjoy:
Fourth of July Sale Roundup

C

2 Jul 2009 | 10:09 am

Curious where the good sales are this weekend? We’ve done the legwork for you — check our round-up, after the jump… Semi-annual sale — up to 60% off! Take 20% percent off new arrivals at Banana Republic! Take an extra 25% off already-reduced designer merchandise at Barneys New York Take 40% off a selection of summer favorites at Bloomingdales. Exclusively online — take an additional 20% off all sale styles at ColeHaan.com. Take an additional 30% off permanent markdowns at Dillard’s. Patriotic Prints and Solid Dress- 15% off through 7/4 Receive Free Shipping…
Weekly Roundup

C

2 Jul 2009 | 8:34 am

Liking these posts? Follow Corporette on Twitter — this is the edited version of what we’re reading! (We also Tweet if we hear about a good sale. Happy Fourth of July! In honor of the holiday, we’ll be taking Friday off (as we hope everyone else will, also). We’ll try to do a round-up of the sales going on; there are some major deals to be had this weekend. This is so cool — there’s now a band-aid type of strip that tells you when it’s time to reapply sunscreen. [SheFinds] The Chicago Tribune rounds up the brands that make flattering pants for women. Huzzah!
Thursday’s TPS Report: Abaete Women’s “Kendra” Silk Color-Block Skirt

C

2 Jul 2009 | 6:15 am

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Okay, yesterday’s attempt at an A-line look may have been a swing and a miss, but we’re truly loving this silk colorblock skirt from Abaete, which is ever so helpfully included in Bloomingdale’s 40% off Fourth of July sales. We love the fact that it’s mostly black, but with just a bit of details that remind of us of an Art Deco painting we can’t quite remember right now. Gorgeous. And we love a good discount — this skirt was $242, and is now $86. Abaete Women’s…
Suit of the Week

C

1 Jul 2009 | 12:09 pm

For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional. Wow, there is really not a lot of stock out there for women’s suits right now — perhaps retailers think women don’t wear/buy suits in the summer? Curious. In any event, we’re liking this suit for a nice option for the summer, particularly given colors it comes in (both…

Thirtysomething Reality
I Quit My Job!

2 Jul 2009 | 3:31 pm

I quit my job as a full-time paralegal. Yes I did! I had one of those days where I realized I absolutely hated my job working at a law firm.I decided to pursue a full-time freelance writing career. I already have several clients and have been freelance writing part-time for almost two years. I just knew it was now or never. Since I already had enough work to do it full-time, I figured why not?!There are those who sit at their jobs every day and complain and do nothing to change things. I am not nor will I ever be one of those individuals. If something bothers you that much, then do something…
Wreck On The Way To Sewing Class

28 Jun 2009 | 3:35 pm

This was not my weekend. I had signed up for a six week sewing class so that I could work on apparel a little bit better. I was on the way to the class and was going to stop to get gas. Apparently, K-Mart was having some kind of a mad sale because a woman shot across traffic in front of me to whip into K-Mart. Yes, she was cited because an officer who was making a traffic stop happened to be across the road and saw her shoot out in front of me.My right arm is at best swollen and painful and cut. Bruises galore with aches and pain. My car is pretty messed up and never did make it to the sewing…
P90X

4 Jun 2009 | 2:44 pm

As many of you know, I am all about trying the latest exercise and nutrition craze. My son, Dylan, has convinced me that we needed to buy P90X Extreme Fitness with Tony Horton.I looked at all of the research about P90X and YouTube videos with actual people and their results. Their results were pretty impressive. Even though I absolutely love my Hip Hop Abs and Walk Away The Pounds, I knew I needed some toning and definition. Ok I would have definition if I would get rid of the the roly poly that is called my stomach LOL. But even so....We ordered the P90X off Ebay (love my Ebay) and got the…
Updates, updates, updates!

28 May 2009 | 2:25 pm

OK, I have been so slack!! Sorry for people who have been asking me to update about my art projects, weight loss....hmmmm...whatever exciting task I am up to LOL. I am finding it hard to concentrate right this second as my 106 pound black lab keeps dropping his tennis ball at my feet then pawing at it and me. Anyways, back to my rambles...the weight doctor was great! Unfortunately, the phentermine he put me on made my blood pressure shoot up and gave me chest pressure, not pain but pressure. Maybe I just needed to have a big earth shattering burp but I wasn't playing with it and promptly got…
Going To The Diet Doctor Tomorrow!

5 May 2009 | 3:13 pm

I finally admitted to myself that the battle of the bulge is bigger than me. After trying every diet known to mankind, I made an appointment with a doctor supervised weight loss center in Huntersville, NC.This weight loss center offers programs to not only help you lose the weight but keep it off. They offer appetite suppressants, HCG and vitamin shots. These things are not necessary for the program, but what is necesary is the nutritional counseling and exercise. Looks like they adhere to a high protein low-carb diet which is fine. I am convinced that at age 37, my metabolism has not just…

DuchessOmnium - Island to island
Moving house

Duchess

30 Jun 2009 | 3:15 pm

Well, not quite. Moving house implies another house to go to, or other grown up accessories, the kinds of things my elderly father calls “plans”. (As in, “But what are your plans?”) Although I have no plans, I have, nevertheless, suddenly acquired tenants and apparently they are not expecting me to be lurking in the back bedroom when they move in next month. It seems they are also expecting my chattels to be gone. Cupboards that haven’t been opened since 1984 need to be emptied. Hands up who knows what a Teasmade is.
Oh good grief

Duchess

20 Jun 2009 | 2:35 pm

Today the UK government issued guidance that British schools should no longer teach children the spelling rule, “i before e except after c”. It was one of the main news headlines all morning. Haven’t they got anything better to think about, like crashing economies worldwide, wars in Iraq and Afganistan, unrest in Iran, terrorism in Pakistan, nukes in North Korea and disease and starvation in Zimbabwe (to name a few, if they are feeling bored and out on a limb)? Apparently not. They have other things on their mind. The guidance says: The i before e rule is not worth…
Sunday

Duchess

14 Jun 2009 | 5:14 pm

I spent this morning catching up on housework and this afternoon working in the garden. I have a viewing on Friday — for rent, not sale, but even these are rare, so the house needs to look its best. I was about to go to bed when I remembered that I haven’t spoken to a single person, in person (as it were), since lunch time yesterday. That’s more usual than not, at least on weekends, but it still surprises me. Yesterday I went to the gym with my mad Norwegian friend who ran the 2001 London Marathon with me. After the gym we sat in her garden for a while, eating sweet…
Tonight was my first time

Duchess

4 Jun 2009 | 4:48 pm

I have lived well over half my life in the UK, but I only became a citizen in 2005, weeks before the last general election and too late to register. Tonight was my first opportunity to cast a vote as a UK national. It isn’t a proper election, really. For most of the country it is merely a European election, something even most Europeans, don’t care about — Slovenia turned out less than 17% last time around. Only for a very few of us was it also time to elect our local representatives. Even so, my village was buzzing. It took me nearly an hour to walk the quarter…
Lord love a duck

Duchess

27 May 2009 | 4:58 am

Any wide awake person in the UK ought to be able to tell you that the theme of the last week or so has been ducks. First we had an update on the long running crisis of MPs’ expense claims. We learned that Sir Somebody or Other had claimed more than £1600 for a “floating duck house” on his pond. In his inevitable apologia and announcement that he would not be seeking re-election the MP noted sadly that the house “in fact was never liked by the ducks.” The good Knight ought to have consulted the good scientists of Oxford University. The results of a recent study to find out…

drowning In kids
grace in small things: part 40 of 365 the canada day edition

drowninginkids

1 Jul 2009 | 11:53 pm

1. community celebrations where i realize how many people i know and how thankful i am that my job has made me part of the community. 2. living in a country where we enjoy food and water at reasonable cost. 3. living in a place where my kids are safe. 4. living in a country where we can still make fun of ourselves. 5. customers wishing me "happy independence day!" Seriously, i feel among the luckiest people in the world to be born into such abundance. I am proud to be canadian and plan on telling my kids every single day how lucky we are.
you feel like something is about to begin

drowninginkids

30 Jun 2009 | 10:07 am

Sweet, sweet summer vacation. It has been a wonderful start to vacation. Camping in tofino was amazing, sleeping in every morning has been amazing, swimming at the lake every single day. In the summer i truly feel like we live in the very best place in the whole world. The whole town slows down. A constant stream of kids walking to and from the lake, swimsuits around their necks and quiet giggling with friends as they walk up and down the country roads. The kids are really happy. I had hoped in my heart that once summer came and we spent so much time together that their spirits would be…
this is it, this all

drowninginkids

27 Jun 2009 | 11:45 am

I was joking around with ada on twitter last night about divorce in the age of social networking. You see, a few weeks ago my ex-husband removed me as a friend on FaceBook. I was crushed. It seemed a silly thing to be upset about, but it was like that final door closing. I was unfriended. We were no longer friends. I pictured photo albums being poured through and my face cut out of family photographs. Trash bags full of photos of my head. The other night my daughter asked me to look at something she had written on her dad's profile. "I can't we're not friends." She looked puzzled. "Well, add…
grace in small things: part 39 of 365 the big things edition

drowninginkids

26 Jun 2009 | 11:55 am

1. qualifying for a mortgage 2. finding the perfect house for me 3. driving 600km in five days in my new car 4. fitting all the camping gear in said car 5. a stranger giving me a Thule box for my car upon hearing me chat with the kids in line at the store about how to fit everything and how expensive said boxes are. *it's all about karma"*
you say you don't love me

drowninginkids

25 Jun 2009 | 12:08 am

i bought a house today. two weeks ago i bought a car. this shit is freaking me out. i'm doing it all by myself. there is no man there to check and balance with and i'm pretty sure i'm not getting screwed, but rather the opposite, i am rocking this single thing.

omgomgomfg by a.v. flox
#FollowFriday: A Great Idea Gone Fail?

AV Flox

29 Jun 2009 | 10:45 am

When I first started using Twitter over two years ago, there wasn’t really a way to do things. Twitter had been around some time, but many users were still figuring out what we wanted to use it for. Times have changed since: we’ve figured out Twitter has more value as a conversation tool than a stream of status updates, we know the value of hashtags in keeping up with developing events, we have developed a way to credit those whose information we relay in our own tweets, and so on. But we’re all still learning. Every once in a while conversation will erupt around a certain…
Happiness–There’s An App for that

AV Flox

27 Jun 2009 | 2:55 am

There seems to be an app for everything, but an app for happiness? Really? I’ve been following the work of Signal Patterns Labs since I took a personality test of theirs a year or so ago. Signal Patterns develops psychology-based web applications like the personality test I took. Recently, they’ve been expanding their efforts and moving into the mobile territory with self-help, positive psychology apps that are supposed to “help people improve their well-being and relationships with others.” Live Happy is one of these apps. Developed by the iPhone by the Signal…
Twitter is a Spam Farm

AV Flox

17 Jun 2009 | 10:17 pm

“Twitter’s value is in links…. What happened when Twitter started, it was supposed to change the face of communications–what happened with all of that?” asks Loren Feldman, founder of 1938Media in his most recent diatribe about the tech industry. “It’s a link farm, it’s a spam farm. There’s no conversations. It doesn’t f*cking matter, you idiots, changing your location to Iran? Jesus, you’re f*cking stupid. Unbelievable! … It’s all a bunch of f*cking lies! No one cares about your Twitter. Just put up your link and…
From Flames to Fame: Views vs. Credibility

AV Flox

1 Jun 2009 | 11:21 pm

My Twitter stream and inbox caught on fire this afternoon following a post by Dave McClure, a software developer and marketing nerd in Silicon Valley, regarding the importance of visual cues in calls to action (CTAs). McClure, who begins the post with a disclaimer that he has no professional training in user interface (UI) design, but goes on to say he has 25 years of experience, illustrated his point about visual cues by employing the rear of a woman shown bent over. In his post, The Faces! The FACES! It’s ALL About the F**king FACES!, McClure writes: If there’s one thing…
Spymaster: A Low-Maintenance Game for a 140-Character World

AV Flox

31 May 2009 | 7:38 pm

It’s five in the morning and I’m exhausted but I can’t get offline. The reason? A Twitter-based game called Spymaster, much like the Mafia Wars app on Facebook. Mafia Wars never spoke to me, but Spymaster, with its espionage-based tasks and activities, had an immediate draw. Using OAuth, the game is directly linked to your Twitter account, so there is no need to create another profile to play. You simply click through from an invite on Twitter and begin. You can pick from a selection of intelligence agencies including the British M16, the American CIA and the Russian FSB.

Heather Goodman's Blog -
The Creative Life: How-To Sew a Reversible Quilted Coffee Cuff

hgoodman

1 Jul 2009 | 9:18 am

On my hunt for all things and people creative, artsy, and whimsical, I met Erin Teske, artist extraordinaire and fellow Cheesecake Factory lover. At some point in our cyber (and one real-life meeting), I discovered that she makes and sells Coffee Cuffs. I love these things! I keep mine in my purse, ready to whip out at any Starbucks. And I've gotten more compliments on it than the Queen of Sheba got in her heyday. read more
And Singing "It's A Small World" 3,298 Times

hgoodman

29 Jun 2009 | 8:25 am

Here's the thing. I want to hate Disney--all the commercialization and the take-over-the-world-ization. (Seriously, just because it's a Disney movie doesn't mean it should be a Broadway musical. The world didn't need Lion King on stage.) But I can't help myself. I loved it. I love what it does for families. So, in no particular order, here are my top 10 favorite things about Disney: read more
Tapestry: Wisdom Literature

hgoodman

26 Jun 2009 | 7:33 am

Little by little, I'm re-integrating myself into normal life (which includes my cyber life). We'll reacquaint ourselves. I have so much to tell you about the arts conference I attended a few weeks ago and my Disney trip. And I have all sorts of special stuff lined up--some great guest bloggers with all sorts of creative tips and an interview with Josh Havens of The Afters (only half of which can you actually see since we decided to do the interview in his backyard as Apollos retired his carriage). read more
New Facebook Account

hgoodman

16 Jun 2009 | 9:25 am

For those of you who don't get enough of me here, check out my Facebook account, which, in keeping with the FB changes, is now http://www.facebook.com/heatheragoodman.
It's Big; It's Black; It's Boxy

hgoodman

15 Jun 2009 | 7:52 am

While I was in college in the small town of Waco (known for the compound incident, although technically, that happened in Central, not Waco, and yes, I did visit the site along with the original Dr. Pepper bottling plant before graduation), two large movie theaters came to town (making the one, miniscule theater with sticky floors--I once lost a flip-flop on those floors--a dollar theater). read more

JPD Mom
And the Fun Never Ends....

Jamie R Lentzner

30 Jun 2009 | 9:41 pm

June 24, 2009. I mean June 30, 2009. I hope I got the date right, to be honest I have no idea what day or even month it is. The last few months have been a blur and I have been more caught up in school than work. After a much needed vacation last two weeks ago I am sort of back in the swing of things. Except for the fact that I lost my camera in Tahoe, and I need to start exercising like pretty fast.....no really I do. And worst case scenario - email is gone, dead. So, I noticed last week that I was getting no emails, I mean not even SPAM emails offering to sell me pharmaceutical…
Yes it Really Was That Bad

Jamie R Lentzner

8 Jun 2009 | 10:36 pm

June 9, 2009 So have you ever been in the middle of something and you keep thinking, it can not get worse, it can not get worse? You know mumbling to yourself as you rock back and forth and contemplate throwing things at the wall? Then you carefully pick yourselff off the ground, wipe off the tears and decide it is going to be okay. Ya, well what if that keeps happening? What if it keeps getting worse, and worse, and that guy Murphy with the whole laws and everything, what if you can actually start to think that maybe he was on to something? Well that has been the last oh I…
What I Do Does Matter to My Children....That is All That Matters

Jamie R Lentzner

31 May 2009 | 3:33 pm

May 31, 2009 Sheesh, this has been a long year, wait that is not what I mean, it is not even half way over. What I mean is this school yearhas been looooong. I am not the only one at my little school that thinks this way - it has been an interesting year to say the least. When we get out of school and the dust has settled, and I am no longer living in it, I will go into it....in great detail possibly. Many will not believe the storm I have weathered.....living in my own little Harper Valley PTA if you will. Wake me When the Economy Picks Up The whole year has not been bad, it has…
Are we on a Break?

Jamie R Lentzner

13 May 2009 | 10:53 pm

May 12, 2009 I need to make a call. I have been avoiding this for some time now. Hold on. Ring, ring.....oh wait is it not more like...."the theme song from American Idol" - yes the cell phone is ringing..... "Hi JPD Mom Blog, it's me Jamie. We need to talk." "You probably have noticed I have not been around as much....and my posts are getting fewer and fewer....wait, wait don't cry, let me explain...." Blame it on the Al-Al Alcohol, Uh the Economy "I wish it had not come to this, I mean I really wish we were on better terms, I feel…
Right Start It's Over

Jamie R Lentzner

22 Apr 2009 | 2:32 pm

Dear Right Start, I am breaking up with you. This time I mean it - it is really over between us. I want you to stop sending me these cute newsletters and emails telling me about the sales you are having. Trust me I know about the sales, I also know that, being one of your re-sellers, none of your re-sellers are getting paid for these so-called sales. I wonder if your customers realize that every sale you make, you do NOT pay us, I am always wondering that. And also, stop following me on Twitter - I mean you have got to be kidding me. I think that is sort of mean and cruel - after…

5 Resolutions
Contest Winner: "You'd Be So Pretty If..."

25 Jun 2009 | 6:26 am

Thanks to all who entered to win a copy of You'd Be So Pretty If...Teaching Our Daughters to Love Their Bodies--Even When We Don't Love Our Own. The winner is...Tiffany Naranjo! Email us your mailing address and we'll send you the book.More contests coming up soon!
Same Old, Same Old. The Fashion Industry's "Size Zero" Blame Game

17 Jun 2009 | 6:41 am

The fashion industry is not clueless about the fact that there is a demand for disturbingly thinner and thinner and models. The issue has been the subject of countless news articles and it's been debated to death in industry forums (three of which we've attended). The problem is that everyone seems to think someone else is at fault.This seemingly endless blame game is now playing out on an international stage, after British Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman sent a letter to several major fashion houses--including Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Prada and Versace--complaining that their…
Win It! You'd Be So Pretty If...Teaching Our Daughters to Love Their Bodies--Even When We Don't Love Our Own

11 Jun 2009 | 10:14 am

As a writer for Shape, Dara Chadwick documented her weight loss journey in a regular column for the magazine. She also began to notice how her focus on weight was affecting her then 11-year-old daughter. Chadwick took those observations and turned them into a body image guide that is a must-read for every mom.You'd Be So Pretty If... includes her personal story along with her helpful tips on ho

All the top news about Women.

See also Health and Moms.

Your MyAlltop account awaits.