Women

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  kirtsy-Popular Stories

• This is so awful that it's awesome...and hilarious!

  barchbo

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:32 pm

  I have laughed aloud every time I have seen it! And don't we all want a non-melting ice sculpture in our homes?! {via Elements of Style and Facebook}19 Vote(s)

• Ooh lovely amber necklace

  oysterbox

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm

  And get $10 off any order, when you quote this code: robyn17 Vote(s)

• Cutest, Most Cleverest, Valentines Ever. Plus, Super Easy.

  Gabby

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm

  You'll need a bag of lollipops and a photo of your child making a fist. You will not believe the cuteness that will come from those two items. Check it.18 Vote(s)

• Donate $10 to the Haiti earthquake victims by texting

  TastyTX

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:58 am

  Information on how to go about using a texting service to donate $10 to the Red Cross for disaster relief of the Haiti area hit by the earthquake. The cost will show up as an addition to your mobile bill.15 Vote(s)

• CREPE PAPER? are you kidding me? {hope not. because i think i can do this!}

  kareym

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:07 am

  insanely happy-making. cheap but so not cheap-looking. and we can do this ourselves, can't we? say yes, because i'm feeling very diy romantic after seeing this...enjoy! {and be sure to scour her entire sight! she's a talented doll with cool specs67 Vote(s)

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  iVillage Today

• 9 Holiday Makeup Looks: How To Apply

  'Tis the season dedicated to cocktail parties, friends and family. And we all want to look our best. That's why we asked some of Hollywood's leading makeup artists for their advice on how to get some of the hottest celebrity looks for the season.

• From Pumps to Peep-Toes: Take a Walk in Sarah Palin's Shoes

  Who knew shoes could be so scandalous.

• 22 Heartfelt Holiday Presents You Can Make

  From salt dough ornaments to personalized picture frames, get back to the true meaning of the holidays with these handmade gift ideas from the iVillage community and the experts at Valspar paint

• 9 Tacky Holiday Sweaters We Can't Help But Love

  Santa's embroidered face on your chest? Check out these other tacky holiday sweaters we love...

• Sink Your Teeth into 'New Moon'

  Twi-Hards rejoice! We're taking a bite out of the vampire and Twilight craze -- from the sexiest bloodsuckers of all time to juicy pics of R-Patz

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  ParentingGirls.com

• Gender-Bias at the Goal Post!

  Dr. Janet Rose

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:12 pm

  This past weekend as I sat with a group of (mostly) men watching the Super Bowl, I was keenly aware of the recurring  gender-demeaning remarks used by men to describe women. The discussions of desirable and undesirable shapes, sizes and sexiness were discerning. Excuse me 'honey' one gentleman said as he moved in front of me to place a tray of food on the table. Another engaged in a conversation about his inconvenient plane ride the day before. He made countless negative remarks about the 'female stewardesses' stressing the words female and women by actually using air…

• What Do You Think of Girls In Tiaras?

  Dr. Janet Rose

  28 Jan 2010 | 6:33 am

  Check out this video from BraveheartWomen.com!  These well-spoken women discuss young girls participation in pageants. I was amazed to hear one panelist state that beauty pageants are a "feminine type of girly thing"!  Wow!  Is that what we want for our daughters? The discussion is a good one and the question of "winning" or finding value based on looks is addressed. I support the idea that this type of message is demeaning to women. I always have. Competition was discussed and the avenue of sports was suggested as the way to go! Hooray for that idea! One panelist who…

• VIDEO: How to Potty Train Your Daughter

  Dr. Janet Rose

  27 Jan 2010 | 7:02 am

  Here is a great video from Veronica Baragas of Wiggles and Giggles on how to potty train your daughter. 

• How to Shoot a Bow & Arrow Like a Girl

  TheTruth

  12 Jan 2010 | 7:48 am

  Lilia Stepanova - Click here for another funny movie.

• Is Teaching 'Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice" the Way to Go?

  Dr. Janet Rose

  9 Dec 2009 | 12:55 pm

  Do co-ed classrooms foster gender stereotypes? This school in Virginia believes it does. This article from CNNam Fix reports that proponents of same sex education believe that boys learn best with competition and movement and girls with low light and social groups. Hmmm...I find that a bit troubling. No, wait, I find that very troubling! Maybe that is how we have been socialized? You know, girls are all about sugar and spice and everything nice. Seems to me that many girls enjoy competition and movement also and if they don't, maybe they should be encouraged to engage in some. How can anyone…

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  A.R. and Proud

• Kick Up Your Heels

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am

  Heels. Sure. You know them. The front and the end piece of the bread that no one ever wants to eat. At least in my house. Well, rather then throwing them out, composting them, or feeding them to wild life, I've been saving them in the freezer. Soon enough I had about 2 1/2 loaves of bread (all heels) and I needed to do something with them. So I made bread pudding.Maple-Pecan Bread PuddingI augmented a recipe I got from the "Everyday Food" Magazine I used 18 slices of my bread (instead of a new baguette)Did not butter the pan (used spray instead)Doubled everythingUsed about 1/2 of the maple…

• Blend It. Blend It Good!

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:54 am

  I've been eating fruit with yogurt (or cottage cheese) and a whole wheat English muffin (or Flax waffle or Trader Joe's Six Seed Almond bars) for breakfast pretty much every day for the past 8 months. As it turned to Winter, I started microwaving frozen fruit, but I could never get it quite right. So I decided I would try my hand at smoothies. And now, I am obsessed. They are a great way to use frozen fruit, are extremely portable, and let you be creative.My dear friend Kristine, lent me her Super Smoothies book, and while I haven't done any of the recipes in it (I don't want to add fruit…

• Be The Example

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  14 Jan 2010 | 10:06 am

  I just read Dr. David Ludgwig's book, Ending the Food Fight, and it was excellent. Essentially it is a guide for parents on how to manage nutrition, exercise and sedentary habits. The book is chock full of information (including food lists and recipes), written in a non-judgmental way, and a fantastic resource.He talks about lots of things, but what I found most important was this:The best way to help your kids get fit and healthy is to commit to these things yourself.All the children around us are watching and listening (whether they will admit to it or not). If you promote and model healthy…

• Try It Sideways

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  11 Jan 2010 | 9:24 am

  Every time I go to the gym to exercise on the treadmill, I walk sideways. First one direction, then the other. And every time I do this, someone on another treadmill or elliptical will look up at me in surprise. I want to tell them why I am doing this, but I'm not about to shout. So, I'll do it here.3 reasons You Should Walk Sideways (& Backwards) On The Treadmill:1. It uses muscles that get neglected when you just walk forwards2. It breaks up the monotony of exercising on a treadmill3. It helps with balanceAnd as an extra super bonus point, my new physical therapist, Mike, says walking…

• Find the Hidden Gem

  missburrows (Lia Hollander)

  8 Jan 2010 | 10:29 am

  I'm always on the lookout for pro-girl, pro-individuality, books and magazines. Mostly to see if it would be interesting for my 14 year old niece, but some of it is also for me. I want to try and understand the complexity of being a 14 year old girl in the United States (yes, I was once one myself, but I'm not sure I even understood what was happening).So when I came across Exactly As I Am, I was somewhat excited. That excitement dampened considerably when I saw that it was written by Shaun Robinson. No offense to Ms. Robinson, but her job, as co-host of Access Hollywood, doesn't exactly…

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  Okay, Fine, Dammit

• Thank you.

  maggie, dammit

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:07 pm

  I’m good. I’m in a really, really good place. I am supported and I am loved and I am engaged in a handful of proven programmed solutions. I am parenting and wife-ing and working, all with a new sense of peace and pride. Don’t get me wrong, it’s wretched sometimes, yes, and it’s outlandishly busy almost all the time, and it’s equal parts mind-blowing and brain-numbing and it’s fresh and it’s wicked and it’s glorious and it’s foul and it’s all the time, all the time, all the time, all the time, but that’s okay. I’m…

• Nine days sober.

  maggie, dammit

  29 Jan 2010 | 6:00 am

  I took my last drink nine days ago. I admitted I am powerless over alcohol, and that my life had become unmanageable. There it is. I have been silent online. I have been suffocating beneath the weight of my truth, the elephant on my chest, the muzzled agony in knowing that if I can’t say this, I can’t say anything at all. I don’t want to say anything else. I have written and re-written this post in my head a thousand times. I wanted it to be just right. I didn’t know how to say it. I didn’t know how it–I–would be received. In the end, it’s…

• The Constellation

  maggie, dammit

  15 Jan 2010 | 8:45 am

  It is once upon a time, 34 Septembers ago, and a woman with apple cheeks and Pantene-commercial hair goes into labor. Her husband puts down the beer, sells a shotgun, and uses the $40 to drive 50 miles to the nearest hospital. They bring their baby Girl home to a cabin built by their unpracticed hands on a deep, black lake choked with lily pads, place her gently in a cardboard box crib and go on about the business of living on love, if nothing else. 422 miles away a six-year-old boy palms treasures of frogs and fish, proudly presents them to his mother between distracted back-of-the-wrist…

• Embracing the Mommyblogger

  maggie, dammit

  12 Jan 2010 | 9:09 am

  I used to roll my eyes at the very word, mommyblogger, spit it from sneered lips so I wouldn’t have to hold its taste in my mouth. And by “used to” I actually mean right up until this past Saturday, when I greedily gobbled an entire crow pie, followed by a cupcake chaser. We all do it. We moms who blog have been trained to accept that we’re not supposed to like being called mommybloggers. Condescending newscasters say the word like they’ve got a mouthful of honey, closely guarded by bees. Tech and pro bloggers use it as the new “You throw like a…

• All the Little Things (in response to Neil) *edit at bottom

  maggie, dammit

  4 Jan 2010 | 6:43 am

  It’s the little things I remember. That time Sarah Hain and I were walking down my rural Minnesota highway in the third grade and that car full of men (teenage boys?) pulled over and did everything they could to get us inside, thwarted only by the appearance of a second car on the horizon. That time I finally socked Josh Schmidt in the gut for trying to feel my non-existent first grader’s chest one too many times on the bus. That time in eighth grade at that Florida hotel, running up three flights of stairs so fast my lungs blazed, two college-aged men in fast walking pursuit. That time…

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  DivineCaroline Home Page

• All Is Quiet on New Year's Day

  Whit Honea

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:47 pm

  And nothing changes but the calendar. I will most likely begin the new...

• How to Plan a Romantic Valentine's Day at Home

  SeeJaneFly

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:56 am

  Valentine-inspired staycation ideas created with the busy Jane in mind...

• Single Parents: Grown Up Valentine's Day Ideas

  Single Edition

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:42 am

  Valentine's Day isn't just for fancy dressed couples to di...

• Valentine's Day with Travel Benefits?

  Single Edition

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:33 am

  A bevy of mommy bloggers were whisked off to the Bahamas last weekend,...

• Letter Rip! Five Irresistible Ways to Say Happy Valentine's Day

  SeeJaneFly

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am

  Tis the season of L-O-V-E! Tell them how you really feel the old fashi...

• Photostream from Daylife
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  iambossy.com

• Ten-Word Tuesday. The Blizzard Edition

  BOSSY

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:39 am

  Bossy is going to tell you something you never heard, especially those of you who watch the news or the Weather Channel or talk with friends or subscribe to Facebook or Twitter or have internet: Last weekend an East Coast blizzard dumped close to two feet of snow in a blanket that wiped out power from D.C. through Bossy’s neck of the woods, which is neither a neck nor woods. Bossy paid enough attention to the forecast to know a storm was coming, but she tends not to take threatening weather reports too seriously — not since the time a local broadcaster stood outside the television…

• Notes From A Far-Flung Correspondent

  BOSSY

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:39 am

  Welcome to Notes from a Far-Flung Correspondent, which features the weekly interests and musings of Bossy’s Son, who is currently enjoying his sophomore year at Columbia University in the City of New York. This week: Seltzer Water So let me explain. I am not one of those people (cough, cough, my friends from LA, cough) who think NYC tap water isn’t great to drink. Nor am I the San Pellegrino socializer, the restaurant patron for whom sparkling water is the way to go. But to members of Bossy’s Esteemed Council, I say that I am one of those people — the unfortunate, battered souls —…

• Bossy’s Favorite Things

  BOSSY

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:36 am

  This photo. Bossy took it the other day while she was trying to walk some of the post-operative symptoms from her leg. It’s cool because this car, in this alley? It spans many decades. Bossy added the effects in Photoshop, but she didn’t even really have to…

• Yet Another Little Known Fact

  BOSSY

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:35 am

  Old Bossy has a rather sour attitude toward birthdays in general — beyond the age of 21 — and her own in particular. But alas, they keep coming anyway. If we’re lucky. delicious cake by the multi-talented bossy’s daughter

• Bossy’s Ear Worm

  BOSSY

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:16 pm

  Welcome to Bossy’s Ear Worm, which features songs currently in Bossy’s headphones. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Zero 7, Swing. Bossy has always liked Zero 7, which is a UK duo with a successful background in audio engineering, who enlist a variety of singers on their records. This tune, off their latest 2009 release Yeah Ghost, is a simple fun ditty with a carnival undercurrent. And who doesn’t enjoy a little steel drum action in their waltz — even if digitally produced. Bossy isn’t sure where Swing comes from since it never…

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  The Personal News Network

• Question of the Day - Answer of the Day

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:03 am

  OMG! This Question of the Day is totally going to rock your socks. It is of epic proportions that will blow you away. It’s like Lost and how they always did a flash back in each episode. Then they had a season where they started doing a flash forward instead. Then they really messed with us when they had both a flash back and a flash forward in the same episode. Yes, this Question of the Day is exactly like that episode of Lost. Hmmm. I’m sorry – I’ve been snowbound in my apartment for the last four and a half days. Anyhoo, so today I’m going to give you the answer and…

• It's a total waste of Pop Rocks.

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am

  ·   Jenny, What happens when you feed Pop Rocks to pigeons? –CaitlinNothing.  The pigeons won’t eat them and the Pop Rocks get stuck to your driveway and then you get ants.  Everyone loses.  This isn’t a funny answer but it’s an important one if you'd like to avoid a complete ant infestation. It’s too late for me.  Thanks a lot, Caitlin. ·   Jenny, my friends all tell me that I'm really pretty, and I think I'm fairly nice, and get along with people very well. I have never had a boyfriend before, or even been kissed. Unless you count…

• Adrift on PNN

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:33 am

  One summer day some years ago, I went on a canoe outing on a very calm, beautiful lake with The Man Who Puts Up With Me.  I hadn't canoed in thirty years, and didn't remember how to manage my end of the ship, so my full concentration was on what was right before me, paddling, paddling. Did I pull right?  Did I put my oar in at the right time?The seats seemed uncomfortable so I squirmed. How far out were we going to go? How do I handle the reeds?  Ooops! There's a bird!  Will we run it over?In the end, I found myself so concerned about where we were going, what was…

• SPANX for men!

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:17 am

  I think they should be called Manx -- but what matters more than the name is the fact that guys are finally jumping on the shapewear bandwagon.And this is either very disturbing...or about time."The men in my life [and in Hollywood] have been asking men to make SPANX for me for years," says Sara Blakeley, creator of the original SPANX I know I wrestle into (at least for special occasions), so "I was inspired to create comfortable and powerful undershirts that provide instant gratification."Shown is the compression crew; there's also a v-neck and a classic tank undershirt.Not sure I'll be…

• Facebook fundraiser for infertility

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:47 am

  Molly and Brian Walsh want a baby.And they've tried to let nature take its course, to no avail.Now the San Francisco couple is pursuing invitro, and while they've saved $10,000, it's still far short of the estimated $30,000 they'll need.(Genetics testing of fertilized embryos is needed because Brian has Marfan's Syndrome, and the couple wants to avoid passing the disease to offspring.)So they're turned to Facebook and Twitter for donations.sfgate.com reports that they first feared a backlash for going public their fundraising strategy, because their situation isn't…

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  wowOwow | The Women on the Web

• Liz Smith: Football's Holy Day – Saints Win Super Bowl

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  Also from Our Gossip Girl, Madonna’s holy day – Still giving it up to Jesus! … ‘Dear John’ weepie ain’t crying; ‘Avatar’ is!The Liz Smith Column | Today 5:00 am"Reporter: ‘Were you apprehensive in the twelfth inning?’ Yogi Berra: ‘No, but I was scared!’" *** I AM not a sports fan but this is pretty much the way lots of people felt during the Super Bowl. (I actually like to watch football being played; it’s something like ballet.) So my impression of the Colts was that they were big, brutal steamrollers with the…

• A Hard Life on the Road – Made Harder, by Jean Chatzky

  9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Shower cap? Bed made? Don’t take these awayJean Chatzky | Today 4:00 amI – like all women who travel for business, I am sure – am sometimes asked if I mind the time on the road.  The subtext, of course, being: Don’t you miss your kids?  Isn’t it tough being away from your husband?  “Sometimes it’s tough being away,” I acknowledge. “But I try to go for just a night or two at a time.  And,” I admit, thinking specifically of the heavenly bed at the Westin, of having coffee and buttered toast delivered to the door, “having a night to myself in a nice hotel is pretty…

• When the Other Sibling Cares for an Aging Parent, by Francine Russo

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pm

  An author faces the decline and death of a parent, from the place of daughter and sister — and shares strategies to avoid misstepsA Friend Stopped By | Today 2:00 am Editor’s Note: Esteemed journalist Francine Russo covered the boomer beat for Time magazine for nearly a decade and has also written for the New York Times, Redbook, and Family Circle. She is the author of They’re Your Parents, Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy, just published by Random House. Visit her website at www.yourparentstoo.com. As a daughter of…

• Mary Wells on What Ellen Brings to 'Idol'

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  What does Mary Wells think of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres on ‘American Idol’? Mary Wells | Today 12:00 amEllen DeGeneres will bring some class to "American Idol."

• Ellen DeGeneres has joined the judges on 'American Idol.' Should she have? What other celebs should make a similar move?

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm

  Join Mary Wells and Liz Smith in judging Ellen’s move to reality TV …Question of the Day | Today 12:00 amMary Wells | Today 12:00 amMary Wells on What Ellen Brings to 'Idol'Ellen DeGeneres will bring some class to "American Idol."

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  Learned On Women by Andrea Learned

• The Advantage of the Sustainability-Minded Entrepreneur

  Andrea Learned

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am

  It is so often the big risk-taking entrepreneurs or business leaders who live the glamorous life and get the media coverage, but does that really mean they are successful?  In the January 18 issue of The New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell considers what makes for a successful entrepreneur – the likes of Ted Turner or hedge-fund manager John Paulson, as examples.  Surprise – it’s not what you think, but it is a combination of things like: They are attracted by lack of risk (something pretty obvious, that for whatever reason other people aren’t seeing – perhaps because…

• What “Green Moms” Expect from Brands: Purse Strings Radio Interview

  Andrea Learned

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm

  Angela Walseng and Wendy Scherer of The Social Studies Group and I were recently interviewed on Purse Strings Radio about our Green Mom Eco-cosm Study. We got into some lively discussion about: A woman’s awareness of her own journey toward sustainable or “green” living, and how she allows for a brand to take steps toward sustainability rather than expecting absolute green perfection overnight. Even the toughest critics or greenest mom bloggers remain  open minded and see the greater good in what Walmart and Clorox are doing with their corporate and brand steps toward…

• Today’s Hot Business Trends Are Mainly Sustainable

  Andrea Learned

  28 Jan 2010 | 9:05 am

  I received another Springwise newsletter in my inbox today, a few days after reading the most recent issue of Fast Company, and the contents of both made me realize: for the most part the entrepreneurial ideas or trends that are being covered by the majority of even not “green”-specific publications today are influenced by sustainable business thinking.  The cool stuff just IS more sustainable by design, so the not-so sustainably-oriented ideas don’t make the cut. Let’s use this most recent Springwise newsletter , specifically, as an example.  Of the 14 cool new…

• Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model

  Andrea Learned

  26 Jan 2010 | 5:38 am

  One man’s evolution from successful conventional business thinker to practically iconic sustainable business thinker.  Anderson’s book is a great entry point for any businessperson considering sustainable development.

• Sustainable/Green Marketing Builds On Marketing to Women

  Andrea Learned

  25 Jan 2010 | 8:59 am

  Perhaps I’ve not been clear enough lately.  Just as marketing to women really should not have been some hugely new concept when it started getting noticed a decade ago, so too should marketing to the sustainable consumer NOT be considered a whole new, hard to learn, concept.  In both cases, the segment in focus – “women” or the “sustainable consumer” – mainly re-shape the conversation around what marketers have long pursued: reaching the marketplace’s core consumer most effectively. My work is in identifying, studying – and sharing with…

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  Back in skinny jeans

• Steph in Your Pocket: The Back in Skinny Jeans 25 Inspiring Weight Loss Nudges iPhone App

  Stephanie Quilao

  28 Jan 2010 | 6:38 pm

  The blog may be retired but the spirit lives on in an iPhone app to help you stay focused on reaching your weight goals in a holistic and fun way! Go to: While I am finishing up on making Back in Skinny Jeans a book, you can carry Steph in your pocket when you find yourself in some of those tempting places like the food court at the mall. {sniff. inhale the gooiness} I always find I'm easily enticed when I smell those sticky buns calling my name, so it would be cool to have something to remind me about choices. In the video, I give a quick overview of what I intended with the iPhone app…

• 28 Jan 2010 | 5:48 pm

  Stephanie Quilao

  28 Jan 2010 | 5:48 pm

• 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…

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  Strong, Light and Beautiful™

• Still treating ankle and knee

  SLaB

  20 Jan 2010 | 10:25 pm

  Aaah, a post surgery update for you all!Even though I felt like progress was accelerating - I'm finding mylimits. Glad to be starting stationary bike and even tried a real bikeride. Twisting my foot to get in, or most important- out- of my pedalcleats is not happening properly. I'd say mostly me knee... butstrength is clearly an issue. No, or limited weight baring is my onlyoption at this point.

• First ride in 19 weeks. Happy 2010!

  SLaB

  3 Jan 2010 | 4:40 pm

  (here is a link if the post doesn't work http://gallery.me.com/hstolka/100041)Well my Birthday was likely to be quiet after losing our sweet sweet cat, and travel to New England for Christmas. We thought we'd celebrate New Years Eve w/ a cocktail... maybe a couple friends walk to the closest bar for another... then back home for ringing in the new year and my Birthday. One neighbor led to

• Little One Garrity 1992(ish) - December 24, 2009

  SLaB

  29 Dec 2009 | 1:33 pm

  The best cat in the world. Didn't speak other than with her eyes or just shook her head which rang her little collar bell. Purr monster. Love monster. Furr monster that we loved very much. December is ending - the Holidays feel strange and sad, and here is hoping that Little One is at peace, and even though we were with her to the end, and watched her struggle for her last breaths - that she is

• Post Ride

  SLaB

  27 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  I can't stop laughing and quoting these guys. Enjoy!

• Bike Haiku

  SLaB

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pm

  A row of bikes hungawaits my ankle healinglike loyal friendships

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  The WIP: Byline portal + WIP Contibutors

• Meet the Radical Homemakers

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:44 am

  by Shannon Hayes, Yes!, USA - How families are achieving ecological, social, and economic transformation... starting under their own roofs.

• Church of England to Push Ahead with Plan for Women Bishops

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:39 am

  by Ruth Gledhill, Times Online, UK - The Church of England is to go ahead with the plan to create women bishops without giving in to demands from traditionalists for a separate structure of bishops and archbishops untainted by the hands of a woman.

• Marrakesh's Troubling Transformation into Luxury Hot Spot

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:32 am

  by Britta Sandberg, Spiegel, Germany - Less than a decade ago, tourists shunned Morocco because of its poor infrastructure and supposedly unsafe conditions. Now, though, a major initiative started by the country's king has turned Marrakesh into a playground for the world's rich and famous. But not all of the effects have been positive.

• A Final Move to Exterminate the People of Darfur

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:28 am

  by Anne Bartlett, Sudan Tribune, France - Recent months have witnessed an attempt to shift attention away from Darfur, yet the situation in the West of Sudan is anything but quiet.

• Gaza: Cases of Abandoned Children on the Rise

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:02 am

  by Mariam Hamed, Palestine Note, Palestine - Don't be surprised if one day you find a crying infant thrown in front of a children's hospital, left by a sidewalk, or a trash can in the streets of Gaza. It is an "infant of unknown parentage."

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  EmpowHER - Women's Health Online

• Antidepressant Lowers Survival Odds for Breast Cancer

  hernews

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:11 am

  TUESDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Women with breast cancer who take both tamoxifen and the antidepressant Paxil may increase their risk of dying because Paxil reduces tamoxifen's effectiveness, Canadian researchers report. Image:  read more

• Michelle Obama: Let’s tackle childhood obesity. Let’s Move.

  Diane Porter

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:08 am

  It is an ugly fact: Nearly a third of our children are overweight or obese. read more

• 'Third-Hand Smoke' Could Be Troublesome For Your Lungs

  mpingolt

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:03 pm

  MONDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Tobacco smoke residue found on indoor surfaces -- so-called "third-hand smoke" -- can interact with airborne compounds to form new, potentially cancer-causing substances, research suggests. Details about the potential role such third-hand smoke might play and what health concerns it might create remain unclear, however, awaiting further study. Image:  read more

• Why Women Have More Foot, Knee, Hip and Back Pain?

  Tina Tran

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:46 am

  Display Title:  Why Women Have More Foot, Knee, Hip and Back Pain? Background Image:  A doctor shares the simple steps you can take to avoid pain, especially back and foot pain. Image Only:  No Description Background:  on Link Text:  Read the story URL:  http://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2010/01/27/why-women-have-more-foot-knee... Align:  left Weight:  5 Text Color:  White

• Who Will Benefit From Spinal Surgery?

  Tina Tran

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:34 am

  Display Title:  Who Will Benefit From Spinal Surgery? Background Image:  Dr. Choll Kim explains those patients who would benefit most from spinal surgery. Image Only:  No Description Background:  on Link Text:  Watch the video URL:  http://www.empowher.com/media/video/who-will-benefit-spinal-surgery-dr-kim-video Align:  right Weight:  4 Text Color:  White

• 
  Totally Her, Totally Real - TotallyHer.com

• Megan Park Interview: The Secret Life of the American Teenager

  Sarah Eve

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:38 am

  Grace is the Christian good girl that is finding her life turning out much differently than she expected. Watching this character grow, change, and mature is a relatable journey not only to the audience but also to Megan herself.

• Baby Crying? Check Your iPhone!

  Lores

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:36 am

  Now, there's an application to help new parents figure out what their baby's cry means. Are we getting too dependent on technology?

• Haiti: Miracles in the Midst of Disaster

  Lores

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:01 am

  The images we've seen on television are heart-wrenching. Collapsed buildings. Bloody and broken bodies. And, the worst, lifeless bodies pulled out of the rubble. In the midst of devastation, there are so many unbelievable stories of survival. These are the miracles of Haiti.

• Abstinence Works

  Lores

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  Results showed that while 48.5 percent of students in the health-promotion group had sex for the first time during the study period, only 33.5 percent of those in the abstinence-only group did so.

• How to be Less Cranky

  Sarah Eve

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  10 ways to be less cranky, improve your mood, and get in tune with your emotional well being.

• 
  jennster :o)

• hiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am

  i just wanted to say hi! and that i'm on my way back! i hope to be in the position VERY SOON when i can talk to y'all about what has been going on with me. i am tired of giving random people control over my life. people who don't matter to me at all in the grand scheme of things, seem to have this power over my well being. we're all in that position in one way or another. i need it to end. i have to take control. because i am fucking awesome. and i deserve a shitload of good stuff, and it is clear that no one else is going to make that happen. i have to make my own good fortune. i can't leave…

• why is it so easy...

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  to doubt yourself?have you ever realized that?it's fucking annoying.because it seems like you can plan and follow what feels right for only so long. until doubts creep in. or ONE doubt. and it seems like that 1 negative thing can throw you off your path completely.it's what is happening to me right now.and it's pissing me off. cause before i had this doubt, i was really motivated. and happy. and singing songs with little birds on my shoulder. nah, you're right.. i would have kilt the birds. but still... this thing.. it felt right.but now. i'm not so sure anymore. now, i can't shake the doubt.

• calling all bloggers who design!!!

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:26 am

  i am in the process of needing a few things designed and i figured WHO better to ask then my fellow bloggers who design on the side?? or my fellow bloggers who are super talented, but don't get enough business, or enjoy designing.i love my fellow bloggers and so i want to support them.here's what i'm looking for (and will pay for):1- a really cute logo of a girl- who is cartooney, but also resembles the ster. in theory she would show from head to toe and would be holding something in her hand. cutesy, but not annoying. slightly sexy, but nowhere near slutty. this is family show. lol2- a…

• let's talk about gifts!

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:51 am

  i want to talk about gifts. not only because i scored super high on receiving gifts in the 5 love languages quiz i took, but because i'm wondering if i'm the only person who does this. who puts weird restrictions on what is or isn't an appropriate gift depending on the occasion.oh my gosh. i am a total freak huh?okay, so what are the standard gift giving days? valentines day... anniversary.. birthday.. and christmas, right? so, i've discussed how stupid i think valentines day is many times in the past. i've also discussed that while i think it's freaking stupid, i still want it…

• the 5 love languages

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:17 am

  so i mentioned to y'all that while we were in arizona, the book "the 5 love languages" was brought up. and while 2 of us had read it already, 2 of us had not. so we sat there salivating at what the book was about, and we were like, "SOLD! let's go buy the book RIGHT NOW AND SAVE THE WORLD!!!"and we did. at least the buying the book part. saving the world is still in progress.the cliff notes version is that the book is teaching you how you ACCEPT love. and how your partner ACCEPTS love. and basically, we tend to give the type of love that we want. for example, i like to get boyfriend little…

• 
  Mostly Lisa: Canada's Sexy Geek Blog

• 2010 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Pre-Show

  Mostly Lisa

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:07 am

  Site of the 2010 Opening & Closing ceremonies. Today I had the opportunity to get a sneak peak at the 2010 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Pre-show held at BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver. Ticket I got last minute to attend the pre-show. Security tents are set-up behind me. When I arrived at BC Place, there was a medium sized crowd bustling in front of the security tents. After about 10 minutes, we were directed towards the security check points. People with bags had to form separate lines from those without bags who were able to go through “Express Security”. Crowd is…

• 5 Tips for Taking Better Portraits

  Mostly Lisa

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:47 pm

  Pete Cashmore, 5DMKII, 85mm f/1.8, 1/200 @f/3.5, ISO 100. Before I jump head first into 2010 Olympic coverage (3 days!!!), I thought I should give my favourite photographer followers some post love. Here are 5 Tips to get more professional looking portraits: 1. Light your subject. Lighting is one of most important aspects in creating a great portrait. Good lighting is easy to achieve, but requires skill and an off-camera flash. Getting that flash off your camera and onto a light stand with a shoot-through umbrella may seem a bit daunting, but trust me, it’s the only way to guarantee…

• Rockin’ the 2010 GRAMMYs

  Mostly Lisa

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:19 pm

  (David Karp (Tumblr), Rachel, Pete Cashmore (Mashable), me, Darya, Kevin Rose (Digg), Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) & Anna) Sunday was a pretty normal day. I woke up at the Beverly Hilton, ordered 3 small pancakes for $20, stole a muffin from Jessica Alba at a Press Junket, got my hair and makeup done, put on a dress (!), jumped in a pimpin’ limo with Pete Cashmore, Kevin Rose, & David Karp, drank champagne, got yelled at for taking photos of the Red Carpet & nearly got harpooned by Lady Gaga’s diamonte headpiece. Then, I waved at Weird Al, heard the Pants-on-the-Ground…

• 10 New Years Resolutions Every Photographer should make

  Mostly Lisa

  2 Jan 2010 | 2:20 pm

  I am clutching my 5DMKII and literally buzzing inside, thinking about the photographic potential of the new year. The possibilities are endless. Now, I just have to commit the time and passion required to become a great photographer. In that spirit, I think we should all try to keep these 10 New Years Resolutions. Now, everyone say after me: 1. I will learn how to use my camera. This seems like an obvious point, but we are all guilty of skipping our camera manual and just fiddling with settings. Ah, this one works right? Spot-metering? Why not. Hey, what does that button do? Seems to make…

• My Photographic Journey

  Mostly Lisa

  28 Dec 2009 | 11:36 am

  Photo by Scott Stulberg. I was just looking through my portfolio this past week and physically cringing at how bad some of my old shots are. I almost deleted them from my Flickr stream, but then I realized that each photo represents a part of my photographic journey. My photography evolved a lot from the days when I use to take pictures of Pez, cupcakes, and interesting trash I found in my back alley. It seems so silly now, but had I not spent everyday shooting, learning, and exploring the world with my camera, I wouldn’t be taking the pictures I am taking today. Super hero Pez, Canon…

• 
  The Work at Home Woman

• When Your Hobby Becomes Your Business

  Holly - The Work at Home Woman

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  By Elena Adams I got into an argument with my husband right before Christmas. His friend had asked for a quote on a custom necklace and, as with all custom items, I priced it to match my other stock with consideration for the time and materials that go into it. My husband, thinking it was too [...]

• Interview with WAHM Corinna Nardi of Blisstopia

  Holly - The Work at Home Woman

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  Do you work at home? Yes! How many children do you have? 3 – 1 son, age 14 & identical twin daughters, ages 12. How many hours do you work a week? 20 hours. Tell us a little bit about Blisstopia Box and how you got started. Blisstopia is a concept of mine that started out of the idea to categorize bath [...]

• 10 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Mompreneur & Blogger

  Holly - The Work at Home Woman

  5 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  By Holly Reisem Hanna I have been working at home for two years, and blogging for one, and during this time I have learned a ton of valuable lessons and insight as a mompreneur. I always enjoy it when others share their wisdom with me, so here are my 10 lessons that I have learned as a [...]

• She-E-O’s in the Tank Twitter Party!

  Holly - The Work at Home Woman

  4 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  What: She-E-O’s in the Tank Twitter Party When: Friday, February 12th at 9PM EST / 8PM CST Where: Twitter #inthetank Who: Sponsored by Holly Hanna & Abbey Fatica Update: I can’t believe last Friday was the season finale of Shark Tank! But we are still going to get our Shark Tank fix, by talking about the show, being [...]

• Upcoming Events & Webinars for She-E-O’s, WAHM’s & Bloggers

  Holly - The Work at Home Woman

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  Every Wednesday – From the Comfort of your Home The Integrated Mother – “Attention Work-at-Home and Telecommuting Moms: Discover how to effectively balance work, family and life – all under one roof! Introducing the Get Your Groove Back! eClass , a one-on-one learning intensive for work-at-home moms with Michele Dortch, M.A. This class is made up [...]

• 
  Women's Voices For Change

• On Valentine’s Day, The Most Important Heart

  In this week of hearts and flowers, it’s important not to overlook the most important heart of all–your own. This week the Valentines’ Day barrage is tough to miss: the jewelry [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• Temple Grandin, My Son and Me

  This past weekend saw the cable TV premiere of a movie about animal behavior expert and autism advocate Temple Grandin. WVFC contributor Tamar Bihari writes about watching the film with [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• On Super Bowl Sunday, a Concussion Conversation Continues

  Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and even if your hometown’s team is one of the competitors, none has completely escaped chatter about the brain-injury controversy—from CNN’s report on the long-lasting [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• Our Sex Lives: One Response

  Another pre-Valentine’s Day blip: a note for the editors of Our Bodies, Ourselves, whose query about women’s sex lives we posted last week. We were delighted at the good news [...] [This is only the intro. Click the headline to visit Womens Voices for Change for the full post, links, other content, and more!]

• Aung San Suu Kyi: Justice Elusive

  This week, we’re continuing WVFC’s Nine Women to Run the World campaign, first with Monday’s piece about Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Now, our friends at On The Issues Magazine [...] [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)

• Social Media Builds Brand Value

  Toby

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:43 pm

  Do you sometimes long for the simpler days of social media, say 5, 6+ years ago, when the hot issues were should comments should be monitored and how to handle the negative ones? Especially for marketers, the social web grows more complex by the nano second.   As customers come to expect the opportunity to interact with (hopefully!) the people who are behind brands we find ourselves addressing aspects that impact brand value. Note: Please check out Diva Marketing's post Where Does Transparency Fit In The New Social Media Marketing Model?How can social media help tell the stories of…

• Where Does 'Transparency' Fit In The New Social Media Marketing Model?

  Toby

  1 Feb 2010 | 5:33 am

   Unlike most business strategies, social media is built on a culture that is developed by the people who are involved in digital communities. The concepts of transparency, authenticity, honesty and passion for the topic/brand have evolved as 'society norms' for communicating and forming relationships in the world of the social web. In an environment where your changing avatar is accepted as your image to the world, where people exchange ideas that frequently lead to business opportunities and where 'real' friendships are formed it was important to have a few boundaries…

• Top Ten Reasons Why Not To Use Social Media

  Toby

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:20 pm

  Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly. Top 10 Reason Why Not To Use Social Media With apologies to Mister Letterman .. 10. Social media is just a fad. 9. Social media is a kid thing. 8. None of my customers are using social media or those network things. 7. Why would I want to know what you had for breakfast? 6. Twitter twits tweets. How you take something that sounds like bird seed as a serious marketing tactic? 5. We don't have the time. 4. No way…

• 3 Steps To Khoas Social Media

  Toby

  19 Jan 2010 | 9:57 pm

   When I heard a colleague call social media a "consequence free environment" one word came to mind: Chaos. Dictionary.com defines choas as: a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order. In the business world, where order and analysis are the basis of strategy, it's a small wonder why many marketers think of social media as their worst nightmare! However, as is often the case of a Google search I saw something else .. another spelling - Khaos - and followed the links. Khaos was the Greek Goddess of the space between heaven…

• For Haiti - One By One By One

  Toby

  17 Jan 2010 | 5:01 pm

  Today Max and took a walk in the rain. Max hates to get wet and while I might like to fantasy about dancing in the rain with Gene Kelly, being out doors in a cold winter rain with winds blowing is not my ideal of fun. But we were safe. I knew we were going back to a warm house where I could relax by the fire with a hot cup of tea or even a snifter of brandy and Max, of course, could chew on a doggy treat. There are millions of people today in a small island in the Caribbean who are not safe. The people of Haiti will not be safe for many weeks or more likely many, many months. Diva Marketing…

• 
  Menstrual Poetry

• Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex, a Video Review

  About a month ago I received a really awesome book from Babeland. I’ve known about Babeland for years now and have also worked with them periodically on another website of mine, so I was pretty psyched to have this book show up. Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex is something that all sexual beings [...]

• International Women’s Health Coalition Kicks Off Young Visionaries Contest and Grant Opportunity

  I have had a great deal of ideas to supplement my community’s activism when it comes to resources for women and youth and if my past ideas are any indicator of the future, I’m bound to have a lot more. Have I done much of anything to build upon any of these ideas? Well, not [...]

• Blog for Choice 2010: Trust Women

  Happy anniversary, Roe v. Wade! On this day 37 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that it was about time to let women make their own decisions about their health and what does or does not happen with and within their own bodies. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade is a day to be [...]

• Blog for Choice 2010 Open Thread

  Today marks the 37th anniversary for the landmark decision that gave women the right to have access to safe and legal abortion, Roe v. Wade. Today is also the fifth annual Blog for Choice Day from NARAL Pro-Choice America. If you’re not familiar with Blog for Choice Day, it is when each year, NARAL Pro-Choice [...]

• Bloggers Unite for Haiti

  I already took to my Twitter to spread the word about Bloggers Unite for Haiti, but wanted to make sure as many people as possible know that this is going on and how they can continue to spread the word about how they and others can help the relief efforts. I found out about this [...]

• 
  DailyCandy All Cities

• Self-Help Deals

  DailyCandy

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am

  Feel better. About everything.

• Be My Deal-entine

  DailyCandy

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:30 am

  Be still your beating hearts: Cupid’s got your February Deals right here.

• For the Love of Deals

  DailyCandy

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  Deals loves you. Deals loves you not. Deals loves you and that’s that.

• What's the Big Deal?

  DailyCandy

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  You’re more of a plastic than a paper kinda kid — hence your maxed out credit cards and the IRS on your tail. Fear not, big spenda. Frugality is only a deal away.

• 11 Things Bodkin Designer Eviana Hartman Is Loving Right Now

  DailyCandy

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:30 am

  An organic list of loves from an ecochic designer.

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

• Common Ground

  girlgriot

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:45 pm

  Our essay topic: “What are the advantages and disadvantages of a “child-free” lifestyle?” It’s kind of a ridiculous topic on its face, and written in such a way as to invite confusion in how people answer it.  Most of the class brainstormed on the advantages of not having children and the disadvantages of having them.  It took a [...]

• Blog School

  girlgriot

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:16 pm

  Even as I type this, I am sitting in a class called “Promoting students’ writing and publishing with blogs, digital projects and online content.” And I think it’ll be good in the end (it’s already good: I’ve just been introduced to Powerpoint Jeopardy, and the very fab-looking/seeming Digital Story Telling page!), but I’m such a bad [...]

• Rainy Day, Dream Away

  girlgriot

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:56 pm

  (Ok, not rainy, but I’m always up for a Hendrix reference.) When I first heard of lucid dreaming my response was, “Yeah.  And?”  I thought everyone dreamed that way.  Apparently not. I always have.  I don’t remember all of my dreams, but all the ones I’ve ever remembered have been the lucid kind.  This is handy, of [...]

• Where’s Aunt Sally when I need her?

  girlgriot

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:08 am

  I had a strange dream early this morning.  It was the kind of dream in which my conscious self knows that I’m dreaming and even talks to me as the action of the dream is unfolding about the fact that I’m dreaming.  It was my conscious self that ended the dream, that made the decision [...]

• PSA: In case you didn’t know …

  girlgriot

  1 Feb 2010 | 8:52 pm

  Sometimes, it takes hearing it from a four-year-old for the message to really sink in.   So, if you hadn’t already heard: Sophia’s right, of course.  Something is wrong, and we do have the power to stop it.  I found this while looking for something else entirely, but it’s actually a nice tie-in with the adipositivity post.  Substantia [...]

• 
  Stirrup Queens

• There, But For the Grace of G-d, Go I: Dispatches from Snowmageddon Part Four (Giveaway Edition)

  Lollipopgoldstein

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am

  Because I know some of you have been waiting for this (I’m assuming you care because you’ve asked about it.  Though perhaps you were just being polite?), this is the post that contains the yearly Purim basket giveaway.  But first, you need to read my blatherings about snow.  Sorry about that.  Snow has become my [...]

• Here Comes the Sun: Dispatches from Snowmageddon Part Three

  Lollipopgoldstein

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:01 am

  Saturday night ended in the dark, with just the sound of shovels.  Sunday was a lighter day.  The sun was shining off the enormous mounds of snow.  After breakfast, we bundled up the twins and stepped outside in our snow gear.  Our current snow gear is sort of cobbled together from various sources as opposed [...]

• White Out: Dispatches from Snowmageddon Part Two

  Lollipopgoldstein

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:23 pm

  It was a day of big conversations. This morning, we needed to explain to the twins that even trees die, pushing out their tight boundaries surrounding death a little further (up until this morning, the only ways one could die were old age, not eating, or getting hit by a car because you ran into the [...]

• A Hard Snow’s a-Gonna Fall: Dispatches from Snowmageddon Part One (the Prequel)

  Lollipopgoldstein

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:41 pm

  Snowpocalypse 2010, for us, started with a naked Yoda. ******* Actually, it started with the first few flakes blinking through the sky as I picked the twins up at school.  I had dropped them off with the reminder that if the snow started falling in earnest before school was over, I was going to come to school [...]

• 274th Friday Blog Roundup

  Lollipopgoldstein

  5 Feb 2010 | 4:47 am

  Snowmageddon is happening at some point today, 24 inches of snow dumped on the greater DC area.  I could not be more excited to be stuck inside our house.  I gleefully stocked up on movies and books from the library, purchased art supplies from the craft store, and braved a two-hour visit to the food [...]

• 
  Feminist Daily News

• FDA Approves Single-Dose Plan B Emergency Contraceptive

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

• Obama Appoints Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General

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

• Sotomayor Hearings Commence

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

• Law Protecting Clinic Buffer Zone Upheld

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

• Appeals Court Rules Pharmacists Can't Refuse Plan B

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

• 
  Joy Unexpected

• We Have Not Yet Determined What The Prize For The Winner Will Be, But I'm Pretty Sure His Will Rhyme With "Slow Bob."

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:24 pm

  This morning me and my (still unemployed, hold me) husband were watching yesterday's Oprah show. It was about diabetes. Having been diagnosed with "insulin resistance" (pre-diabetes) I thought I had educated myself on the disease sufficiently. Turns out, I didn't know as much as I thought I did. There was so much valuable information on that show. And the information scared both me and my husband straight. Did you know that having 1 12 oz can of soda a day increases your risk of type2 diabetes by 83%? Crazy, right? One of the biggest risk factors for diabetes is belly fat. Before I had…

• I Guess What I'm Trying to Say is That I Am So Good.

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:57 pm

  Last week I had a follow up appointment with my new female endocrinologist. My first visit with her was not fun. I had not had a period in almost 6 months. I could not lose weight no matter how much I worked out or watched what I ate. I felt tired all of the time, even though my thyroid numbers were finally in the normal range. I was an emotional and physical wreck. I told her about my symptoms. I told her how my doctor told me to "just enjoy" not having a period. I told her about my frustration with my weight. I told her how I felt like no one was truly listening to me. I cried. And I cried.

• Gym Ra(n)t.

  27 Jan 2010 | 3:12 pm

  I'm starting to hate the gym. I should rephrase that. I'm starting to hate MY gym because my gym is kind of an asshole. It's small. There is no child care. They have awesome machines that we are not allowed to use unless we pay for (semi) private sessions with one of their "trainers.". They added a sauna, but you have to pay extra for it. The aerobics room is tiny and I almost always am tempted to "throw an elbow" because woman don't respect (aerobic dancing) personal space. The mats are all ripped to shreds and are in desperate need of being replaced. You know what else? The instructors at…

• I'm Pretty Sure She Meant "Twitter."

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:33 pm

  Scene: My daughter is sitting at the kitchen table. I'm standing over here, answering a question. She farts. LOUDLY. "What do you say?" I ask. "Excuse me." She says, while giggling a little. A few seconds later, a horrific smell fills the atmosphere. "Goodness, little girl." I say, while plugging my nose. I walk away to clear the nasal passage. "Mom!" she says, all excitedly. "You have GOT to put that on YouTube." I start laughing because I'm pretty sure my daughter just told me that I should upload her fart to YouTube. "I'm SERIOUS, Mom. put it on YouTube." After I stop laughing, I ask her…

• This Week, In Pictures. (Basically. It Rained. A Lot.)

  23 Jan 2010 | 11:04 am

• 
  Shakesville

• Today's Edition of "Conniving and Sinister"

  Melissa McEwan

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:23 pm

  Strips One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111. In which Liss reimagines the long-running comic "Frank & Ernest," about two old straight white guys "telling it…

• Lost Jones

  Melissa McEwan

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:17 am

  Tread lightly if you aren't caught up yet...Matthew Fox in the Telegraph.Terry O'Quinn in the LA Times.Jorge Garcia in New York.Michael Emerson at Fancast.Yunjin Kim in the Star Telegram.Elizabeth Mitchell at E!Josh Holloway in USA Today.[H/T to Tracie for the first four.]

• Let's Move

  Melissa McEwan

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:13 am

  As I mentioned yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama was set to launch her anti-childhood-obesity campaign today, and so she has:Michelle Obama is telling America that it's time to get moving.In a news conference set for noon Tuesday at the White House, the first lady will introduce a national effort to combat childhood obesity.Calling it The Let's Move campaign, the program will focus on what families, communities and the public and private sectors can do to help fight childhood obesity, which she and health experts have termed an epidemic in the United States.Christ. I'm pretty sure I…

• Photo of the Day

  Deeky

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:37 am

  Thinking of warmer climes...

• The Not Quite Daily Teaspoon Report – T100209

  CaitieCat

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am

  Time for another Teaspoon Report, brought to you by Shaxco, proud publishers of the thrilling sequel to Ethel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying: Ethel the Aardvark: Assistant Manager of Quantity Surveying for Northwest Region! Available now in bookstores near you, and some which are sort of on the net, so they're near in a way, but not really like you could go over and get a cuppa and sit down and read them.Leave comments here that describe an act of teaspooning you encountered or committed. They don't have to be big, world-shaking acts; by definition, a teaspoon is a small thing, but…

• 
  ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

• On That Obesity Campaign

  echidne

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:15 pm

  Which Michelle Obama will lead. My modest additional proposal:1. Bring physical education back into schools as an important aspect of overall education. Don't cut it the minute you need to save money, and don't make it all about the few children good enough to be in school teams. It's everyone we need to get moving.2. Get rid of corn syrup in everything that is cheap food or drink. There's enough evidence to suggest that it's bad for the human bodies when taken in such large amounts.3. If you want to scare people with scandalous stories of what might happen to an unattended child playing…

• Today's Deep Thoughts

  echidne

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:20 am

  1. I'm a gateway drug to feminism. Discuss.2. No, even goddesses cannot work through weekends and go without sleep.

• Couldn't Remember Where I Heard It...... Just a quick note

  olvlzl

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:50 am

  but last week, after hearing a male English professor waxing wistfully about how much Catcher in the Rye meant to his development, another professor, a woman, said that her first reading of Holden Caulfield was like being on a date with a boy who couldn't stop talking about himself.Which might be the most insightful single thing ever said about the book. A McC

• The Misogyny Bowl

  echidne

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:09 pm

  That was a fun Super Bowl. The patriarchal Focus on the Family ad was nothing, though of course one is invited to partake of their wise website. But some of the other ads! Every man is pussy-whupped and really hates his wife/girlfriend.The worst of the lot is the Dodge ad: Man's Last Stand. Watch it first and then come back. A comment on the ad:Four men look at the camera as we hear their thoughts, including "I will say 'yes' when you want me to say 'yes.' I will be quiet when you don't want me to say 'no.'" and "I will listen to your opinions of my friends. I will listen to your friends…

• The New York Times Hates Women. Part III.

  echidne

  7 Feb 2010 | 4:42 pm

  This could also have been subtitled: Poor Women. Too Clever For Their Own Good.I'm a little bit fed up with these kinds of articles, and they have been many:After midnight on a rainy night last week in Chapel Hill, N.C., a large group of sorority women at the University of North Carolina squeezed into the corner booth of a gritty basement bar. Bathed in a neon glow, they splashed beer from pitchers, traded jokes and belted out lyrics to a Taylor Swift heartache anthem thundering overhead. As a night out, it had everything — except guys."This is so typical, like all nights, 10 out of 10,"…

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  Girlfriendology

• Daily Inspiration – Be YOUrself

  Girlfriendology

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am

  To be YOUrself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson My girlfriend Judi’s daughter wears non-matching socks everyday. Penny loves to pair up two earrings that are different but work…

• Daily Inspiration – The One Thing …

  Girlfriendology

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:11 pm

  “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt ‘Surrounded by smart, savvy, socially-connected women’ is how I’d describe the Blissdom Conference I attended last week in Nashville. 500 women bloggers from around the world gathered to learn, share and…

• The Gift of Sharing – Guest Blog

  Girlfriendology

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:54 am

  I love the wisdom that women share. Girlfriend advice from simple tips to handling life, we all benefit from sharing life and wisdom with each other. So, it’s a joy to introduce you to CATHY RAFF and to share some of her…

• Blissful, Blissdom Women’s Online Communities

  Girlfriendology

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:25 pm

  Are you here in Nashville for Blissdom – the great conference for women bloggers? If so, look for me – I’m wearing the Girlfriendology orange flower. There’s about 500 of us female blissful bloggers who are passionate about the blogosphere and social media.…

• Daily Inspiration: Sage Advice Girlfriend …

  Girlfriendology

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:55 am

  “Give others the benefit of the doubt and offer a hand of FRIENDSHIP instead of a cold shoulder.” Sage Scrolls Dear Girlfriend, As I friend, I owe you the benefit of the doubt. Right? Actually, there’s no doubt – I do. You deserve a ‘hand…

• 
  The-F-Word.org

• Food Finds: UGLI fruit

  Rachel

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:09 am

  Food Finds is a semi-regular feature in which I channel my inner Andrew Zimmern to experiment and try exotic and new foods — sans creepy crawly bugs and bull’s testicles, of course.  Have an idea for my next food find?  Post your suggestions in the comments below! It is a testament to the marvels of [...]

• A Life Recovered

  Rachel

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:34 am

  I was on a furlough last week and barely touched my computer in the 9 total glorious days I didn’t have to punch a timecard.  I know Charlynn and Greta are both also crazy busy, so please excuse our appalling lack of updates as of late.  Someone on an eating disorder support forum I am [...]

• What We Missed

  Rachel

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:07 am

  A new study of 1,000 American girls between the ages of 13-17 by the Girl Scouts finds that 9 out of 10 girls say they feel pressure from the media and/or fashion industry to be skinny.  More than 80 percent of the girls polled said they’d rather see natural photos of models than digitally enhanced [...]

• Flying off treadmills and other embarrassing gym mishaps

  Rachel

  29 Jan 2010 | 10:48 am

  On a lighter note this week, MSNBC has a story out today on embarrassing gym mishaps, the bulk of which appear to occur in January by amateur gym-goers armed with freshly made new year’s resolutions. Last year, there were more than 1,500 reports of exercisers landing in the emergency room after run-ins with workout equipment, according [...]

• “Fat baby” fears led parents to starve newborn

  Rachel

  27 Jan 2010 | 9:16 am

  You remember the case of the otherwise happy and healthy Colorado four-month-old denied health insurance for the "pre-existing condition" of obesity, right? The general reaction was one of rightful outrage, and the resulting backlash soon forced the insurance company to capitulate and change its policy on babies that are healthy but fat. Rocky Mountain Health Plans' denial of coverage to baby Alex is but symptomatic of a shift in the focus on childhood obesity to to direct anti-obesity fearmongering onto chubby babies -- see here, here and here. Perhaps its this growing hysteria on whether…

• 
  In Women We Trust

• How to Rebuild a American Life's Trust Factor

  InWomenWeTrust

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:25 am

  In Women We Trust comes alive in the marketing campaign In Gayle We Trust

• The Foregone Market Conclusion has Arrived, and Another is on it's Way...

  InWomenWeTrust

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:02 am

  It's a foregone market conclusion - women are the will, corporations are the way and sustainable standards will keep us all honest. The benchmarks are being set...

• New, Greener Traditions

  InWomenWeTrust

  15 Dec 2009 | 9:19 pm

  My Grandmother sent postcards. My Mother slaved over hundreds of Christmas Cards keeping track of each one sent and each one received. At some point the list got the better of her and she cut back to just those who were out-of-towners. For years I hand made my cards. What was I thinking? As I read my Facebook page and feel the frustration of my friends and the holidays already getting the better of them, I wonder maybe it's time for a new tradition. I love the tradition of sending and receiving cards. I line them up around my livingroom...

• Business Climate Change - Move one woman and you'll move many

  InWomenWeTrust

  6 Dec 2009 | 7:29 pm

  It's Sunday night and the votes and endorsements have yet to tallied for who won the Hopenhagen contest for sending a citizen to Copenhagen Climate Conference. As the counting continues, we have much to be proud of. While others spent weeks building up their headcount of voters, Diane (here) made it to the top of the charts in three days. Imagine what we could have done if we knew about the contest sooner. Diane is also hosting our Green Mom Carnival this month. Helping Diane up in the ranks took many, MANY women (and men). The list is a cross...

• I'm Trusting in YOU this time

  InWomenWeTrust

  2 Dec 2009 | 8:22 am

  Dear Readers, this blog is about using your power of your purse, posts, and peers to change the world. Now is the time and here is your moment to show the world of politicians and corporations that you and your immediate peers carry clout and can send it! Vote Here (you'll need to sign up for Huffington Post) As the world is getting more messed up, the voices of those who are being directly affected to clean up the mess are being pushed to a back seat - that's YOU the average citizen and cherished female consumer. In the end...

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  The Downtown Women's Club womensDISH blog

• When H*ll Freezes Over

  Diane K. Danielson

  6 Feb 2010 | 11:07 am

  It’s official. Massachusetts elects a Republican and H*ll is literally freezing over. At least it is for DC. So, for my Mid-Atlantic readers, I thought I would re-run a column that has become a yearly standard up here in Boston....

• Entrepreneurship: Do you have the spirit? Guest Post by Nicole Williams

  Diane K. Danielson

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:03 pm

  Nicole Williams is the author of Girl on Top: You Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success, and provides us with three things you need to be a successful entrepreneur. To go it alone or not to go it...

• Book Review: Networkers are Connectors

  Diane K. Danielson

  4 Feb 2010 | 11:18 am

  I’m reviewing The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Fife by Maribeth Kuzemeski, for two reasons: I liked the idea that it’s not about “networking” but about “connecting.” 2010 is a decade where...

• Are You Engaging - Or Just Chattering?

  Crissy Herron

  28 Jan 2010 | 4:43 am

  Social media is a great business tool. It allows you to connect with your customers and clients in a very friendly, personal way, even if they are located thousands of miles away from you. If you are using Facebook and...

• Things To Do Now, Before You Forget

  Crissy Herron

  26 Jan 2010 | 10:39 am

  There are lots of little things that pop up during the year -- usually when you're busy and can easily forget those "little things." Taking care of them now before they pop up can help make this an easier year....

• 
  The Crone Speaks

• ‘Ya Better Watch Out!

  archrone

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:30 am

  I was home yesterday, battling a particularly nasty sinus infection.  So, I turned on the History Channel to keep me company. And there was a very interesting show that ran yesterday afternoon, called “Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem.”  Depression era crime, and, yes, for a while there, not only did crime pay but the criminals ran the show. Two points stood out — the first being, at the time, the most profitable crime was kidnapping, which, is said to have started with the Lindbergh kidnapping. Not that there weren’t kidnappings prior to this, mind you. But, at the…

• GUILTY!

  archrone

  29 Jan 2010 | 1:16 pm

  Taking only minutes, 37 minutes,  the jury in the trial of Scott Roeder found that he was guilty of killing Dr. George Tiller at his church. It took jurors 37 minutes on Friday to convict Scott Roeder, an abortion opponent, of first-degree murder in the death of George R. Tiller, one of the few doctors in the country to perform late-term abortions. I really don’t care what your stance on abortion is, hunting down a doctor because you disagree with what he does, and shoot him in cold blood,  is murder, and it will not be tolerated by the people. This conviction is a strong message, and…

• Wall St. Bankers Staged a Whaaaaaally

  archrone

  29 Jan 2010 | 5:01 am

  Not the sort of late afternoon stock rally, either. Seems that the poor, poor, pitiful brokers on Wall Street are having a tough time with the populist revolt against them, and decided to stage a rally. The well-groomed brokers and traders bent on sticking up for Wall Street gathered on Wednesday in best-behaved form — no chanting, no shrill whistling, pretty much no noise at all — to mark the formation of the financial world’s modest alternative to the Tea Party movement. Things had gotten entirely too annoying. First it was White House (and populist) complaints about Wall Street…

• Notes from an Uninsured Progressive: Why HCR should be scrapped and start over

  archrone

  23 Jan 2010 | 8:35 am

  Yesterday Adam Bink, over at Open Left, asked: How about some folks run a poll asking people who can’t afford insurance, or are denied it because of a pre-existing condition, if they would like the Senate bill to pass so they can get some health insurance? There’s, what, 30 million plus people in this population. Has anyone seen polling on this? I, too, have not seen any polls from uninsured folks that cannot afford health care insurance, and I think it would be an excellent polling question. Since I fall into that group, as well as the pre-existing conditions group, let me give…

• Stare decisis et non quieta movere

  archrone

  22 Jan 2010 | 6:37 am

  Stare decisis, or binding precedent, is a principle of law. During the Roberts confirmation hearings, there was quite extensive discussion of stare decisis, particularly as it related to Roe, and cases surrounding Roe. Here is just one of Robert’s answers: Specter: I move now to Casey v. Planned Parenthood. Thirty minutes may seem like a long time and a second round of 20 minutes, but the time will fly. And I want to get right to the core of the issue. In Casey, the key test on following precedents moved to the extent of reliance by the people on the precedent. And Casey had this to say…

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  Pink Lemonade

• Upcoming Giveaways

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  31 Dec 2010 | 12:51 pm

  The following is a list of upcoming product reviews. Reviews (unless arranged previously), are posted in the order they are received.Upcoming GiveawaysAden + AnaisSqueeballs for Wii and Nintendo DSMy PublisherPink Lemonade reserves the right to add or delete giveaways as necessary at any time before the giveaway officially begins.For more information on sponsoring a giveaway, please visit our Giveaway Sponsor information page

• Upcoming Product Reviews

  Pink Lemonade Liz

  31 Dec 2010 | 12:50 pm

  The following is a list of upcoming product reviews. Reviews (unless arranged previously), are posted in the order they are received.Upcoming ReviewsHarmony Booster SeatEveryday California Fresh Olive OilSilver Moon DessertsPink Lemonade reserves the right to re-arrange or pull any review as necessary.For More information on having your product reviewed, please see our Product Review information page

• ShaToBu Giveaway - The Workout You Wear

  Jenn

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:10 pm

  I have been testing the ShaToBu, This new type of undergarment promises to help you Shape, Tone and Burn while you wear it. Studies show that ShaToBu helps users burn 12% extra calories. I am thrilled to partner with ShaToBu to offer Pink Lemonade readers a chance to win a ShaToBu of your very own.I am pleased to report that my own research continues to be have positive results. I find the ShaToBu garment to be quite comfortable. It not only provides extra resistance with every step, it gives me a nice shape under my clothes. Unlike control top pantyhose, which often give me a flat bottomed…

• Quick and Easy Valentine Pizza's

  dddiva

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:02 am

  If you're like me you like to do the special little things that make life more fun for your family, especially around the various holidays?One thing we do that is really easy and fun for the kids is let them make individual pizza's - this way everyone gets what they like and of course, getting your kids in the kitchen is a very good thing.While there are many, many recipes for homemade pizza dough, if you are pressed for time you can make it really easy on yourself and use canned biscuits (use the jumbo ones if possible) or Jiffy pizza crust mix- a box is less than a dollar.Let the kids roll…

• Story Time Fun

  Chris

  5 Feb 2010 | 11:05 am

  We all know that reading to our children is important. They learn so much about language from this simple act. Sometimes it is fun to mix things up and do something different at story time. Here is a list of ways that you can take story time and make it an adventure: -Snuggle time in Mom and Dad’s bed: I don’t know what it is about Mom and Dad’s bed, but it is always so much more fun than any other bed in the house! Turn story time into snuggle time by inviting your kids to join you under a blanket in your bed.-Read by flashlight: Turn out the lights or hide under a blanket and turn on…

• 
  Heroine Content

• Naked Weapon (Chek law dak gung)

  Grace

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:00 am

  First, the warning: this film includes a fairly graphic, though short, rape scene. It's also graphically violent in a way kung fu is often not. The basis is this: Madame M (Almen Wong Pui-Ha) runs a high-end assassin business. At the beginning of the film, she kidnaps a load of young teenage girls with special martial arts and athletic talents, taking them to remote island to train them up to become the next generation of assassins. This is not your friendly Kill Bill-style assassin school, though--the girls are pretty well tortured, culminating in a competition in which they have to kill…

• So Here's A Question for Y'all

  Skye

  19 Jan 2010 | 12:55 pm

  While everyone's busy tearing up Book of Eli, one of the comments did bring something to mind. In our reviews, would it be necessary / appropriate / appreciated that if there is a scene involving sexual violence, for us to disclose that in our review? In both Watchmen and Book of Eli, I have not commented on those scenes because for various reasons they weren't major factors in forming my overall opinion of the films. However I'm finally starting to catch the clue train here, several years late, and realize that this may be information that our readers would want to know before they watch a…

• The Book of Eli

  Skye

  18 Jan 2010 | 5:30 am

  When we got home from seeing The Book of Eli Friday night, my husband got on the web and started reading critics' reviews. I wish he hadn't, or that I hadn't sat behind him looking over his shoulder, because now all I want to write about is why Peter Howell of Toronto's thestar.com is a jackass for calling the two main female characters in this movie "hot hookers." Allow me to sketch out a few things for you, so you can understand my annoyance, and then I promise to move on. The title character, Eli, is played by Denzel Washington. He is traveling across post-Apocalyptic America (as directed…

• The Mutant Chronicles

  Skye

  12 Jan 2010 | 7:24 pm

  I thought it was bad when I was seeing films that were adapted from video games. Then I saw Mutant Chronicles, which was adapted from a role playing game. So not good. Mutant Chronicles takes place on some kind of 28th Century steampunk Earth that feels like it's an alternate World War II. Corporations rule the world and spend all their time fighting, until they are unlucky enough to break open an ancient machine from space that turns human beings into zombie mutants with primitive scimitars grafted to their right arms. What's not to love? In short order, these mutants, who are basically…

• Blood: The Last Vampire (2009)

  Skye

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:17 am

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

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  finslippy

• I often have my head through the arm hole.

  Alice Bradley

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  if you want to know what a typical afternoon with Scott and me is like, here: please watch the first two minutes of this scene from A New Leaf. In case you're wondering: yes, Scott's the Walter Matthau character. And when he's not fixing my clothes, he's cutting the tags hanging off me or pulling food out of my hair. Unlike the Walter Matthau character, he doesn't want me dead. I am quite lucky. If you haven't seen A New Leaf, all I can say is: What? Oh, no. You must get right on that.

• Meal planning and more

  Alice Bradley

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:38 am

  If you're interested, here are some Momversation videos. You know, if you want to. I'm not going to push them. You are free to do as you like. The first one is on meal planning. In this one, Karen refers to an article about a woman who plans her family's meals a year in advance, and wonders if any of us do anything similar, albeit less insane. I had some opinions. If I seem judgmental, you should have seen the raw video, where I insisted that the woman in question was either a "liar" or a "dangerous criminal." Then I amended that to "dangerous…

• Your honor, spare my son!

  Alice Bradley

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  While walking home from school, Henry and I start talking about tightrope walking. Naturally. Me: you know, a guy walked between the twin towers on a tightrope. Henry: I know. And he died. Me: No, he didn't. He made it over. Henry: I thought he died. Me: No, just got arrested. Henry: Wouldn't he rather have been dead than be in jail for LIFE?! Me: Wait, what? No one was in jail for life. I don't think he was in jail at all, actually. Henry: I think he should have stared at the cops at the other end of the tightrope, and he should have said, "Well, here goes nothing," then spread his arms out…

• 26 days until manuscript delivery

  Alice Bradley

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:52 am

  This is what happens when I instant-message with Eden. We try to work on our book then we start talking about nicknames and then everything goes black. (I have deleted the parts where we sent animated emoticons to each other, back and forth, for hours. You're welcome.) kennedy_mrs: I had a roommate try to call me Ede. Oh how I laughed behind her back. kennedy_mrs: My old boss calls me Edie Gourmet. It's the only nickname that's truly haunted me my entire life. finslippy: OOF kennedy_mrs: Sometimes he just calls me Gourmet. kennedy_mrs: No, it's okay, coming from him. He's a goof. finslippy: I…

• Let's talk Grandmas! Okay!

  Alice Bradley

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:37 am

  All of this talk of elderly females got me thinking about grandmas. I had two, which I believe is considered the norm. They are dead now. Sigh. My siblings and I used our grandparents' last names, so they were Grandma Mariano and Grandma Bradley. It still sounds weird to me when people call their grandparents by their first names, or even weirder, use some adorable made-up moniker, like Pop-ola or Grummsy. As if grandparents are figures of affection and warmth, and not forbidding matri-/patriarchs under whose shadow you must cower and throw offerings. Actually Grandma Mariano was, by all…

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  Petunia Face

• Monday: The Smallest Possible Interval of Time

  Petunia Face

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:26 am

  First they took away Pluto. Or maybe it was the brontosaurus, I don't know, so busy was I thinking granola was healthy. Turns out it's high in saturated fat, coconut oils, sugar, and get this--the brontosaurus has been deemed obsolete.I know, right? The one dinosaur I could actually name. Apparently now it's called Apatosaurus which is like people calling me Susan which might as well be Pauline, it is that wrong. I am Susannah, the herbivore with the long necked small smile is the brontosaurus, and mercuryvenusearthmarsjupitersaturnuranusneptuneandpluto. Astronauts drink Tang, long division…

• Dirty Hands, Happy Heart

  Petunia Face

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am

  The first Friday in February and everything’s a mess. Yesterday was my 5 year anniversary. We sat on the couch together and watched Big Love. I found the Halloween candy I had stashed away months ago and thought of the irony as I popped one Whopper after another into my mouth. They were waxy and white, but if I sucked on them long enough they collapsed in my mouth and it was satisfying. We never really took a honeymoon, having gotten engaged on a Wednesday and married that Friday. But since we had already planned a vacation to Costa Rica we called that our honeymoon and away we went. When I…

• Tuesday: Its Only Identity That of Trash Night & the Day of See You Next...

  Petunia Face

  2 Feb 2010 | 5:55 am

  You had to see this one coming...It's Tuesday and I'm sick of myself. Sick of wet cars and no cars, bills, buses, birthday parties, my kitchen lined with ants. God, remember Adam Ant? My friend's older sister had his posters all over her room; my parents went to Hawaii for a week when I was in the 7th grade and left me there. My friend and I spent seven nights making prank calls, her mom had a mirror on her bedside table criss-crossed in white powder and her sister had Adam Ant on her walls. It all felt slightly sad and cooler than I would ever be. When my mom got back she gave me a bottle of…

• RIP Ziggy Stardust, 1995 ~ 2010

  Petunia Face

  1 Feb 2010 | 5:43 am

  Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Ziggy Stardust, the aging sparkley-eyed starlet on wheels we grew to love. Ish. (Though she never did come close to being the BMW wagon I always wanted even if Bryan says she rocked practically the exact same body. Semantics, plus the matter of an accent. Ziggy Stardust never had that sexy Euro-trash accent when she called my name across a crowded parking lot. *sigh*).I suck at eulogies.Don't die, mmmkay?On Friday I went to work. Took the bus, had some meetings, wrote a little of this, ate a pb&j, wrote a little of that, took…

• Eye Spy With My Little I

  Petunia Face

  28 Jan 2010 | 7:14 am

  I read my friend’s diary once in the 10th grade. It was all very scintillating stuff about boys and their pienises (because that is how she spelled it) until I got to a picture she had drawn of me one night after the boy she liked asked me to dance to “Take My Breath Away” at Homecoming. The drawing was more of a caricature really, and although she was not an artist of any sort she did a bang-up job on my eyebrows seeing as how they stretched from one side of the page to the other and then met in the middle, BFF’s and all. To be fair, it was 1987.I have since learned not to snoop…

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  Our Bodies Our Blog

• Quick Hit: Panel Discussion on Mammography and Breast Self-Examination Recommendations

  Rachel

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:27 am

  For our Wellesley, MA-area readers, an upcoming panel discussion on new recommendations for mammography and breast self-examination may be of interest. Panelists will include Cindy Pearson of the National Women’s Health Network and Ngina Lythcott of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, with moderator Susan Reverby from Wellesley College’s Women and Gender Studies department. The discussion will take place on Thursday, February 25th in PNW 212 (Pendleton West 212 Amphitheater Classroom) from 5:00-6:15 pm. Questions can be directed to ctaylor1 at wellesley dot edu

• New Emergency Contraception Drug Stirs Old Arguments

  Rachel

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:14 am

  A recent ABC news piece and two new journal articles (in The Lancet and Obstetrics and Gynecology) have drawn attention to an emergency contraception drug that is not currently available in the U.S. but apparently has been submitted to the FDA for review. Emergency contraception pills (EC) currently available in the U.S.  are intended to be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.  The drug new drug, ellaOne (ulipristal acetate), can be taken within 120 hours (5 days), providing a longer period in which to prevent pregnancy. [It's worth noting here…

• Site maintenance

  Christine C.

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:57 pm

  We’re working on fixing some bugs that people have reported in the last few weeks, including problems with RSS feeds. If something looks off for the next few hours– no worries! We’re on it.

• National Library of Medicine Exhibit on African American Midwives

  Rachel

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:05 pm

  For readers around the D.C. area: the National Library of Medicine’s History of Medicine division in Bethesda, MD will run an exhibit through June of this year on the history of African American “granny” midwives. Details below: Nothing To Work With But Cleanliness: African American “Grannies”, Midwives & Health Reform For over three centuries, African American midwives delivered babies and practiced folk medicine in rural counties throughout the South. Midwifery came under public scrutiny in the 1910s when progressive reformers blamed the “unsanitary practices”…

• Sean James and Al Joyner Respond to the Tebow Super Bowl ad

  Rachel

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:06 am

  By now you may have heard about the Focus on the Family-sponsored anti-choice ad slated to run during the Super Bowl. The ad features football player Tim Tebow and his mother discussing her decision not to have an abortion when pregnant with the star player. The ad has been controversial for many reasons, including that it marks a change from CBS’s past “no advocacy/controversy” policy (an ad for a gay dating site was declined), glosses over issues related to privilege and the illegality/safety of abortion in the Philippines, and presents a situation in which Tebow…

• 
  Feministing

• Feminist While _________

  Courtney

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:52 am

  I've been thinking about the power of the personal a lot lately, particularly the ways in which we do or don't show up as feminists in different contexts. Women's studies classroom? Sure, everybody's doing it. First dinner out with the new boyfriend's conservative parents? Maybe not so much. It can be really difficult to make these kinds of choices, as insignificant as they might seem. As sociologist Erving Goffman argues, we are always performing different selves depending on the context we find ourselves in. When I wrote my first book, Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters, I incorporated…

• Interview with Painter Diane DiMassa

  Courtney

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Guest Post by Sabrina Chapadjiev Most people know Diane DiMassa as the brilliant cartoonist of "Hothead Paisan- Lesbian Homicidal Terrorist". What they don't know is that DiMassa is also a high falutin' oil painter whose explosive abstracts are beginning to take off in the art world. I asked DiMassa about the difference between cartooning and paintings, her inspirations and working towards the the perfect art-gasm. SC: What's the difference between creating cartoons and creating paintings? DD: Drawing cartoons can feel like riding a tricycle through quicksand compared to painting. Though I am…

• Quick Hit: (Women) Writers

  Courtney

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am

  Check out Claire Messud over at Guernica on the ol' "woman writer" moniker: The great twentieth-century American poet Elizabeth Bishop refused to be included in anthologies of women's poetry, insisting that she was a poet plain and simple, rather than a "woman poet." She wrote that "art is art and to separate writings, paintings, musical compositions, etc. into two sexes is to emphasize values that are not art." As an American writer of the early twenty-first century, I agree with her wholeheartedly. An artist's work is in no way limited or defined by her gender. To allot space, then--such as…

• Feminism in the Classroom

  Courtney

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am

  If you're not hip to Ileana Jiménez's amazing blog, Feminist Teacher, it's time. Throughout her thirteen year career, Jiménez has been a leader in the field of social justice education for students of color, LGBT youth, women and girls. She's also a major advocate of getting intersectional feminism in schools at all grade levels. In a recent post, she writes about making an argument for getting gender education in the classroom, pre-college. There is so much talk about women's studies at the university level, that we often lose track of the importance of gender education in the early years.

• Notes from a bitch...pondering five years of blogging...

  Shark-Fu

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:10 am

  This week my personal blog, AngryBlackBitch, will celebrate five years of practicing the fine art of bitchitude. Sigh. I still remember not understanding how to post pictures as if it were just yesterday. Sigh again. When I began blogging it was with the expectation that only my friends and family would read my posts. I never could have imagined that folks outside my circle would care about my thoughts and opinions...but that didn't matter, because I fell in love with writing right from the start. From the beginning, I have been an activist who blogs. But blogging has been and remains a…

• 
  blue milk

• In which I reflect upon my arrogance

  blue milk

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:18 am

  The self-feeding thing is going so well, but holy shit is it messy. I only hate myself about a trillion times a day for suggesting my workplace buy me a giant, padded, nook-and-crannied, way-over-engineered high chair for a baby gift. A piece of equipment that I came to hate the first time around and which I have grown no more affection for this second time. Even the smallest snack for Cormac takes me about ten minutes to clean up with all those creases and folds and grooves and what-not, and I spend the entire time cursing myself and that chair while I do it. I don’t have any excuse…

• Something from my inbox

  blue milk

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:10 am

  If you live in Toronto, which I don’t: Demeter Press invites you to join editors, May Friedman and Shana L. Calixte to celebrate the publication of their new book:Mothering and Blogging The Radical Art of the MommyBlog Friday, February 26, 2010 Toronto Women’s Bookstore 7pm 73 Harbord Avenue, Toronto (Harbord/Spadina) Mothering and Blogging The Radical Art of the Mommyblog At the 2005 BlogHer conference writer and mommyblogger Alice Bradley (finslippy.com) responded to criticisms that mommyblogging was solipsistic and self-indulgent by stating that “Mommyblogging is a “radical…

• I laughed

  blue milk

  4 Feb 2010 | 3:44 am

  This from Daddy Dialectic. And this from Bitch PhD. (The unexpected ending).

• All things bathing

  blue milk

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:28 am

  You probably can’t tell from the photo just how much stupidity occurs during bath time, but for one, Cormac spends almost the entire time standing up.. and he is a slippery baby who can’t yet walk. This bathroom is pure chaos, but somehow I have ended up with the other bathroom entirely to myself, so frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn about this one… Anyway, the purpose of this photo was to try to get a shot of Lauca’s drawing on the wall, it is a tree house. Can you see it? It has been there for over a year and is far too lovely for us to wash off. I have…

• Nine months

  blue milk

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:32 pm

  Cormac has now been out for as long as he was in.

• 
  Big Fat Blog - The fat acceptance weblog.

• Bariatric surgery for kids! Whee!

  CarrieP

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:35 pm

  This scares the crap out of me. Have we really gotten to the point where forced food restriction and (potentially) stomach altering surgery is the best thing we can do for our kids? Not to mention the fact that the child mentioned in the article got fat because of a tumor on her pituitary gland and she couldn't feel her fullness signals anymore. So how exactly is lapband surgery, which essentially shrinks your stomach so you feel full sooner, working for this kid? If you can't feel full at all, does sooner ever come?

• Paul Campos on "Fat and Idenity Politics"

  withoutscene

  1 Feb 2010 | 3:55 pm

  You know the lectures going on at UCLA that we posted about the other day? A little birdie told us they are podcasting them on YouTube!!! The magic that is transmitting knowledge across time and space via the internet thrills me. Below is the first lecture, by Paul Campos. I've never met Paul, so I had no idea he was so charming! He's got Ryan Reynolds' eyes/brows, amirite? Admittedly, we've heard time and time again almost everything that Paul talks about. However, I still think it's a good listen if you have the time. While transcribing some quotes I had to listen to some bits over and over…

• Grassroots Activism

  withoutscene

  31 Jan 2010 | 7:01 pm

  We at BFB want to start a regular post about grassroots and/or individual activism, which highlights local efforts to make a difference. Let's start small. I have two questions for you. 1) What is something you or someone you know is doing to make a difference in the name of fat acceptance and fat rights? This can be anything, no matter how small or how insignificant it might seem to some. 2) What are your favorite local activism ideas?

• Reason number 3,767 to not shop at Whole Foods

  CarrieP

  27 Jan 2010 | 1:11 pm

  There has been much talk about this article, concering Whole Foods' new policy of granting a steeper discount to employees with lower BMIs and other "health"-related factors. It's exactly what we have been railing against for years: employers using weight to unfairly undercompensate their fat workers. Even laypeople who don't think about this stuff all day have been saying how ridiculous the policy is. I mean, think about it. You own a store that purports to sell healthy food. Why would you want to make it more difficult for your so-called "unhealthy" employees to access the food you sell?

• Fat Athletes! part deux

  CarrieP

  25 Jan 2010 | 9:07 am

  Okay, I forwarded your feedback on to my athletic wear contact and he asked for more specifics. So let's talk about exactly what features we would like to see in certain items, like sports bras, shorts and t-shirts. Obviously fit is a big deal for all of us, but what specifically needs to be different about the fit? It's entirely possible that we may be able to get this company to make us exactly what we need, so really think about what that would be and let me know. PS: If any of you are members of other fathlete groups, please either get their feedback and post it here or have them email me…

• 
  Pam's House Blend - Front Page

• Thursday's DADT hearing has been cancelled and awaits rescheduling

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:08 pm

  According to the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings calendar, all hearings scheduled this week, including the Feb. 11 hearing to receive testimony relating to the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, have been canceled.   Although no reason has been stated for the cancellations, DC Agenda makes the reasonable assumption that it is because of the winter storm currently blanketing the city.  None of the canceled hearings have been rescheduled yet, so stay tuned!

• Dan Choi back to National Guard Service for drills

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am

  UPDATE: A clarification from Alex Nicholson Executive Director, Servicemembers United, resulted in the headline change: To clarify, he has not been "called" or "recalled" and he is not on "active duty." He's in the NY Army National Guard, so he's doing a regularly scheduled drill (that whole "one weekend a month" thing), which he's continued to do all along. He's doing a few extra days beyond the weekend to make up for prior months in which he wasn't able to make drill. This is still significant because he's continuing his regularly scheduled drills with his unit with the full support of his…

• BREAKING: Iowa legislature rejects attempt to advance anti-equality constitutional amendment

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am

  The Iowa House today rejected procedural attempts by opponents of equality to advance an amendment to the Iowa Constitution seeking to overturn last April's unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling and to deny the protections of civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples.   The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in April 2009 that same-sex couples be allowed to marry for reasons of basic fairness and constitutional equal protection.  According to Des Moines Register,Both the House and the Senate this morning rejected efforts led by Republicans to push a resolution that would prevent equal marriage…

• AFA's Fischer cites hate group as reason for criminal sanctions against gays

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:04 am

  crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless MonstersA week after calling for the "criminalization of homosexual behavior,"  the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer has continuously attempted to justify his comments.But he should have quit while he was ahead because yesterday, he finally hit the nadir of nuttiness with the following:As the Family Research Institute reports, historian Paul Johnson has written that decriminalizing homosexuality, which was done beginning in the 1960s for ill-conceived reasons of supposed compassion, has left us now today with a "monster in our…

• Guest Post: A Taxing Question of Medical Necessity

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  This is a guest post by Kelley Winters, Ph.D, of GID Reform Advocates. Crossposted with permission. ~~~~~ By Kelley Winters Many trans and especially transsexual Americans were relieved this week by the U.S. Tax Court decision to reverse earlier IRS positions and allow costs of hormonal and surgical transition care to be deducted as medical expenses. The ruling concluded: Petitioner has shown that her hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery treated disease within the meaning of section 213 and were therefore not cosmetic surgery. Thus petitioner's expenditures for these procedures were…

• 
  Simply Stated By RealSimple.com

• Valentine's Day Wish List...

  juleewilson

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:11 am

  V-day is just a few days away and I'm craving more than just the typical flowers and chocolates (although those are very nice). There are a few items that I have had my eye on...and maybe you can to. Just make sure to have your computer screen on this page anytime your valentine is in the room...wink wink! 1. HP Mini 210, $299 This small wonder is at the top of my list for good reason: It's compact, will keep me connected to the ones I love and it's super cute! Weighing in at only 2.69 lbs with a 10.1" wide-screen display and measuring less then an inch…

• What's Your Ideal Valentine's Day Meal?

  kathleenharris

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:59 pm

  Valentine's Day, as you probably are well aware, is on Sunday, which means there are a myriad of love-filled eating events to choose from: breakfast in bed, a long, lazy lunch, or the traditional romantic dinner. Personally, I love Valentine's Day because it's the perfect excuse to try a fabulous new restaurant. But this year my husband and I are going to switch it up. In an effort to be more cost conscious and do something a little different, we're planning to cook (or I should say, I'm planning to cook) something simple but…

• The Easiest Valentines I've Seen

  kristinappenbrink

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:36 pm

  I love sending cards—holiday cards, birthday cards, cards for no reason. But I generally leave Valentine's Day cards out of the mix, primarily because I'm still wiped out from sending holiday cards. (I actually made my cards for the first time this year. I was pretty excited with how they turned out, you can see a photo here.) But this year, I'm reconsidering because I was tipped off to the Virtual Valentines section of Red Stamp's site. There are six designs, and four different delivery options, two of which will cost you absolutely nothing. Here are the four options: A…

• Poll: Vote for March!

  simplystatedadmin

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am

  Hello, Bookies:Ready to think about your March read? Real Simple’s photo director, Casey Tierney, will lead the discussion of one of the four books below. Vote for your favorite by Sunday, February 21.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon Haddon’s acclaimed debut novel mixes the poignant and the funny, the sweet and the sad, as its main character—an autistic 15-year-old—narrates his attempts to solve the murder of his neighbor’s poodle.A Good Fall: Stories, by Ha Jin This new collection from the National Book Award winner is set in the Chinese immigrant…

• Sebastian Foster Gallery

  hollybecker

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:14 am

  Sebastian Foster is a contemporary art gallery based in Austin, Texas which happens to also have an online shop where you can view many original paintings and prints from a carefully curated group of emerging and established artists. More ways to bring affordable art into your home, yay! In addition to selling affordable originals, Sebastian Foster also operates a print making studio which allows them to offer archival quality print editions from artists like Amanda Blake, Amy Ruppel , Matte Stephens, and Leah Giberson. When you see prints like that ones shown above, do you often wonder how…

• 
  BlogHer

• Three Types of Mistresses: Which One Could You Become?

  avflox

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:01 pm

  The other woman. “Home wrecker” if she succeeds, “what did you expect?” if she doesn't. Everyday we are bombarded with stories of these women: former governor Mark Sanford's soulmate, John Edwards' baby momma, and Tiger Woods' menagerie of lovers. While the media will tell us all about these women, it's only ever the scintillating details – the love letters, the text messages, the alleged existence of a sex tape. The fact they are – or once were – party girls, porn stars, strippers. These are details to make us click links and buy tabloids. Less obvious, perhaps, is that these…

• Samantha Bee on Male Inequality

  Honeybeast

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:38 am

  Feb. 3, 2010: The Daily Show's Samantha Bee reacts to all those news stories about it being a women's nation and the so-called "new economics of marriage" by crashing a men's retreat: "Having never heard of Las Vegas, these disenfranchised men seek solace in the woods, where they play games no one liked in PE class and complain about their wives." The best part: Matthew Tobey's intro of the clip on the Comedy Central blog: "We men have had it tough for a long time. For example, I can hardly hear myself think sometimes with all the women banging on the underside of my glass floor." The Daily…

• Living on the Road Together

  Pam

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  With Valentine's Day around the corner, my inbox is a swamp of cliched press releases, each one of them attempting to sell me the idea of romantic travel -- a trip to Paris, perhaps, or exotic chocolates from far away places, or little extras that you can pack to transform the sturdy beige interior of your hotel room into a rose colored tent in the desert. Yeah, okay, maybe. There is, I think, nothing more romantic than falling in love when you are traveling, even if it is with someone you are already in love with. I met my husband while traveling -- he stood the other side of the campfire…

• Spring Trends: What Will You Be Wearing?

  Susan Wagner

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  It's still winter outside, but spring trends are showing up in magazines and catalogs -- and the draw of all those bright, summery pieces is appealing, especially when you're digging out of the latest winter storm. Freshen up your wardrobe by incorporating some spring trends now. This month, Lucky magazine chose their five favorites -- which ones will you wear?Ikat: Tie-dye for grownups, ikat works best a feminine, tailored shapes. No Woodstock-inspired hippie skirts here; look for slim cocktail dresses and pencil skirts. Pictured at left: DKNY ikat tunic, currently $29.99 at Macy's.Picture…

• Your Burger, With a Side of Dog Food and Ammonia

  Catherine Morgan

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:32 am

  Question. Would you eat dog food?No?What if it was mixed in with your hamburger meat? Would you eat it then?What if I told you it wasn't your choice? What if it was already in the burgers you are eating?Don't shoot the messenger. Anyway, it's not like they are just putting dog food into your burger, they are adding ammonia first to kill off the E. coli. Well that's a relief.  And if the USDA says it's safe, it shouldn't matter whether you know about it or not. Right?I don't know how I missed this - It was in the New York Times back in December...Eight years ago, federal officials were…

• 
  Gizmodiva.com

• Win for your Valentine… The Philips Warm Sensual Massagers!!!

  neha

  14 Feb 2010 | 4:04 am

  With Valentines Day around the corner we couldn’t wait to host a contest and let you win the Philips Warm Sensual Massagers with 3 moodlights which are without a doubt a sexy and ideal gift for your Valentine. Things are going to get hotter with the Philips Warm Sensual Massagers that has three different stimulation spots and five vibration patterns and if you wanna make the most of this then share your naughty secrets with us. It is also waterproof and lubricant compatible. Comment on this post and let us know what is the naughtiest thing done by you for your lover. We in return will make…

• Mauricio Sanin Mazuera’s toilet paper Guardian does its job while you do yours!

  neha

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:31 am

  Not that toilet paper was ever threatened by anything and it really doesn’t need protection as such but Mauricio Sanin Mazuera’s toilet paper Guardian is here to save your soft, square sheets. It looks fierce as it guards the most essential commodity when you are reliving yourself. I think it’s the monsters era with Darth Vader coming back again and now the Toilet paper monster killing it!!! [Trendhunter]

• Darth Vader Shadow Alarm Clock will wake you up!!!

  neha

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:25 am

  Remember the Darth Vader Clock Radio that we had featured earlier? Darth Vader is back for all Star Wars aficionados and their rooms in the form of Darth Vader Shadow Alarm Clock. For the snooze champions, this clock also features a snooze button and a digital display. Sleep over and over again relying on the snooze button. Interestingly it Features the Darth Vader shadow on back wall which is visible when alarm goes off. Wake up with your villain for $26.99. Via - [Newlaunches]

• The Canon IXUS 130 and 105 are cool and colorful!!!

  neha

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:11 am

  What is silver, black, pink and orange, pink, silver, brown and aqua, 17.8mm thick and on every girl’s wish list? You got that right it is the coveted, IXUS 130 and 105 with some new and cool features and the right amount of color and spunk. It will accumulate everyone for that perfect picture with its 28mm wide angle 4x zoom lens. The IXUS 130 still rules the roost as the thinnest IXUS to date, measuring 17.8mm the IXUS 105 is more affordable and comes in colors like pink, silver, brown and aqua. I am a fan of its Movie mode which comes with a You Tube upload function making it easy to…

• VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand Scanner is portable and speedy

  neha

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:07 am

  The biggest drawback with thick books or albums is the fact that their size makes it almost impossible to scan their contents. Easing out this hitch is the very portable and VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand Scanner. It’s fast and so easy to use. To scan a high resolution colored page it takes about 28 seconds, 14 seconds for a high resolution black and white page and 8 seconds for low resolution color and finally 4 seconds low resolution for Black and white. It can store as many as hundreds of images onboard and scans at resolutions up to 600x600dpi while the default resolution remains…

• 
  Feministe

• College and the Single Girl

  Jill

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:54 am

  I know it seems like we do this a lot, but it’s time to start wringing your hands again about women who go to college. Apparently there are too many of us! And now we can’t get boyfriends! North Carolina, with a student body that is nearly 60 percent female, is just one of many large universities that at times feel eerily like women’s colleges. Women have represented about 57 percent of enrollments at American colleges since at least 2000, according to a recent report by the American Council on Education. Researchers there cite several reasons: women tend to have higher grades;…

• What’s wrong with skinny?

  Jill

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am

  That’s what Lisa Hilton asks in the Daily Beast this week — although she’s actually asking, “What’s wrong with living off of coffee and cigarettes? Better than being fat!” Katie Drummond over at Slant/Truth gives Hilton’s piece a great take-down, pointing out that while official eating disorder diagnosis rates may not be skyrocketing, a lot of women engage in disordered eating without having a diagnosed eating disorder. But Hilton isn’t just concerned with what she deems “hysteria” over super-skinny models; see, she’s worried…

• A woman’s right to choose

  Jill

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:26 pm

• The Super Bowl and Madison Avenue Misogyny

  Jill

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:04 am

  A guest post by Kate. Kate is a freelance writer and full-time law student. Follow her @itscompliKATEd on Twitter. Superbowl ads are sexist. This is well trod ground: Marketers objectify women and play up stereotypes in order to sell things to (heterosexual) men. But we knew this year was going to be special. This year there was going to be some extra anti-feminist flavor. This year, there was going to be Tim Tebow. We’ll come back to Tim and his anti-choice ad in a second. But for now, let’s take a look at the companies that decided that it would be a great idea to isolate half…

• Well, I did make some great brownies.

  Jill

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:57 am

  CNN contributor Erick Erickson is right — watching Tim Tebow tackle his mom during a Super Bowl commercial last night really inspired me to give up the whole thinking-thoughts thing and get back in the kitchen. It’s a shame I’m too ugly to get a date, because now I have all of this food and no one to give it to. How many brownies do you think 14 cats can eat?

• 
  Breakup Girl

• Announcing our Valentine’s Haiku Contest

  haiku contest's back this year you can rate them too zen holiday fun Click here to read, rate and write haiku!

• Candy Heart eCards

  Is NECCO not keeping up with internet memes fast enough for you? Now you can customize your own candy hearts and send them as an eCard. We have traditional eCards too!

• Smart co-eds, foolish choices?

  Thank goodness! FOBG Mary Beth Williams at Broadsheet explains this article from yesterday's New York Times, which struck me as just so strange that even someone with a Breakup U. education couldn't figure it out. Now, I wasn't a math major, but all I could think was, I understand that ...

• This week at Happen: Bonding over a death

  MSN.com, Match.com, HappenMagazine.com: they’re in a healthy and satisfying 3-way relationship. Meaning that you can find MSN/Match.com’s “Ask Lynn” columns –penned by BG’s alter ego — over at Happen now as well. This week Lynn advises a gal who has become close with the boyfriend of her friend who died of cancer. ...

• Healing from the heel

  Still stings on March 16, 1998... Dear Breakup Girl, My fella, who I adored, was transferred to another city. We agreed to try a long distance relationship. All I ever asked was that he tell me if he found someone else. Within a few weeks there, he was sleeping with a much ...

• 
  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

• That time of year - Yitro

  Leah Jones

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  The G-dcast that I wrote and narrated is back. Here's what I had to say about Yitro.  Parshat Yitro from G-dcast.comMore Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.comLeave Comment

• Update on Dad and Many Thanks

  Leah Jones

  23 Jan 2010 | 1:10 pm

  My dad had a quintuple bypass on Tuesday and it was a textbook good surgery! He is now out of ICU and in a regular room. He's started rehab and mom checks in on him a few times a day. I went home for the surgery and am glad I was able to zip to Indiana to be with my mom for a few days. Why own your own company if you can't leave town and support your family at the drop of a hat?Thank you to everyone that sent emails, tweets, facebook messages. To everyone that prayed, lit candles, sent good vibes or thought nice thoughts. It really made a difference and Mom felt incredibly supported…

• Cross-post from Jewlicious: Vote for Friendship Circle

  Leah Jones

  19 Jan 2010 | 10:07 am

  Dave told me to write a sassy and irreverent post for Jewlicious. My very first guest post about a very important cause – helping the Friendship Circle in Michigan win One Million Dollars in the Chase Community Giving Campaign . I struggle with sassy and irreverent, so I’m going to let you play Choose Your Own Adventure with this blog post. Here are your options for intros: I’ll Take Jewish Geography for One Million Dollars, Alex OR A cause so important, Leah used a hashtag. Jewish Geography I met Pinny at WOMMA in DC. Pinny knew Abitbol from Montreal. Pinny knows the…

• Optimistic with a chance of overwhelmed

  Leah Jones

  15 Jan 2010 | 12:50 pm

  While I was in New York, I got a text from my sister "It isn't an emergency, but dad is in the hospital." The non-emergency has turned into open heart surgery with a triple to quintuple bypass scheduled for Tuesday morning.I feel very optimistic about the whole thing, but the truth is my dad was very close to a massive heart attack. Lucky for all of us it was caught before it happened. Last night at a networking event, a man introduced himself to me and lead into his elevator pitch about his wellness book. His elevator pitch starts, "My dad died because of heart…

• Only looking forward.

  Leah Jones

  31 Dec 2009 | 6:18 pm

  This could be a post reviewing the year (mostly good) or the decade (mostly good), but it isn't. I'm looking forward. At midnight I'm going to do a havdalah of sorts under the full moon in Chicago. Goodbye to the good, the bad and the ugly. Hello to 2010. My company will grow. I will travel more. I'll finally figure out how to keep a closet sorted. I'll cook more shabbat dinners. I'll be stronger. I'll learn how to properly apply bronzer.  Maybe I'll give you some sort of retrospective tomorrow, but chances are I'll be too busy moving forward and…

• 
  Notes to self

• Visions and Revisions

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:34 pm

  Late with manuscript revisions, and almost every night I awake in a panic attack, convinced that the next morning will bring word from my agent and/or editor: "Know what? Never mind." Instead, they've been nothing but patient and supportive, though we are all eager to be finished, and none so desperately as me. Like a mirage, I always think the end is closer than it is, but I'm closing in.

• Arrow of Light

  25 Jan 2010 | 9:55 pm

  My newly minted eleven-year-old crossed over to Boy Scouts tonight after five years as a Cub, a monumental achievement, given that his mother barely lasted two weeks in Brownies. I was as proud as if I had produced the first college graduate in our family history. It was an elaborate ceremony, with the Boy Scouts and Troop Leaders sitting opposite the Cubs, waiting to admit them to their ranks

• Might as well jump.

  18 Jan 2010 | 11:35 pm

  Remember Tom Hudson, my photographer friend who has a tendency to jump in when people need help? He's on his way to Haiti today, having helped to mobilize a skilled and experienced aid team out of Little Rock in a few short days.  You can keep up with the journey on their public Facebook group and on Tom's twitter feed. Or just keep all of them, and the people they are trying to help, in your

• Dancing Clothes

  7 Jan 2010 | 11:14 am

  After nearly thirty minutes of holding up tops and bottoms and guessing at sizes, I had settled on the soft mint green ones. "Gilligan O'Malley pajamas," my mother had said, when I asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She loves to shop at Target when she comes to visit, and she particularly loves that line. The green flannel set was just like something she would pick for herself, I knew--

• Little Who Two

  4 Jan 2010 | 10:59 am

  My five year-old loves his position as the baby of the family, but since Roscoe came, is glorying in finally being bigger than someone. "We could call him Little Who Two," he suggested, on the night the Christmas puppy arrived. Little Who One has scarcely put him down since. In spite of Roscoe growing at an alarming rate of 100 per cent a week, he lugs him everywhere: to the food dish, to the

• 
  Immoral Matriarch

• Remember when I called Billy Ray Cyrus a Pimp?

  Maria

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:00 pm

  And I said that his daughters were his high priced hookers? And some people thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill? Well HE’S NOTHING BUT A PIMP. Yeah, you can explain away his allowing his 9 year old daughter to swing around stripper poles and dress in dominatrix boots and fishnets at public events, fine. But can you explain away his decision to allow her to front a ‘children’s lingerie line‘? [Edit: Apparently it's not children's lingerie, it's just tutus. The collection is fronted by Emily Grace, Noah Cyrus' best friend but is advertised by both girls.]…

• Momspotting: a meme

  Maria

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:48 pm

  For a few months now, I’ve been been a MomSpotter. It’s a BlogHer thing, officially called the Family Connections citizen journalism project. Pretty much, that means that I tweet a few times a day, with the #momspotting hashtag about how I use technology in my day-to-day parenting life. I’m quite dull really, and the other 19 or so mom’s are better at the whole deal than me, but I have to break up the monotony of my expletive filled rants and complaints with something, right? And you get to learn more about my AWESOME ADORABLE kids because of this, so you win! Anyway,…

• I feel like I have to defend myself.

  Maria

  22 Jan 2010 | 9:17 pm

  I don’t watch bad tv. I mean, I don’t watch what is usually considered bad television, I think. I don’t do any reality tv – at all – the last reality show I watched was I Love New York and how many years ago was that? Many years ago. Like before my kids could speak in complete sentences. I don’t want much comedy because I’m of the opinion that most of it sucks. I stick with drama and I’m picky about what networks I’ll watch my dramas on – because of my stuffiness with networks, I missed out on the treasure that is Supernatural for…

• Fat Acceptance.

  Maria

  7 Jan 2010 | 5:10 pm

  Although I have not and will never do the same, I don’t have a problem with people who have accepted their larger shapes and have decided not to beat themselves up over it. More power to you, but I don’t believe in the Fat Acceptance movement. I don’t believe that we should let our children believe that it’s fine to be overweight or obese. The obesity rate in children here in the states is ridiculously high. They learn that at home. It’s not okay – we are jeopardizing the lives of those we swear to love the most with the examples we set and the standards…

• My 2009.

  Maria

  2 Jan 2010 | 5:05 pm

  I had my hair cut. I was tattooed by a super cute I think Irish guy with red hair. I got straight A’s. I stopped blogging so much and started twittering more. I kept reading everyone else, but quit trying to weasel out extra time in my days to comment.I found out that I’m not the only woman in the world that deduces exactly why celebrity men are hot. I discovered Supernatural. I battled an addiction to Chester’s Flaming Hot Fries. I saw Death Cab For Cutie live and it made me respect and like them so much more. I struggled with some demons and conquered them. I met the most…

• 
  Outblush

• Celeb Style: Emily Blunt's LWD

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:37 am

  On one of the many stops of her worldwide promotional tour for her new movie, The Wolfman, Emily Blunt wows us again with yet another high-scoring look. This time the...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Fiesta Head Chefs

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am

  Baking with kids can be loads of fun, or drive you a little bit insane, depending on the situation (and the kid). Fiesta has a line of kid-friendly kitchen utensils...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Movie Night: Valentine's Day Preparedness

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am

  Yawn. Despite the wine and conversation hearts and cards and teddies of both kinds everywhere, are you just not grooving on the upcoming holiday? We at Outblush tend to think...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Silver Leaf First Year Frame

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am

  Start spoiling that little prince or princess before his/her grand arrival? The Silver Leaf First Year Frame ($59) is a must-have for every family. It is made of wood with...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• Tod's High Heel Sandal

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am

  It must be that soft spring color and the fact that our poor toes are dying to get out from these socks and boots, but we're seriously considering dropping the...Visit Outblush for the full post.

• 
  Splendicity » Accessories

• Cutesy Valentine’s Accessories for Under $5

  Kelli DesRochers

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  I have always loved cute little jewelry and fabric patterns with hearts on it and I have to think that there are tons of other females out in the world just like me.  Regardless of your feelings about Hallmark holidays, Valentine’s Day definitely gives you an excuse to stock up on the cutest red and pink items that you can find. Forever 21 is one of my favorite spots for getting things like little plastic heart earrings and sequins headbands, so I scowered  the website to find everything that reminded me of this famously cutesy holiday.  Unless you truly love hearts and want to buy…

• Spring Colors from Ellington Handbags

  Chloe Findlay-Harder

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:54 pm

  Are you looking for a new handbag for spring? How about something in a bright, cheery shade – perfect for shaking off those winter blues? Then you’re going to want to check out the new spring 2010 collection from Ellington Handbags.  They’re a small accessories design company based in Portland, Oregon.  Their latest collection features some great candy-colored shades (as well as more restrained options in black and neutrals as well) in their signature Italian leather. Here are a few of my picks from their Spring 2010 collection: The “Hannah” tote is made from…

• Sweet Treats from Design AZ

  Chloe Findlay-Harder

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:28 pm

  Design AZ is the project of two jewelry designers who first met in school, but didn’t get a chance to work together until years later.   Zeynep Kudatgobilik and Alexandra Moosally create fine jewelry using 18kt gold, diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones.  Their designs are influenced by their Eastern heritage with a clean, modern edge. And from now until February 19th, you can save 40% off their entire collection!  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seems fitting to take a sneak peak at the “Love” collection: The Pave Diamond heart necklace…

• Spring Neutrals : Cole Haan Ivory Satchel

  Star Stevenson

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  Craving something sweet? How about a handbag in a yummy vanilla colour? If you’ve been on a search for a pretty neutral handbag to kick off the Spring season, check out this pretty satchel by Cole Haan. Images: Luna Boston The Cole Haan Prudence Top Handle Satchel ($398) is quite ladylike with the satchel frame and top handles which allow you to carry it on the crook of your arm.  The colour is Ivory and it will complement your Spring dresses and outfits quite nicely! What initially caught my eye about this bag is the shape. I love satchel and this one is a good size at 14″w x…

• Victoria Beckham’s Sunglasses Line

  Kelli DesRochers

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  With the Beckham powerhouse expanding further and further into American culture with fragrances, denim, and clothing it would only make sense that Victoria Beckham would now have her own line of luxury sunglasses.  Victoria’s glamorous look always includes fashionable oversized shades so it’s completely fitting that she would design sunglasses that would fit with her signature look. Victoria Beckham Cat-eye-frame $430 These black oversized acetate frames are my favorite in the collection.  I like the skinny black frame paired with the dark blue gradient lenses.  Victoria…

• 
  ELLE News Blog

• Make V-Day, TV-Day (Get it?)

  ELLE.com

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm

      I refuse to anti-celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. As Gawker so eloquently reminded us yesterday, to do so, or to even talk about doing so is just as lame as all those construction paper heart-within-heart cut-outs taped to the window of the restaurant next to my apartment building reminding me that for an $80 pricks fix (sorry, that’s how I like to say it) I can eat and drink all I want this Sunday and leave with a personalized slice of ‘lovebird’ cheesecake. No, this year, instead of working out at the gym for four hours only to feel superior to all…

• Haven Spa's Romantic Rose Manicure and Pedicure for V-Day

  ELLE.com

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:24 am

  Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine's Day is all about being treated right. Forget teddy bears and chocolate; treat yourself, or the ladies in your life to what you really want: pampering with a side of booze. Am I right, or am I right? If you live in NYC, stop by Haven Spa for their Romantic Rose Manicure and Pedicure (don¹t worry, it's super light on romance; kill it completely by choosing an extra dark polish). They use an organic rose sugar scrub and body butter to soften hands and feet, while you sit back, relax and sip on complementary vino. Now that's amore.

• Brooklyn Decker is Sports Illustrated’s 2010 Cover Model

  ELLE.com

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:07 am

      Congratulations to Brooklyn Decker, star of ELLE’s Make Better DVD series: The model on the rise, who scaled a Manhattan skyscraper in some seriously sharp menswear-inspired looks for a recent ELLE shoot, graces the hotly anticipated 2010 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Want to get a beach-ready body like Brooklyn’s? Check out ELLE’s Make Better DVD collection. —Erin Clements Follow ELLE on Twitter. Become our Facebook fan!

• Street Chic: London

  ELLE.com

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  Clashing prints make perfect harmony.  Photo: Josie Gealer Think you are Street Chic? E-mail us your photo and you could appear in ELLE.com's Street Chic Daily. Follow ELLE on Twitter.

• Introducing Lit Life

  ELLE.com

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:23 pm

      A new kind of book blog is launching on ELLE.com today, and the good news is it’s not one of those “eat your vegetable” types. Headed up by deputy editor Candice Rainey and a host of well read (not to mention well-dressed) contributors, Lit Life is the kind of place where the love of fiction and fashion coincide, where you might find out what that cool girl in the photo thinks about Alice Munro’s latest collection of short stories and how she pulls off those over-the-knee boots effortlessly. Also featured: our favorite authors on the book that changed their…

• 
  CrazyAuntPurl

• Bold return of the crazy camera lady eminent, bring two double-A batteries, stat!

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  Hello! First of all, thank you so much for the comments and emails telling me about your cameras and your reviews. It was a tough decision. I've had my purchase for about a week now and while it was a slow start getting to know each other we have since grown very close and the Dyson is feeling jealous. Ah, the secret life of electronics. That cat lady, she crazy. I went with the Canon PowerShot A1100IS, a very simple point and shoot. This Canon is a little brick of a camera, reminiscent of my first Kodak EasyShare from a decade ago (which I loved to death, literally). I like the size but if…

• Book signing on February 25th at The Grove in Los Angeles

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am

  Hello! I am not touring for this book but I will be doing one reading/book signing in Los Angeles: Barnes & Noble at The Grove 189 Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Thursday, February 25th, 2010 7:30 p.m. [ Map here ] I am a little nervous. I haven't done any public appearances since 2006? 2007? And I've relapsed into my cozy hermit shell, where it's pleasant and there is TV. But I am excited to see folks I haven't seen in so long and chitchat and see what ya'll are knitting and look at your cute shoes and thank you for buying my book and also for agreeing with me that dating should come…

• Reason #37 I can't vacuum...

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:32 am

  File under "crazy cat lady" shenanigans: I plugged in the vacuum, walked away for just a half second and when I turned back around the felines had all decided to lounge so peacefully and artfully right in the path of the dreaded scary noise machine that I couldn't bring myself to scare them away. (Also cross-filed under "Things not to tell potential dates.")

• If there's traffic and Dallas Raines, we must be in Los Angeles.

  3 Feb 2010 | 10:09 am

  Good morning, freeway! How YOU doin' today? It's an El Niño year, which means we're going to have more RAIN. I know, I know, you're digging out under a snowbank and saying don't cry for me Argentina with your silly rain ... but that is because you have no idea how hard it is for us Los Angelenos. We're not accustomed to all this moisture falling from the sky. We like our air to be crunchy, our roads to stay dry and our weathermen to be perpetually bronzed: Stern Dallas Raines! Dapper Dallas Raines! This has been a long, hard winter. We haven't seen an 80-degree day in weeks! I even had to go…

• Tuesday Five Things

  2 Feb 2010 | 10:18 am

  1) Funny: Hard to tell from my crappy picture, but that's Vitello's pizza on the left and just beside it on the right is SweetHarts, the candy shop run by the Hart family (of Melissa Joan Hart). Above both is the world's largest gastric band billboard. Funny? 2) Knitting I have been knitting a baby sweater and booties set for my friend Courtney's new baby and by now I fear the child is already walking and will soon be driving while I am over here trying to finish a button band. I think the problem is that the pattern I chose looked better in the pictures than it does knitted up and since…

• 
  Sizzle Says

• Birthday Wish For You

  Sizzle

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:49 am

  Dear Friend, Today is your birthday. If I could give you anything in the entire Universe it would be self-love. Not money. Not a trip to anywhere your heart desires. Not anything materialistic and fleeting. Just love. Just the love you seek outside of yourself that, if you looked, you’d realize is right inside your very own heart. You are a good person. A warm, generous, loving, forgiving, funny, smart, creative, and sensitive soul. You deserve to be happy. You don’t have to do anything extraordinary or be anything but yourself to deserve it. I see you settle for less over and…

• Laundry List

  Sizzle

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am

  Me: Mr. Darcy only wears his clothes once and then puts them in the laundry. Isn’t that odd? My Mom: No. I do that. You don’t do that? Me: What?! You RAISED me. How did this “happpen”? My Mom: {Using my full name which shall not be disclosed here} The clothes are dirty. Of course they should be washed. Me: If the article of clothing isn’t soiled, why wash it? It’s not like I am profusely sweating in it or wearing it with mustard stains. He doesn’t believe men wear pajamas either. I beg to differ. My Mom: Do you wash your pajamas after you wear them…

• My Clothes Are NOT Edible

  Sizzle

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:04 am

  In the past week my cat Dot has eaten holes in: a brand new pair of wool argyle socks that I had worn ONCE a totally CUTE thrift store sweater that I’ve only worn three times a hand-made blanket a tank top the hem of a dress I thought I was hiding my clothes but apparently if you leave your weekend overnight bag unpacked and with the zipper partly open, a cat will climb in there and have a snack. If you toss your tank top on a chair overnight, you will wake up with a huge hole in it. This cat is murder on my wardrobe. I’m seriously concerned that she’s got yards of fabric…

• Listen Here

  Sizzle

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am

  I have a very expressive face. I realize that you’re just going to have to take my word on this since your experience of me is through these words but trust me, it’s true. Also, you should note, that I am a horrible liar. This is not the best combo because every emotion I am feeling will wash over my face and HELLO TRANSPARENCY. This is one of the reasons I avoid playing poker. I have no poker face. (No, I will not play poker with you.) Add to this that I am a direct person. I’m not the type to coddle and ass kiss. I am nice but not in the sense where I will say one thing…

• Holding the Pose

  Sizzle

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:56 am

  I feel like I am a time waster lately. For a girl who prides herself on making and tackling her to do list(s), I have felt very scattered and out of focus. (And no, it’s not just because romance has entered my life.) I feel like I am on a treadmill. The thing about treadmills though is that you go and go and go and never actually GO anywhere. I would like to find more time. And my motivation. I can’t seem to get up and work out anymore. I just want to sleep. I can’t seem to make it to water aerobics. I have had meetings on class days or social invitations that sound better…

• 
  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

• Call for Abstracts: Postpartum Support International and Marce Society Conference in October 2010

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:44 am

  Postpartum Support International will hold its annual conference jointly with the Marce Society in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from October 27-30, 2010.  Marce Society president Katherine Wisner, M.D. has announced that the focus of the conference will be:  Perinatal Mental Health Research: Harvesting the Potential. Abstracts are now being accepted (until April 1, 2010) for symposia, oral presentations, [...]

• Anticonvulsant Use in Pregnancy and Nursing: Differences in Recommendations from Psychiatrists vs. Neurologists

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am

  There are strong parallels between the clinical management of bipolar disorder and epilepsy, and women with these disorders face significant challenges while pregnant or planning to conceive.  In this setting, treatment decisions must balance the risks of recurrence of severe illness with the risks of potential harm to the fetus when certain medicines are taken [...]

• Prenatal Use of Atypical Antipsychotics: Effect on Birth Weight

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:19 am

  Atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  Despite the increasing use of these medications in women of child-bearing age, there is still relatively little data addressing the reproductive safety of these medications. Newham and colleagues studied a group of infants with in utero exposure to atypical antipsychotic medications (n=45) [...]

• Intrauterine Cannabis Exposure Affects Fetal Growth

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  21 Jan 2010 | 8:46 am

  Although the risks of smoking tobacco while pregnant are well documented and well publicized to the general population, women continue to smoke cigarettes during pregnancy. Smoking cigarettes is known to increase a woman’s risk of having a low-birth weight baby and increases the risk of preterm delivery.  While clinicians often ask about and discourage tobacco [...]

• Premenstrual Syndromes: What is the Optimal Duration of Treatment?

  MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

  21 Dec 2009 | 7:23 am

  Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) affect a large number of women of childbearing age. 30-80% of reproductive age women experience premenstrual symptoms. PMS refers to a pattern of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms occurring 1-2 weeks before menses and remitting with the onset of menses. Common symptoms include fatigue, poor concentration, mild [...]

• 
  flutter

• Shawty’s got me singin’

  flutter

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:10 pm

  I have decided that I am in the wrong industry. Rubbing naked people isn’t nearly as lucrative as writing shit ass song lyrics. In one, disturbing commute I was assaulted by the most inane menagerie of songs ever witnessed by man or beast. Observe: Replay Remember the first time we met You was at the mall wit yo friend (wit yo. seriously) I was scared to approach ya But then you came closer Hopin’ you would give me a chance Who would have ever knew (Oh, may the grammar Gods smite thee with a vengeance.) That we would ever be more than friends We’re real worldwide, breakin…

• fast times at Facebook High

  flutter

  24 Jan 2010 | 7:28 pm

  I love Facebook. I know a lot of people don’t. A lot of people freak out at the time-sucking nature of it or that they don’t want everyone to know their biz. It appeals phenomenally to my twisted inner voyeur. I love seeing photos of people looking gorgeous with their families. I love seeing the successes. But really? I can be one snarky fucking bitch and Facebook is the ultimate in jerk-hiding-behind-a-keyboard equality. I have found my high school best friend, who is a gorgeous, successful attorney. I have found a dear friend of our family, whose children encompass some of my…

• Infomercial

  flutter

  5 Jan 2010 | 11:28 am

  I love an infomercial. The impossibly difficult broom, which will never sweep under your bed no matter how many times you hit the side of the bed frame with it. The only solution to which must be the Uber Super Simple Mop with Rotating Head and Spraying Jets which can Pick Up Dust and Eradicate Allergins ™! I know the magic of $19.95 will garner me a useless item which sprays only out of one jet and is too big to fit into the dirty corners which need the  most help. But, I am rapt in watching, wondering if somehow my witchcraft fingers are the only ones to make this silly thing useful.

• Oh, Holy Crap

  flutter

  27 Dec 2009 | 9:46 pm

  (sung to the tune of “O Holy Night”. My apologies to the hymn writer and all those who love “O Holy Night” and also, Jesus.) (further, this isn’t actually my neighbor’s house….but trust me, it isn’t far off) Oh, Holy Crap the neighbor’s lights are blinding the only lights Hubble can see on Earth Long lay the elf in the garage deflating til pumps appeared and then air filled his girth the lighted reindeer in their front yard glowing as Santa rides a Harley on the roof Fall, on your knees! your retinas are burning Oh, for the love of God…

• commencement

  flutter

  18 Dec 2009 | 11:05 am

  In my interview with Danielle over at Knotty Yarn, she asked me an interesting question involving a theme that she noticed in my writing. She called my blog a poem to my 17 year old self.  I’d never considered what I’ve written here in that capacity. But, as a body of work, I can see how it easily and seamlessly falls right into that description. I wrote myself a letter in that interview, which has been churning around in my mind as incomplete. I view my life in two very distinct chapters. Before my rape and after. But lately, it feels as though a third, unfamiliar chapter is…

• 
  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

• Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 6, 2010

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:32 pm

  Valentines Day is just around the corner...Sunday. The commercial love to hate love to love oh for the love of love holiday and did I mention there would be candy too? People wanting to give me free samples of GODIVA no less. Why didn't this happen way back when I ate everything in sight? I graciously accepted a sample and brought it home and gave it to Ken who is quite happy to benefit from my avoiding temptation.Anyhow, stay strong my dear friends and we'll get through this week without the candy! So how are you celebrating or NOT celebrating Valentines Day?US residents, enter to win Fiber…

• Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars Review and Giveaway

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:46 am

  Its no secret, I have a sweet tooth. When I was asked if I wanted to try Fiber One 90 calorie chewy bars, of course I said yes not just for myself but to share it with all of you as well. Keep reading..and enter here

• Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 5, 2010

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:01 pm

  Happy Groundhog Day! No I didn't grow up in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, but I did grow up in Pennsylvania about 90 miles away and just like in the movie, it was always a big event for the local media. Winter in Pennsylvania with football season over...hey we needed something to look forward to!Anyhow, I hope you're all having a great week. I'm struggling somewhat but I'm working on making things better in my world by using my creative outlets to keep my mind and hands too busy to think about food.Share your goals for the week, celebrations, struggles and anything else you want in…

• the difference between potatoes and strawberries

  31 Jan 2010 | 11:15 am

  I've mentioned before that I spent my early years living in a rural area. We lived on over 100 acres of land, we had a few acres for the house and yard, a few acres for gardening and the rest was for the various animals: cows, pigs, horses/ponies and chickens. We always planted a large garden. One field would be for potatoes alone. In another clearing we'd plant tomatoes. Every year Dad would ask us what we wanted from the garden. I'd always pick strawberries. The potatoes were pretty low maintenance. Dad would plow the field and we'd walk behind him picking up arrowheads and dropping in…

• Healthy You Challenge Check In Week 4, 2010

  26 Jan 2010 | 5:30 am

  Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a great week. I have a giveaway going on so be sure to sign up (US Residents only sorry)Thanks for all of your good wishes last week, I was offered the job I interviewed for and start late February.WELCOME! Confessions of a Hungry Girlhttp://wearelosingitblog.blogspot.com/A NEW ME AND LOVING IThttp://anewmeandlovingit.blogspot.com/In Pursuit of My Inner Pin-uphttp://inpursuitofmyinnerpinup.blogspot.com/Journey to a New Mehttp://www.anewmejourney.blogspot.com/ Just Alexhttp://www.just-alex.com/ Making Over Mehttp://makingoverme.blogspot.com/

• 
  BettyConfidential.com: Latest Articles

• Planned Parenthood Thinks Kids as Young as 10 Should Receive Sex Education

  Carolyn French

  How young is TOO young?

• Hugh Hefner Being Sued by Playboy Shareholder

  Carolyn French

  The suit alleges Hefner intentionally sabatoged deals to sell magazine.

• Michelle Obama Launches U.S. Campaign to Fight Childhood Obesity

  Carolyn French

  Although Michelle Obama has confessed to loving burgers and fries, she knows children eat entirely too much of the greasy goods and is therefore doing something about it.

• Hot Links: Rihanna's Zebra Inspired Getup and More

  Carolyn French

  Plus: Jessica Alba needs to buy a hairbrush, and Jay Leno forgives his 'old friend' David Letterman.

• Lady Gaga is Shy?

  Carolyn French

  Apparently you can be both bold and timid.

• 
  Twenty Four At Heart

• Call Me Exhibit A

  Twenty Four At Heart

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:05 am

  Last June, I underwent breast reduction surgery at the urging of my shoulder surgeon, Dr. Schobert.  He felt it would help me with my post-car accident arm/shoulder/neck/upper back problems.  My arm/shoulder is doing much better now than it was pre-reduction, but I can't say definitively if my improvement is a result of the reduction or not.  In any case, I now have smaller, perkier, breasts and less pain than I had pre-reduction.Oh, I also now have bionic nipples which are both a blessing and a curse.If you've been reading Twenty Four At Heart for awhile, you know I became friends with…

• Forming A Plan

  Twenty Four At Heart

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:05 am

  I've gotten so many emails, I feel like I need to respond publicly.  I don't want any of you to worry about me, I'm fine.  Before we move on to other topics (and tomorrow's post is a good one!), I just want to assure you I'm picking myself up and moving forward.  Last week's drama was a surprise ... a sad and heartbreaking surprise, but oh well.  It certainly isn't the first time in my life I've been disappointed or hurt by a friend.  Such is life.I'm seeing my doc/surgeon this week.  I've decided to wait and discuss my future PT with him before I make any appointments.  If I were…

• Rainy Weekend

  Twenty Four At Heart

  7 Feb 2010 | 12:05 am

  I'll be at a Super Bowl party today.  I'm hoping the rain stops, or at least slows down, so we can enjoy being outside for part of the day also.  It has been a wet, wet, weekend.(This is a stock photo, I didn't take it.  I don't want to get my equipment wet!)© Twenty Four At Heart  

• Focusing on the Positive

  Twenty Four At Heart

  6 Feb 2010 | 12:05 am

  © Twenty Four At Heart

• Emotional Hangover

  Twenty Four At Heart

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:05 am

  Have you ever felt hungover just from stress?  Or from emotions running intense and high? Well, yeah ... that's where I am. I'm wiped out, drained.You guys were awesome yesterday.  Your comments, emails, tweets ... all made me feel like there really are good people in this world still.  I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to each of you individually yet.Did I mention I'm emotionally drained?There are two parts to my break up with The Torturer.  I'm trying to adjust to, and digest, both. First, there's the fact I've lost my long-term physical therapist.  Many of you have been lucky enough…

• 
  Latest entries from leahj.blog-city.com

• That time of year - Yitro

  Leah Jones

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  The G-dcast that I wrote and narrated is back. Here's what I had to say about Yitro.  Parshat Yitro from G-dcast.comMore Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.comLeave Comment

• Update on Dad and Many Thanks

  Leah Jones

  23 Jan 2010 | 1:10 pm

  My dad had a quintuple bypass on Tuesday and it was a textbook good surgery! He is now out of ICU and in a regular room. He's started rehab and mom checks in on him a few times a day. I went home for the surgery and am glad I was able to zip to Indiana to be with my mom for a few days. Why own your own company if you can't leave town and support your family at the drop of a hat?Thank you to everyone that sent emails, tweets, facebook messages. To everyone that prayed, lit candles, sent good vibes or thought nice thoughts. It really made a difference and Mom felt incredibly supported…

• Cross-post from Jewlicious: Vote for Friendship Circle

  Leah Jones

  19 Jan 2010 | 10:07 am

  Dave told me to write a sassy and irreverent post for Jewlicious. My very first guest post about a very important cause – helping the Friendship Circle in Michigan win One Million Dollars in the Chase Community Giving Campaign . I struggle with sassy and irreverent, so I’m going to let you play Choose Your Own Adventure with this blog post. Here are your options for intros: I’ll Take Jewish Geography for One Million Dollars, Alex OR A cause so important, Leah used a hashtag. Jewish Geography I met Pinny at WOMMA in DC. Pinny knew Abitbol from Montreal. Pinny knows the…

• Optimistic with a chance of overwhelmed

  Leah Jones

  15 Jan 2010 | 12:50 pm

  While I was in New York, I got a text from my sister "It isn't an emergency, but dad is in the hospital." The non-emergency has turned into open heart surgery with a triple to quintuple bypass scheduled for Tuesday morning.I feel very optimistic about the whole thing, but the truth is my dad was very close to a massive heart attack. Lucky for all of us it was caught before it happened. Last night at a networking event, a man introduced himself to me and lead into his elevator pitch about his wellness book. His elevator pitch starts, "My dad died because of heart…

• Only looking forward.

  Leah Jones

  31 Dec 2009 | 6:18 pm

  This could be a post reviewing the year (mostly good) or the decade (mostly good), but it isn't. I'm looking forward. At midnight I'm going to do a havdalah of sorts under the full moon in Chicago. Goodbye to the good, the bad and the ugly. Hello to 2010. My company will grow. I will travel more. I'll finally figure out how to keep a closet sorted. I'll cook more shabbat dinners. I'll be stronger. I'll learn how to properly apply bronzer.  Maybe I'll give you some sort of retrospective tomorrow, but chances are I'll be too busy moving forward and…

• 
  moosh in indy.

• blissful role models.

  Casey

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:32 pm

  (photos and links in no particular order.) I want to be… As gracious as Chrissy, Edie, Lisa and Sibi. As unconditionally loving as Frelle and Lee. As courageous as Ari. As passionate as Alli and Ally. As talented as Mishi, Dawn, Lotus, Deana, Angie and Amy. As fantastic as Carmen, Esther and Mrs. Chicken and Poppy. As loyal as Rachel and Tanis. As powerful as Barbara, Catherine, Paula and Liz. As hysterical as Allison, Marie, Heather, Bridget, Cassie, Michelle, Monica and Christina. As coordinated as Jessica As honest as Steph. As immensely beautiful as Amber, Sarah, Robin, Amy, and…

• blissdom observance.

  Casey

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:38 am

  Based on my very loosely conducted research over the last two days it is physically and mentally impossible to watch The Biggest Loser without snacks. And not just snacks. I’m talking snacks. Also? I am so happy here. Have I met you yet? Copyright © 2010 moosh in indy.. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact mooshinindy (at) gmail (dot) com so we can take legal action immediately.Plugin by Taragana

• read now, sniff later.

  Casey

  1 Feb 2010 | 8:32 pm

  Tomorrow I travel to Nashville, Thursday I will sit in front of a sold out crowd with her and them as part of a workshop to help those in attendance learn more about the fine art of inspirational writing. Or here at moosh in indy “inspirational writing” is better known as TMI or OVERSHARE. Eh, it’s what I do. Now I know someone in the audience is going to be all “What? This girl has no idea what she’s talking about.” So to prove I know *something* I present you with the indispensable guide to small warm people that smell of milk and/or cookies on a regular…

• sweet stereotype of love. *giveaway*

  Casey

  31 Jan 2010 | 8:01 pm

  Giveaway now closed. Congrats to Jenny for winning the calories chocolate with your sweet love story! Have you ever gotten one of these for Valentine’s? I haven’t. I’ve never gotten a fruitcake on Christmas either. There’s a reason the stereotype is there, and I can promise you as soon as you saw the picture of See’s Candy up there you started picking out which one you would eat first. (I’d take that big square one, upper right heart bump.) You really want to torture yourself? Check out all of the See’s Candies Valentine’s gifts. Let me tell you…

• Frigidaire gave me gas.

  Casey

  30 Jan 2010 | 10:59 am

  You know how you hear about contests or giveaways or programs and a specific person pops into your head, like “HOLY CRAP SHE WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THAT!” Well the program was the second round of MomCentral’s Frigidaire Test Drive Campaign and the person who found out was Emily and the person she told was me. New house, borrowed appliances and a strong desire for cooking and baking. I applied immediately and was chosen to be a part of the team in charge of testing Frigidaire’s new professional series range and microwave. I. am. lucky. I know this. And I’ve already…

• 
  Blogger For Hire

• Torn About Fat Acceptance

  MomGrind

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  She was sitting with her back to me as I entered the ice cream place with my kids. She was very big – most likely not just medically overweight, but obese. As we were standing in line, contemplating our order of a kid-size, single ice cream scoop in a small waffle cone, I glanced at her. She was young – a teenager – eating fast, holding her extra large cone in one hand, feverishly texting with the other. She looked almost drugged – drugged with sugar I guess. It was obvious that the eating and texting were giving her intense pleasure, soothing her. She was oblivious to her…

• Post Baby Body: Stop it Already!

  MomGrind

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  8 months pregnant with my first child. Post baby body. Where did this stupid phrase come from? Implying that women should care about what their body looks like when they just went through a huge transformation and are coping with some of the biggest challenges of their lives, emotionally, mentally and physically. Just stop it already. After I had my first daughter, even though I didn’t gain a lot of weight, it took me about a year to go back to how I looked before. After giving birth, everything was soft and loose and yes, I had wobbly bits too. I couldn’t have possibly cared…

• Thoughts On The Very Important Subject Of Showing Cleavage

  MomGrind

  26 Jan 2010 | 7:00 am

  Photo by savaman This is a short post. It’s not really a blog post I guess, but a photo essay followed by a multiple choice test. The topic of showing cleavage came up when I was watching the Golden Globes, where many of the actresses were showing serious cleavage, and Mariah Carey especially showed so much cleavage that it was difficult to concentrate on anything other than her big, shiny boobs. Over dinner with friends the following night, the discussion heated up when a few of us felt that showing cleavage was unnecessary and tacky, others felt that it was completely legit (the…

• High Heels Sexy?

  MomGrind

  18 Jan 2010 | 9:00 am

  “High heels are sexy,” explains my friend D. “They elongate my legs. They make my ankles appear thinner. They give me confidence!” I look at her incredulously. It’s not that I’m not familiar with the idea that high heels are sexy. Of course I am. We all are. It’s not even that I’ve never worn a pair of high heels, or that I don’t own several pairs of them. In fact, I have this pair of gorgeous 4-inch heels that I often insist on wearing when I go out at night. But the older I get, the more I rebel against the very idea that women’s…

• Clutter Free Home: Six Useful Tips

  MomGrind

  12 Jan 2010 | 6:00 am

  I’m a minimalist. You can tell from my blog, I think. I hate clutter more than anything. I certainly hate clutter more than I love buying stuff. Which makes the entire dilemma very easy for me: yes, I live in a consumerist society. I am surrounded by media and advertising messages that promise me the world if only I buy their product, whether it’s a wrinkle cream, a shampoo, or a new mattress. I prefer not to buy their stuff. I used to enjoy shopping. But over the years I came to realize that shopping results in stuff, and that stuff takes place and creates clutter, and that…

• 
  Contented Me

• pretty pink and white

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:32 am

  Because a little bit of pink and white does wonders on a wintry day...Lovely images by BitterLemons, found on Flickr.

• spotlight: little aviary (+ a week of love!)

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:15 pm

  I'm throwing a party, and you're invited, my Lovelies. We can decorate paper bag mailboxes with doilies and glitter and then hand out Valentine's to each other. Just to show how much we care.These will do nicely, no?From Little Aviary's Etsy shopPS - this kicks off a week of Valentine's themed posts... Stay tuned!

• design inspiration: decorating with red

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:34 am

  Because it is February, after all...From top:House & HomeHouse BeautifulCountry LivingHouse & HomeLiving etc.

• design inspiration: fresh flowers

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:02 pm

  It's simple, really.Line up baskets filled with bunches of fresh-picked* flowers on a windowsill, and you can brighten up even the grayest of days.(from House Beautiful)*Yes, fresh-picked from the grocery store count, too! For those of us still donning snow boots...

• what's cooking: last week's menu (and a whole new me)

  1 Feb 2010 | 8:42 am

  There's a bit of a transformation taking place. What started as a simple new year's resolution to eat healthfully and make dinner every night has evolved into me really enjoying cooking. It's become more than just a means to an end. And I'm finding that the more I do it, the more confidence I carry with me into the kitchen. Like a lucky rabbit's foot in my pocket.My Sunday nights go a little something like this: hunker down on the sofa (glass of wine optional, but likely), stacks of cookbooks teetering by my side and my trusty brown file brimming with clipped recipes perched on my knee. Pen…

• 
  Viva la Feminista

• Erica Watson Surfs into NYC on a New Wave of Black Comedy

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:37 pm

  This was originally posted on the AWEARNESS blog Erica Watson is fat and she isn't afraid to tell you either. In fact, her one-woman show is called "Fat Bitch" and if you attend you'll learn a lot more than just how big she is. You'll learn about her 21st birthday party with a major stripper fail and how she thinks that being a cute fat chick is just too much pressure. "People are always telling me that if I just lost weight, I'd be sooo much prettier." I could see the eye roll from a dozen rows back when I saw the show in November. Watson and other "new wave" black comics don't "relentlessly…

• Cohen Watch

  6 Feb 2010 | 4:32 pm

  Scott Lee Cohen's tune seems to be changing. The media is digging more into his story and painting an uglier picture. Early on Friday he was sticking to his stance that the people of Illinois had voted for him and he was staying. On Twitter a bunch of people were saying the same thing. Warning that if we let the party nudge someone off the ticket for being unsavory or unlikeable, well then democracy would start down that slippery slope of ethics into a place where party bosses would hand pick candidates. What the hell do people think already happens? Cohen represents not a victory for…

• Just what Illinois politics needed: Scott Lee Cohen

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:03 pm

  Blago. Burris. Stroger. We thought we had finally turned a corner Tuesday night. Even with the weight of Alexi's family's bank saga, we at least were moving away from embarrassing politicians. We cheered the defeat of Todd Stroger and wished Toni Preckwinkle all the luck of a field of four-leaf clovers, cause she's gonna need it to clean up the mess of Cook County. Then we woke up on Thursday to news that 212,902, er, 212, 901 voters didn't do a good Google search of their candidate. Scott Lee Cohen admits to choking his ex-wife and violence against his ex-girlfriend. He didn't fess up after…

• Want to adopt a Haitian orphan? WAIT!

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:32 pm

  This post was written right after American missionaries were arrested and originally posted on the AWEARNESS blog.  I admit that my husband and I had "the talk." The "Can we adopt a child from Haiti?" talk. Of course it was out of sheer love for the children who need help, but we quickly snapped back to reality: Now is not the time to get in line for a child. Apparently some people think otherwise. Ten Americans were arrested over the weekend for child trafficking out of Haiti. Of course they say they were just trying to help by scooping up children and taking them across the border to…

• Sean James and Al Joyner respond to the Tebow Super Bowl ad

  4 Feb 2010 | 5:25 am

  Warning...Feministas, grab a tissue before you watch this amazing and beautiful video. Welcome to my new Laughing Liberally friends. This is the video Matt & I talked about last night. From Planned Parenthood: Matt asked me what dudes can do to help in the fight and I said, be aware and then I talked about this video. Men, be aware of how your actions impact our lives. Of your privilege that allows you to not worry about being raped when you walk around a corner to get to your car after a fun night with friends. How you have to decide if you'll ask for a friend to talk with you, if you'll…

• 
  Sarah Bellum's Tales of Wit and Charm

• I suddenly have empathy for all things EMO, because no one understands my art.

  Sarah

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:30 pm

  There’s nothing I hate more than tax time. Well except for going to the post office. I fucking hate the post office. Oh, and I hate grocery shopping. And the doctor’s office waiting room. So, yeah, I HATE STUFF. Anyway. Taxes suck. Luckily an old co-worker of mine is an accountant. Every year I have to track her down. I suspect she changes her phone number and email just to keep me from bugging her about finances. Or I just suck at organization and lose the info. Good think I have trusty AK to keep track of people for me. He’s way better than any iPhone assistant app.

• It only takes one conversation with my brother to prove I’m the sane sibling.

  Sarah

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  “Sarah, I found the new love of my life.” “Oh, you got a new pug?” “No, it’s a Swiffer WetJet.” “You’re in love with a mop?” “Sarah it’s not JUST a mop. It’s a mop and broom combo.” “What did you name her?” “I didn’t.” “Benjamin, if you don’t know the name of your true love, then it’s not love. That’s called a one-night stand. You’re having a one-night stand with a freaking mop.” “I told you, it’s not JUST a mop. Why can’t you just support my choices?”…

• Mormons are the Leading Cause of Heart Damage

  Sarah

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:15 pm

  There’s been some major excitement in my mailbox over the past few days. No really, my MAILBOX. This is not a euphemism. Saturday I received my college diploma (Can I get a hell yeah?). Monday was also pretty eventful. I received a whopping 13 credit card offers. I’m practically rich. Yesterday’s trip to the mailbox was heart stopping exciting. I opened my front door, stepped into the dark and was startled when two strange men were standing there. Once my heart began beating again I tried to figure out why these men were here. They were too old to be Mormon missionaries.

• 
  ConfessionsOfAnITGirl.com

• Since U Been Gone…

  Ellen

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:58 am

  Gee, January wasn’t such a great month for blogging.  I’m grateful to have had many visitors during the month, but I hang my head in shame for not giving them more to ponder.  Most friends who follow me on Twitter and on Facebook know that there’s nothing that should  keep me from writing, other than living life.  For those who don’t, let me catch you up. Vacation – we survived our Florida Odyssey.  It was way more fun than I imagined it would be.  But I learned a few things, mostly about the Boy.  Boy hates rides.  HATES.  With a passion.  He used to…

• “Up All Night”

  Ellen

  12 Jan 2010 | 12:20 pm

  In past blog entries, I told of our efforts to get the IT Boy to sleep through the night.  I’m happy to say that after much work he is probably one of the best sleepers in the house. Mr. IT would tell you that it was all a natural evolution, that he just reached a point where he was ready to sleep through the night and it had nothing to do with the massive time we spent getting him to cry it out, ferberizing, and the like. Uh huh. In case you are wondering what the “cry it out” process was like in our family, I present to you this clip from “Modern Family”,…

• The Odyssey

  Ellen

  23 Dec 2009 | 4:57 am

  Today marks the third day of my end of year vacation.  Not much planned, other than getting the kids off to their last day of school, therapy for the boy, a cut and color for me, a visit to Santa and packing. Yes, I said packing.  As someone who travels a fair amount for business, I can’t really say I have an overwhelming urge to ever travel with my family, especially during the peak holiday season.   But this year is different.  A good friend and the maid of honor from my wedding is getting married.  On January 2nd.  In Florida. How could I not attend?  When I got the…

• The Greatest Gift of All

  Ellen

  15 Dec 2009 | 7:04 am

  You may think I am talking about peace, love or happiness. But I’m not. I’m talking about coffee. Because you cannot have the first three with out the latter… Let me explain. I never was a real coffee drinker. I got through college on a steady regimen of Diet Pepsi and tea. Twice in my early adult life I tried coffee. Once was when I was working at Hampton Jitney and stayed out way too late the night before and thought coffee would help. It didn’t. The second time was at a trade show in New Orleans where I was nursing a hangover (see a pattern here?) and tried the…

• On mothering a boy

  Ellen

  14 Dec 2009 | 5:19 am

  Last night, we had my mom over to the house for a Hanukkah dinner.  Not growing up Jewish, I make sure it’s a well-choreographed occasion, with little margin for error.  Brisket bigger than smallest child?  Check.  Gobs of oil, normally forbidden, because it’s how you honor the holiday, and to hell with calories when you have to honor a holiday.  Of course.  Cans of Le Sueur peas because that makes any holiday special for Mr. IT?  In da house. But what would Hanukkah be for the kids without presents?  Grandma brought a fun one for IT Boy – a Chevron train set. …

• 
  Formerly Fun

• Formerly Fun Facts

  formerly fun

  2 Feb 2010 | 4:14 am

  I have an unhealthy obsession with green sweaters and printed cardigans.My hands are so small they have been referred to as "paws" by more than one man, as in, "look, your hand look like little cubby bear paws, awwww."I have an awesome sense of smell which is great for cooking but sometimes detrimental in my line of work.I have only been in love once, and I married him.I love cats but after having spent the last year and a half with our dog Lucy, I realize I am not really a dog person.I am fond of adopting completely odd personas in public and will sometime use foreign accents to enhance my…

• Caption This

  formerly fun

  12 Jan 2010 | 9:39 pm

  1. World's Hottest Pussy?2.3.4.5.Oh yeah, my Keyword's are going to go crazy.Your turn.

• Daily Exercise Log

  formerly fun

  11 Jan 2010 | 2:52 pm

  In an effort to be healthier, I resolved in 2010 to exercise more. I figured if I put it on my blog, I'd hold myself more accountable. Even though I have a terrible cold today, I was able to put myself first, and make time to achieve this important goal. Today's Exercise: Warm Up- Existential thought, extra credit for wiggling my toes while I did it. Aerobics-Blowing my nose(120 minutes Total Combined). Resistance Training- Yelling at my nine year old. Isolation Exercises-Deftly picking the remaining not entirely dried leaves off my basil plant(it has a death wish) so I could add it to…

• Is It Wrong?

  formerly fun

  8 Jan 2010 | 9:22 am

  Is it wrong to see a friend posed on Facebook in the most ginormous sunglasses you have ever seen and comment that "Willy Wonka called and he wants his glasses back"?Is it wrong that I find it over the top high-larious when my two year old daughter says "fuck-ing dammit" with near perfect intonation when the dog runs off with her favorite froggie stuffed animal?Is it wrong that sometimes I wish I were financially capable of having staff(not like i would refer to them as staff, just having people to do the things I don't feel like doing(which is a lot(but kids don't think that means you(but…

• I Am Perfect, Just Like Everyone Else

  formerly fun

  6 Jan 2010 | 9:13 am

  A New Year, a Fresh Start, the beginnings of I Will Always and some I Will Nevers, None of This and More of That, less snacking, more flossing, blah, blah, blah.The Baroness Von Bloggenschtern, a thoughtful, dynamic and witty friend, recently posted on the vein of being kinder to ourselves, lowering our expectations a bit. She was moved by a mantra she encountered at a yoga retreat, the very simply stated:"All I have to do is be,and all I have to be is who I am"It was also well said by these guys. They look a bit goofy but I think they were on to something: There's nothing you can know that…

• 
  Women on Business

• How Do You Get Someone’s Attention?

  Bonnie Marcus

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  I was in Orlando this past week with some colleagues training a medical device sales force on “purposeful communication”. “Purposeful Communication” is communication that has a goal or desired outcome and when applied to sales presentations, the objective is to create a sales presentation that is well organized around a desired outcome with your target audience. Selling to a large or small group of potential decision makers has many similarities to promoting yourself and your business to prospective clients. One similarity is in the way you open a presentation. The opening of a sales…

• Maybe We Really Have Changed

  Sylvia Lafair

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am

  I was very conscious of role changes yesterday. First, my husband and I needed to get some basics for our new home in Sonoma County California. We were running late and made a last stop at the closest Costco. The Super Bowl had started about ten minutes before and as Saints fans, we wanted to get home to cheer this special team to success. I stopped at the bank of televisions and became engrossed with the game and stood there with a few guys who had pulled up chairs and obviously planned to make an afternoon of it. My husband, a macho kind of male, said he would get the items we needed…

• A Picture Perfect Business Model

  Chrysty Beverley Fortner

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:34 am

  Every day I meet people who are really good at what they do; and every day I remind myself what I am best at.  It’s not because I need the constant ego boost, but because I have to remind myself to stay focused…laser focused on the big picture instead of getting side-tracked when something sparkly catches my eye. Why is it that companies like Kodak, Xerox and Microsoft still thrive in today’s competitive space given the fact they were founded 35, 104 and 118 years ago?  It’s because not only did they stick to what they knew, they knew their strengths and they made a…

• Employee Brand Differentiation

  Tina Kashlak Nicolai

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:47 pm

  Differentiating oneself in the workforce today may hold the key for many employees who are keenly interested and highly motivated to survive downsizing.  While it may take extra effort, the payoff can be exponentially greater both short and long range; for the employee and the company.  With discipline, determination, and drive, employees can make their mark strategically, fashionably and with ingenuity. Why Differentiate? Much like a business, brand awareness, credibility, and association of product are important.  Human capital in the workforce can benefit by applying her own brand to…

• The Keys to Employee Retention

  Susan Gunelius

  7 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  Post by Veronica Eyenga, contributing Women On Business writer Employees are the driving force to your business’ success and retaining those key people is critical to the health of your company.  The ability to keep your best employees ensures customer satisfaction, product sales, and deeply embedded organizational knowledge. But how do you get your best employees to stick around? Compensate fairly. Paying your employees competitively, and fairly, shows that you respect and value them.  Money isn’t the only reason people stay in a job, but it can play a significant role. Treat people as…

• 
  Mama Manifesto

• TALK BACK: family tv time

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:24 am

  I was talking with a group of friends recently about how our family grew up watching tv shows together on certain evenings. This was before the days of Tivo, when we watched things in real time. We always looked forward to "Cosby Night" and "Growing Pains Night", when we would pop popcorn and sit and watch together.Our society seems to have fragmented tv time now. Shows do not seem as family-focused. Children have tv's in their room and can watch on-demand. It's not unusual for any given home to have kids watching tv in a bedroom while adults watch tv in another room altogether.How do you…

• Pizza Party

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:25 pm

  Maybe I should blame it on the Superbowl, but I am all about pizza right now. I tried this amazing recipe from Real Simple this week (see the picture on right!) and is it ever mmmm mmmm good. We do pizza a couple times a month and we rotate between buying the frozen pizza from Trader Joe's, and the whole wheat dough from Trader Joe's and making our own. My kids LOVE when we make the pizza ourselves because I give them each their own dough and let them make it themselves. It takes a lot longer (I have to almost tie my hands behind my back so that I don't take over. It is painful to watch the…

• SUNDAY GIVEAWAY: JackCards.com

  7 Feb 2010 | 4:17 am

  JackCards.com is an innovative new website that makes getting greeting cards sent out- on time!- a total breeze. We love this time-saving and cost effective idea! Offering thousands of great paper cards, appropriate for all recipients and occasions, Jack Cards does all of the organizing and tracking for you.You pick the cards, schedules the dates, and when the time arrives, Jack Cards will mail you your card to sign and send- allowing you to include a handwritten, personal touch. But the best part is that the cards come stamped, addressed, and ready to go! You can even upload contacts right…

• Forever 21, Why Do You Hate Me?

  4 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  Dear Sir ('cause I know a woman would not be behind this): I have an issue with the sizing at your store. I know, I know. The name of your store should be a warning. I'm not 21 - not even close. I know that my needs could be better met in a store called "Forever Mid-Thirties". Or "Despereately Clinging to My Youth". But still, your budget prices and sassy fashions beckon me in again and again.During my last visit to your store, I found an adorable asian-print dress that would be a great number for an upcoming dinner. I grabbed it in a size LARGE, because I've been to your store before. I know…

• Insanity.

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results." - Albert EinsteinBy this definition, I am insane. Nutso. Crazy. Because, for real, there are certain things that I absolutely abhor and am constantly pledging to change, and yet, I do the same things over and over. I think that sometimes I do literally expect different results from the same activity. As if there will be something magical that happens if I simply complain enough about something, it will change.A great example is that I am very much not a morning person. My brain does not…

• 
  Corporette

• Some Thoughts on Frump

  C

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm

  We got this reader mail a little while ago, and it seems appropriate in light of the response to this morning’s cardi set (wow, you guys did NOT like that). Here’s my question: What makes a work outfit frumpy or dowdy? Here’s why: I’m a 41-year old attorney with a private firm. My work wardrobe has evolved from that of a newbie lawyer wearing a skirt suit and hose every day to that of a more seasoned professional in an increasingly casual workplace. My clothing spend has gone more toward the casual/funky/weekend and less toward classic suiting. I’ve recently…

• Tuesday’s TPS Report: Ribbon Cardigan & Tank

  C

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:51 am

  Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. We’re not quite sure why, but this one has eluded us — we first saw it in the Neiman Marcus catalog a while ago, and then couldn’t find on the website, and even now, searching for “Michael Simon” does not bring this sucker up.  Anyway:  We really like this cotton and cashmere sweater, which has those rare qualities of being sophisticated, playful, colorful, and black all at the same time.  We like the ribbons; we like the basketweave — and we particularly like the…

• Coffee Break: Christa Basic Pump

  C

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am

  Reader J wrote in to sing the praises of these wine-colored pumps from AK Anne Klein: They’re quite comfortable, the heel isn’t too high, and the cut out on the inside of the shoe gives it a little visual interest. And I love the wine color – not quite a neutral and not so bright that it couldn’t be worn with a wide variety of outfits The price point certainly doesn’t hurt either! Oooh, we like. They’re on sale at Endless for $37 to $68 (the wine ones are $54), in sizes 6-10. AK Anne Klein Women’s Christa Basic Pump (L-2) Share and Enjoy:

• Etiquette Flash: Should you invite your colleagues to your wedding?

  C

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am

  Today’s reader mail has to do with whether she should invite colleagues to her wedding… Long story short, I just got engaged to another attorney at my mid-sized firm. We are both junior associates and we met as summer associates in 2007. Obviously, there are associates that we socialize with that we’d like to invite to the wedding. However, we’re not quite sure about whether to invite partners. Since we’re both quite new at the firm, we do work for lots of different attorneys. I’d hate to offend someone by not inviting him…especially in this economy!

• Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Milly Ruffled Cotton Pique Jacket

  C

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:53 am

  Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Oooh, great jacket from Milly.  We love the unusual elbow-length sleeves, as well as the ruffle and the single button.  We’d wear it with gray trousers and a bright pastel t-shirt (yellow? mint?) in springtime, and, perhaps, a long silver chain.  It’s $425 at Bloomingdales.  Milly Ruffled Cotton Pique Jacket If you’ve recently seen a great work piece you’d like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless…

• 
  DuchessOmnium - Island to island

• Floating service station

  Duchess

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am

  We were all running short of diesel, coal, gas and toilet fluid, because first Dusty was stuck in the ice at Duke’s Lock, and then he had to go north to reload his boat.  So everyone was glad to get his text message the other day. Squirrels are searching out their nuts for a nibble, but you get Dusty’s nuts delivered. Rock on Tues, Thrupp Wed, and Dukes plus Oxford Thurs/Fri. You don’t need to nibble at my nuts – buy them by the bag. Yesterday evening around half past five a bell jingled, a boat tied up alongside me, and I went out to greet Dusty.  He loaded eight bags of coal onto…

• Blogging for beginners part 2 (post 101)

  Duchess

  1 Feb 2010 | 5:16 pm

  My elder daughter tells me I gave up on Twitter too soon.  People get interested in your life, she says, if you just keep going.  That’s probably good advice for blogging too, and for life in general.  Success is mostly about showing up.  I admire those like Ruth who always have ideas and themes and structure.  When I don’t manage, and then say nothing at all, later it seems to me that I should have at least mentioned what I ate for lunch. So here’s the latest on my life, in case you got interested: Last night I tucked my radio under the bedclothes and listened to the late…

• Down the pub

  Duchess

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:58 pm

  The new year is beginning to feel old, which, I guess, is a way of saying I am beginning to feel at home again along the tow path.  I have a new neighbour (Mr Badger) and the swan family has changed, but otherwise things are pretty much as usual:  Ratty emerged from his boat for the first time this morning (that is, the first time I have seen him since I got back), off for a toilet run.  He’s still banned from the pub.  Ferret, working on the new boat, has broken up with Dina, but she still shows up at the pub now and then, never ever without her head covered. Wheels finally got his…

• Fire and ice

  Duchess

  22 Jan 2010 | 8:51 am

  There’s a guy who cruises up and down the South Oxford Canal filling boats with diesel and delivering coal.  In the way that people call each other after their boats, he is known as Dusty.  I have his real name on a bit of paper somewhere, for when I write the cheques, but I think of him only as Dusty the Coal Man.  When he is on his way he sends text messages to everyone along the route, reminding us to fill up.  The texts are usually vaguely suggestive: “Dusty – your man for hot nuts, exotic red juice and whiffy gas…Nice! Rock on Tuesday, Kidlington Wed, and on to Oxford…

• Since you asked

  Duchess

  20 Jan 2010 | 3:57 pm

  Okay, Jan asked. So here is my little grandson, four months and a day old when the picture was taken last week in Seattle, just before I left for the airport. Little Julian and Big Julie Young Julian is doing well, thank you, and giving his parents exactly enough bother to make his grandparents smile and remember that revenge is sweet. I maintain that he is a particularly pretty baby. One school of thought declares that I am biased, which might just be possible. Or we could simply agree that he is not only unusually attractive, but also shows signs of extraordinary intelligence. Here, he…

• 
  drowning In kids

• raising a reader

  drowninginkids

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:49 pm

  I was totally blown away last night doing parkers' homereading with him. In less than a couple months he has gone from being an emergent reader to a reader. I know totally boring mom stuff, but the light switch moment of learning to read had been one of my favourite milestones for all my kids. Very proud of him.

• raising a reader

  drowninginkids

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:40 pm

  I was totally blown away last night doing parkers' homereading with him. In less than a couple months he has gone from being an emergent reader to a reader. I know totally boring mom stuff, but the light switch moment of learning to read had been one of my favourite milestones for all my kids. Very proud of him.

• it was a party, it was a night, it was a life lesson

  drowninginkids

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:52 am

  My house is warmed. Today, today, i feel all settled in. I can feel a shift deep inside me. I feel calm. I feel like i am at the starting line of something. It's not a race. I don't feel a need to go anywhere, do anything. Just to start. To start again. It feels great. I had a party on saturday night. I had such a lovely time. Sometime around midnight all my friends and co-workers had arrived and i sat for a moment and realized this is it. This is my life. There were only about 15 people there. And that was enough. Before the party i was feeling anxious as i am want to do. What if nobody…

• i think i could stay here awhile

  drowninginkids

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:20 am

  I am still getting used to being alone in this house. Moving is hard on your soul. Your body has to adjust to new creaks and moans, different light, strange air. I have moved six times in two years. I am tired of moving. This house feels like home. It is home. I know that because we are all so happy to be here. I got very sad yesterday thinking about a sixteen year old girl that committed suicide in victoria. I got an alert on twitter that she was reported missing and then, through facebook, found out later that day her body was discovered. It really knocked me for a blunder. Sixteen.

• the welcome here is endless

  drowninginkids

  1 Feb 2010 | 10:37 pm

  I couldn't, for the life of me, give you a photo that could articulate the happiness i feel. I am so happy. I am so happy to see my things, to sit at my little antique desk, to have dinner at my table, to sleep in my bed with my sheets and duvet. This has been the best week. So hard and so rewarding. I moved all by myself. My daughter was there and a huge help, but she is twelve. I did it all by myself. I had some help from good friends with hanging up mirrors and what-nots, but everything else i lugged and organized and directed, and now we are here. All unpacked. Fire burning in the…

• 
  Heather Goodman's Blog -

• Something Small

  hgoodman

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:05 am

  Recently, I've been reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. The book is about a writer. For part of his life, he worked for artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. In these relationships, Kingsolver explores some questions about art, including its purpose and function. In one section, the protaganist, Harrison Shepherd, considers the difference between the artwork of his two employers. Diego's murals "[command] men to rise from their knees and fight!" Frida's, however, are "smaller . . . Something people would find dear" (p. 161). It's Frida's work, not Diego's that…

• "Careful or I'll put you in my novel."

  hgoodman

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:44 am

  Image via Wikipedia I've picked up Dante's Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradise) to study for my WIP. (Side note: thank you, Kindle, for making this selection available to me for free. We love you, Kindle, oh yes, we do.) A couple of interesting observations from my study of the poem and the little I've read on it (mostly in order to understand the references): The Roman Catholic concept of purgatory originated with this work, which is allegorical. Most likely, Dante intended Purgatorio to represent the Christian life. Some things never change when we take allegory too literally.

• Popinjay: Guilty

  hgoodman

  1 Feb 2010 | 7:36 am

  I have not been able to keep up with Michelle's weekly Popinjay Photo Challenge, but I'm able to pop in every once in a while (knee slap for that pun, please). This week's word: Guilty

• On Installations, Memoirs, and Reality TV

  hgoodman

  28 Jan 2010 | 9:48 am

  Recently I finished Unveiling by Suzanne Wolfe (an excellent read I highly recommend due to her poetic prose, complex characters, and willingness to enter into suffering and beauty). In it she comments that museums, with their metered environments, lose the contexts of churches and homes for art. This made me think about museum installations. Are they the artist's desire to create context where none exists? I suppose "no context" is impossible. How about sterile? Removed? Unfamiliar with the breathings of our daily lives? Over the past several years, memoirs have invaded Barnes and…

• "Important Blogger--That's an Oxymoron."

  hgoodman

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:42 am

  One of the threads that weaves through Douglas Coupland's apocalyptic novel concerns blogging. (Yes, Generation A is apocalpytic in that it portrays the end of the world as we know it--and, thanks to a Prozac-like drug, we feel fine.) Each of the main characters in Coupland's story tells his/her own stories. One character tells a story of a young man who has lost the story of his life. The implication is clear: springing from our obsession with fame, we all look for the story of our lives. Unfortunately, with nothing real left in life, we can't find one. We use our extreme sports and…

• 
  JPD Mom

• Not a Bad Wig*

  Jamie R Lentzner

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:36 pm

  February 1, 2010 Me being me, I always try to do something creative with almost everything I do.  Whether it is a dinner party, a holiday or a child's birthday.  I enjoy taking it to the next level.  It usually works out, I usually knock it out of the park and everyone is happy I went that extra mile.  This is not one of those times.  I am the chairperson for an event at school for our students & their fathers,  they bring their children and everyone eats donuts 1 day before school starts.  This year I thought it would be fun to go with a whole theme, you know with matching…

• Taking Risks in 2010

  Jamie R Lentzner

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:39 pm

  January 25, 2010 If last year was the year of no risks and playing it safe this year is my year of living dangerously.  I have decided that to make it big you have to take big risks, do big things, make big changes and talk to big companies.  Big is scary, big is not safe, big may not always be better.  But big can pay the bills..... Out with the Old in with the New Last year we had plans to update the website, rebuild it, re-design it - those were some big plans.  Then, well we took a little detour and decided that maybe it would not be the best use of our time (or money) to not do…

• 10 Jan 2010 | 10:34 pm

  Jamie R Lentzner

  10 Jan 2010 | 10:34 pm

  I am frustrated by the new typepad and my new design. For some reason it looks like crap and I can not fix it. Sorry to anyone that is reading my recent post....it is painful to look at the blog.

• And That's the End

  Jamie R Lentzner

  10 Jan 2010 | 9:54 pm

  January 10, 2010 Some relationships in business end well,  I have found most do not - 'cause usually someone is not happy about the ending.  Some have been totally almost 100% the other companies's fault....and then there the times when it has been my fault.  When I have once again offended someone or been just an ass.  This though is not one of those times - this is a time when I really am not sure what I could have done different.  Now for this to ready correctly  It would be great if I could cue some Law & Order gavel sound used between scenes - but sadly I can not so…

• Not going to Participate in the Recession?

  Jamie R Lentzner

  27 Dec 2009 | 8:36 pm

  Years ago, and I mean like forever ago back when George W. Bush was running for office against Al Gore my husband and I would debate politics.  He would want to discuss it, he wanted to get my take - he tried to get me to argue with him.  I would usually fall into his trap and end up frustrated and would never agree with his theories.  One day I got smart and I told him I refused to discuss politics with him since he did not vote.  If he was not willing to participate in this thing us Americans had called an election then he could not complain.  He had the gift, he had the privilege of…

• 
  5 Resolutions

• Breaking Down Beauty Commercials: What Advertisers Don't Tell You

  29 Jan 2010 | 9:13 am

  From the fake eyelashes in mascara ads to the "secret" ingredient in Proactiv, this parody takes on the beauty biz and its empty promises."What If Beauty Ads Told the Truth?"via Jezebel

• Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? Blog Book Tour

  12 Jan 2010 | 1:03 pm

  Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? has been on the virtual road over the past few weeks, making stops at lots o’ blogs. A few of our favorite quotes from reviewers: “Reading this book was like listening to a friend…Obviously, this book is about pregnancy but underneath its healthy dose of humor, it’s about finally making peace with ourselves and our bodies.” –Crazy Suburban Mom “I found it a very informative, fun read. It’s also an important book since women do so often feel horribly insecure about their bodies.” –Tripping Toward Lucidity “Does This Pregnancy Make Me…

• Happy New Year! Healthy Beauty Resolutions for 2010

  31 Dec 2009 | 7:58 am

  It's that time of year when we start hearing more about diets, workouts, and "goal weights." Every 12 months, millions of women make weight loss resolutions only to end up feeling disappointed and defeated. So we're challenging all of you to kick off 2010 with a new set of promises to yourself: Renew your commitment to the Heathy Beauty pledge. Read the pledge today, and leave a comment telling us what you would add.Healthy beauty is not about pounds, calories, or hours logged at the gym. It's about making important changes in your life that will lead you to true body confidence. It's a…

• In Your Words: What Children Can Teach Us About Healthy Body Image

  11 Dec 2009 | 10:02 am

  There's no doubt that the body changes of pregnancy and motherhood can lead to a lot of insecurities. But we also talked to women who found that the process of becoming a mother helped to give them a whole new positive perspective on their bodies."A really healing thing has happened with my daughter. When I see her--I call her naked baby because she loves being naked--it's amazing to see her body. She's growing into my body shape. I love it so much in her. It's just making me accept it more in me."--Lisa, 35, quoted in Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?How about you? Have you had a moment…

• Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? Reviews

  30 Nov 2009 | 12:43 pm

  The latest buzz about Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby...One of the Top 6 Parenting Books for Moms—SHE KNOWS “A lighthearted guide to combating a silent societal epidemic...[T]he authors do a great service in bringing to light a fear that women may believe they suffer with alone...The concepts and solidarity offered here should prove valuable for millions of American women.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY"...a good read that pregnant women will find comforting as they watch their bodies change."—LIBRARY JOURNAL “It's never good…

• 
  Women For Hire

• Watch Episode 2 of JOB HUNT

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:46 pm

  Watch Episode 2 of JOB HUNT Tuesday at 9pm on NYC Life – channel 25 in New York If you’re not in New York, visit www.nyc.gov/jobhunt for links and advice.

• Author: Lines Between Home And Work Vanishing

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:01 pm

  In his new book, The Future of Work, author Richard Donkin says the line between work and home in disappearing. Reason: technology has merged our working and personal lives. "We don't stop living when we go to work and, very often today, we don't stop working when we arrive home." USA TODAY previews the book.

• Could Hiring Uptick Be Near?

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:23 am

  Businesses are squeezing more out of their downsized workforces and inching closer to the day they start hiring, USA TODAY reports. "You're getting close to the point where the output increases will generate jobs," Daniel Meckstroth, chief economist at the Manufacturers Alliance told the paper. "I'm not sure it's going to happen in the first quarter (of 2010). But we're getting close."

• Industry Study: Green Jobs Could Double by 2025

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:05 am

  The number of clean-energy jobs in the U.S. would more than double by 2025 if the nation adopts a plan to get 25% its electricity from renewable energy sources, says a report backed by energy firms. Nationwide, 274,000 jobs would be created in the wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and waste-to-energy industries by 2025 if a 25% standard is adopted, says research firm Navigant Consulting. Those sectors now support about 196,000 jobs.

• She Was the Breadwinner; He Watched the Kids

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:26 am

  Nearly a quarter of American wives serve as the family breadwinner. Janice Min, who made $2 million a year as editor of Us Weekly before stepping down last year, writes in The New York Post that her husband, Peter, cared for their infant boys while she brought home the bacon. It worked "because I don't think either of us equates money with power."

• 
  Woman Tribune

• 6/365 Days: Kick Ass Black Boots

  Holly

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:08 pm

  It is my profound belief that no woman should ever be without a pair of truly kick ass black boots. Much like the little black dress, kick ass black boots serve a distinct purpose in a woman’s life. While the dress is something brought out of the closet when nothing else seems just right and is guaranteed to look fabulous regardless of what event you are attending or who you’re looking to impress, kick ass black boots make their appearance when women are feeling confident, strong, powerful and fearless; and if women weren’t exuding these attributes at first, as soon as they…

• Have 2010 Oscars Predictions? Get the New Vanity Fair Hollywood iPhone App

  Holly

  6 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am

  The Oscars are coming up in March and nearly everyone is abuzz with their predictions for this year’s winning people and films. Vanity Fair wants to know who you think will be taking home an award this year and have launched the Vanity Fair Hollywood iPhone app. The app, said to be developed in order to engage the Vanity Fair readership with technology and social media, is sponsored by L’Oréal Paris, whose products can be found in the Gift Bag section of the app, including itmes such as the True Match Roller Foundation, Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara (which we actually reviewed…

• 5/365 Days: Laundry, You Will Be the Death of Me

  Holly

  5 Feb 2010 | 11:54 am

  It may come as a shock to most of you out there, but I do not have a washer in my apartment; and yes, I live in an apartment. I do not own my own home, I do not live in a condominium, townhouse, or any of the other cutesy names people give to apartments to make them seem not so apartment-like. It’s just a quaint, two-bedroom place that suits me and my partner pretty well for the time being. We used to have access to a washer, which was located in the basement and no, it wasn’t too scary of a place to venture into. However, it broke more than a year ago and the landlord has adapted…

• Brittany Murphy’s Cause of Death Released

  Holly

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am

  The death of Brittany Murphy came as a tremendous shock to us all. She died of cardiac arrest, but what caused that has been a mystery. Many speculated what played a part in her death–from her husband, Simon Monjack, who had released statements that he did not want an autopsy performed on Murphy and made us all speculate a lot more, to drugs, to the flu, to H1N1, and so on. Finally, the cause of Brittany Murphy’s death has been released. The official report states that it was an accidental death caused by “community acquired pneumonia,” iron deficiency anemia and…

• 4/365 Days: I’m an Angela Shelton

  Holly

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:53 pm

  In 2004, a woman left her house and her dog (well, not completely, I’m sure she left her dog with other responsible adults that cared for her needs) and went on the road with a small crew to film a documentary across America. She wanted to survey women; to see how we, as a gender, were doing and what we were up to. She met some amazing, inspiring, spectacular, successful, kick ass women and they were all named Angela Shelton. They all had a story, but a great deal of their stories had very similar themes as she moved from one to the next to the next. Their stories were also her stories.

• 
  Carrie and Danielle

• Budget Planner, Finding Relaxation on a Tight Budget

  Matt Heman

  1 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pm

  The terms budget planner and relaxation don’t really go together and that is true. Although that is a fact there is the time where we all need to take a break way from the work that we do, the family and other type of stress that are in our [...] Related posts:Budget Planner, Finding Relaxation on a Tight BudgetBudget Planner, How To Buy Gifts on A Tight BudgetBudget Planner, Finding a Personal Financial Budget Planner

• Budget Planner, Making Buying Decisions

  Matt Heman

  1 Feb 2010 | 10:45 pm

  The budget planner can help you out when you’re trying to make one of those difficult buying decisions. As with most anything the bigger it is the more stressful it is going to be. The last thing you want to do is buy something that is out of your [...] Related posts:Budget Planner, Making a Realistic Budget through Saving ReceiptsBudget Planner, Making Your Budget For FreeBudget Planner, Making a Family Budget Work

• Budget Planner, Making a Simple Monthly Budget

  Matt Heman

  1 Feb 2010 | 10:30 pm

  Working with a budget planner is one of the best ways for you to be able to know where your money is going and help you take control of your finances. You can do this through just an easy budget and even though it might seem like it’s a [...] Related posts:Budget Planner, Creating a Simple Monthly BudgetBudget Planner, Making Free Monthly Budget WorksheetsBudget Planner, Making a Monthly Budget You Can Stick With

• Budget Planner, Setting Up a Family Budget

  Matt Heman

  1 Feb 2010 | 10:15 pm

  Through a budget planner you’re going to be able to have a budget that’s going to allow control over your families spending and you’ll have enough money leftover so you can pay your bills and still enjoy saving through some money for a vacation or other wants. Following these steps [...] Related posts:Budget Planner, How to Make a Household Budget for Your FamilyFree Budget Planner Review: Family Budget Planner from Vertex42Budget Planner, Making Free Monthly Budget Worksheets

• Budget Planner, Making a Simple Budget Plan

  Matt Heman

  1 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  A budget planner is something that is really needed as these days it’s really hard not to feel the pinch. When you can make a budget plan you’ll be able to get an idea on where your money is going and be able to get your finances on track. The [...] Related posts:Budget Planner, Making Your Budget For FreeBudget Planner, How to Create A Personal Budget PlanBudget Planner, Making a Monthly Budget You Can Stick With

• 
  My Inspiration Lounge

• Inspiration for the laundry room turns it into a secret retreat

  Misty Gibbs

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am

    I noticed that I was complaining a lot about doing the never-ending loads of laundry but, my griping wasn't getting me anywhere. I've been dreaming about the laundry fairy making a stop at our house for a long time. One day I finally woke up and faced the facts - I'm the laundry fairy. And, if your hubby is one of those that helps out with the laundry, treat him real well this Valentine's Day! So, it was time to take serious action - I decided to bring some photo inspiration into my laundry room area. Adding fun and dreamy photos has changed the entire laundry space and my feelings…

• Inspiring music: Mary J. Blige and U2 get soul crazy singing One

  Misty Gibbs

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:35 am

  I was digging through the best 90's songs and started to get nervous that I would be limited to Baby Got Back, Whoomp! There It Is or Total Eclipse of The Heart!! Songs better left for dancing to on a rainy day with your Wii and Just Dance! Then I stumbled across One, a gem released by U2 in the 90's. You can't help but get charged up watching Mary J. Blige throw her soul into singing this song! To continue honoring the greatest songs of all time, next week I will post one from 2000. What is Inspiration Monday?  Inspiration Monday music videos help us kick our week off right and take our…

• Shhh.....

  Misty Gibbs

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:59 am

  Misty's Note: This is a guest post from Lance who inspires it up at The Jungle of Life. "The best cure for the body is a quiet mind" — Napoleon Bonaparte Silence – how often do we really have it? The sounds of cars passing by, or television, or MP3 players, or phone calls, or computers, or a dog, or a lawn mower, or whatever else we have in our life that makes sound. Rarely do we have the opportunity for true quiet moments. With all the "noise" in our lives, we can become numb to what our bodies and minds are trying to tell us. We can’t hear what they are saying. So what are…

• Cards for Valentines Day worthy of framing

  Misty Gibbs

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  Kiss Me Card by Corella Design

• Wear RED to help fight heart disease in women, the #1 killer

  Misty Gibbs

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:44 am

  A GO RED magnet at ShopHeart.org National Wear Red Day is tomorrow, February 5th! Show your support for the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red. It’s an easy, powerful way to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The #1 and #3 killer for women! Cancer is #2. At Mayo Clinic, here's a very useful post on Preventing The Top 10 Threats  A few eye-opening facts you might not know about heart disease...

• 
  Girlfriend Celebrations

• Valentine’s Day Alternative: A Self-Love Soiree (And Necklace Giveaway!)

  Dawn

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am

  “There is nothing more beautiful, powerful or free than a woman who truly loves herself.” So says our contributor and Girltalk…Taking it Deeper™ creator Christine Arylo. What do you think, girlfriends? Isn’t it true? Don’t you love to be around a girlfriend who is really comfortable in her own skin (few and far between though they may be)? How about hosting a Self – Love Soiree for your girlfriends, using a a free downloadable party kit as your guide? Loving yourself is a radical idea to many – but we can help change that! Because she is so passionate about…

• Ways to “Heart” Valentine’s Day With Your Girlfriends

  Dawn

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:49 am

  Happy Valentine’s Week! Here at GirlfriendCelebrations, we love Valentine’s Day, and we encourage celebrating it with your girlfriends. Even if there’s no romance in your life right now, you still have plenty to appreciate and celebrate – you have friends! We know one woman who sends Valentine cards to all her friends instead of Christmas cards. It’s her way of showing appreciation from the heart. In that spirit, here’s a short roundup of ideas to get YOU thinking of ways to brighten your February with Valentine-themed girls nights. Watch for new posts this…

• Party For the Girls Weekend Feb. 26-28 in Galena, Illinois

  Dawn

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:10 pm

  Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and enjoy some GIRL TIME—especially in the middle of winter—and that’s why we’re so excited to tell you about this very special girlfriend getaway weekend, February 26-28, 2010 at the charming Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel in Galena, Illinois. We’re proud to be hosting this event along with Siobhainn O’Connor VanSanten from the O’Connor Show Irish Radio Program. The time to book your room is NOW – so read on for ALL the girlfriendly details! Girlfriends, you deserve a mid-winter getaway that offers…

• February 2010 Girltalk: Are You Madly in Love with YOU?

  Dawn

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:55 am

  February is the month of self-love… We all know that loving ourselves is something we should do… we all know that you have to love yourself first before you can love another… we would all love to take care of ourselves better but find it more of a dream than a reality. This month at Girtalk… Taking it Deeper™ we take a stand for self-love, because it is not a luxury, it is a must-have. Chief Girltalker Christine Arylo feels so strongly about self-love, she created this video to inspire you. Enjoy! To download a printable PDF of this month’s discussion guide, click here. To learn…

• How to Beat Loneliness This Winter (& GirlFriend Circles Membership Giveaway)

  Dawn

  7 Jan 2010 | 11:42 am

  Loneliness may be the most dangerous epidemic women face, according to this guest post by Shasta Nelson, founder of GirlFriendCircles.com, a web-based service that matches its members with potential girlfriends offline, in real life. Lucky for us, she has some concrete ideas on how to beat loneliness and make new friends in this new year. Shasta also puts her money where her mouth is: She’s giving away a six-month GirlFriendCircles membership to one lucky GirlfriendCelebrations reader! In addition, she is offering YOU discounts on membership and other GirlFriendCircles events. See…

• 
  My Inspiration Lounge

• Inspiration for the laundry room turns it into a secret retreat

  Misty Gibbs

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am

    I noticed that I was complaining a lot about doing the never-ending loads of laundry but, my griping wasn't getting me anywhere. I've been dreaming about the laundry fairy making a stop at our house for a long time. One day I finally woke up and faced the facts - I'm the laundry fairy. And, if your hubby is one of those that helps out with the laundry, treat him real well this Valentine's Day! So, it was time to take serious action - I decided to bring some photo inspiration into my laundry room area. Adding fun and dreamy photos has changed the entire laundry space and my feelings…

• Inspiring music: Mary J. Blige and U2 get soul crazy singing One

  Misty Gibbs

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:35 am

  I was digging through the best 90's songs and started to get nervous that I would be limited to Baby Got Back, Whoomp! There It Is or Total Eclipse of The Heart!! Songs better left for dancing to on a rainy day with your Wii and Just Dance! Then I stumbled across One, a gem released by U2 in the 90's. You can't help but get charged up watching Mary J. Blige throw her soul into singing this song! To continue honoring the greatest songs of all time, next week I will post one from 2000. What is Inspiration Monday?  Inspiration Monday music videos help us kick our week off right and take our…

• Shhh.....

  Misty Gibbs

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:59 am

  Misty's Note: This is a guest post from Lance who inspires it up at The Jungle of Life. "The best cure for the body is a quiet mind" — Napoleon Bonaparte Silence – how often do we really have it? The sounds of cars passing by, or television, or MP3 players, or phone calls, or computers, or a dog, or a lawn mower, or whatever else we have in our life that makes sound. Rarely do we have the opportunity for true quiet moments. With all the "noise" in our lives, we can become numb to what our bodies and minds are trying to tell us. We can’t hear what they are saying. So what are…

• Cards for Valentines Day worthy of framing

  Misty Gibbs

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  Kiss Me Card by Corella Design

• Wear RED to help fight heart disease in women, the #1 killer

  Misty Gibbs

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:44 am

  A GO RED magnet at ShopHeart.org National Wear Red Day is tomorrow, February 5th! Show your support for the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red. It’s an easy, powerful way to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The #1 and #3 killer for women! Cancer is #2. At Mayo Clinic, here's a very useful post on Preventing The Top 10 Threats  A few eye-opening facts you might not know about heart disease...

• 
  Women in the News: News On Women

• Astia "Do it Right" Programs Propel Women Entrepreneurs

  Alice Krause

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:06 pm

  Women-led companies are often in need of capital as well as guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. Astia, a global not-for-profit organization founded in Silicon Valley, helps women in high-growth start-ups, and is an option we should all know about.Astia’s mission is to promote women as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses. Sharon Vosmek (pictured above), CEO of Astia, has worked to build a great community of advisors, sponsors and thought leaders who contribute to the Astia "Do it Right" Programs. At the Astia "Do it Right" Programs, women…

• Jessica Bloomgarden Made Chief Marketing Officer at Aero Farm Systems

  Alice Krause

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:24 am

  Aero Farm Systems LLC, a provider of aeroponic technology and solutions, appointed Jessica Bloomgarden Chief Marketing Officer. Jessica most recently served as Principal at 21Ventures, a clean technology venture capital fund. Before that, Jessica worked in JPMorgan’s Technology Investment Banking Group. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

• Lisa Carnoy Made Co-Head of BofA Merrill Global Capital Markets

  Alice Krause

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:14 am

  Bank of America Merrill Lynch appointed Lisa Carnoy Co-Head of the company's Global Capital Markets business. Lisa was most recently head of their Global Equity and Equity Linked Capital Markets. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

• Melissa Hathaway Named to Terremark Worldwide Board. Other Women Appointed to Boards

  Alice Krause

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am

  Terremark Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: TMRK), a provider of managed IT infrastructure services headquartered in Florida, appointed Melissa Hathaway to its Board of Directors. Melissa is President of Hathaway Global Strategies, LLC and a Senior Advisor at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Read more in the Business Wire press release. Noble Innovations, Inc., headquartered in Arizona, appointed Valerie Holmes to the Company’s Board of Directors. Valerie is the Principal of The Marketing Team, LLC. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

• Elisabeth Ritz Specializes in Healthcare at Ritz Communications

  Alice Krause

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:41 am

  Elisabeth Ritz founded Ritz Communications LLC in 2003. Ritz is a virtual public relations and marketing communications agency specializing in healthcare. Elisabeth had this to say about starting her company: What inspired you to start your business? I wanted to build an agency that responds to clients in the way that I wanted an agency to respond to me when I was a client. Client service is more than “yes,” “no” and deadlines. It’s about strategic thinking, being a partner and bringing our best game to the client 24/7. It’s not always easy, but I believe we’re doing…

• 
  Rise of the Innerpreneur

• I’m on a Field Trip in Nicaragua…

  Tara Joyce

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am

  For the Next 3 Weeks My husband, Daniel, and I arrived yesterday afternoon in Costa Rica, in celebration of our 2nd wedding anniversary, where we are spending two days at Volcan Arenal — in hopes of seeing some molten-hot magma — before heading North to Nicaragua and the border crossing at the Rio San Juan. The whole area surrounding the Rio is a tropical rain forest and, apparently, the bio diversity there is spectacular. The Rio San Juan is know as one of last ‘wild’ rivers as it is surrounded by nature reserves, and strong conservation measures are taken, to keep…

• Michelle Barry Franco: January 2010 Innerpreneur Spotlight

  Tara Joyce

  26 Jan 2010 | 5:08 pm

  Michelle Barry Franco The Brazen Soul Follow Michelle on Twitter I am: crazy grateful for the freedom to create my life and my body’s ability to grow and birth babies. wishing the whole time we are talking that I could somehow get inside of your head and see the world, your life, this circumstance, our interaction – the exact same way you do – just for a moment. in love with the textures, angles, essentials and earthy details of human relationship. My passion is for: brilliant self-expression, yours and mine. Freedom to create and love, all the way, out loud. My business helps you with:…

• A New Design Project For You

  Tara Joyce

  24 Jan 2010 | 1:15 pm

  You’re already designing a life where you can express your beliefs and values in your work. “What if we looked at the world as a design project – how might we begin to make it better?” - Bruce Mau Try looking at your world more optimistically. Seek possibilities for improvement. Let yourself dream of ways to make it better. Be a designer of your world. “Criticize By Creating” - Michelangelo Ask Why? Ask the dumb questions. If the answers don’t work for you, opt out. ‘Should be’ and ’suppose to’ aren’t reasons to do…

• The Next Right Thing

  Tara Joyce

  20 Jan 2010 | 3:03 pm

  Sometimes, as business owners, our fear gets the better of us. It’s inevitable. Running a business is fucking hard. It’s especially brutal on the self-confidence. We can’t acknowledge our progress. We want to feel more sure. We want someone to tell us our answers. There are so many unknowns, and we are risking a lot. What if WE are wrong? No idea what to do. When I feel “the questions” weighing me down, I remind myself that my business is no different than my travels. When I trekked the Annapurna Circuit through the Himalayan Mountains, it was scary,…

• Give to Haiti What is Yours On Loan

  Tara Joyce

  17 Jan 2010 | 2:51 pm

  What is it that you have on loan? Everything. What is it that you have of value? Yourself. Give your value to Haiti. People pay you money to do the thing that you love to do. What if, just one time, you did your thing, and instead of you receiving the monetary value, you asked your client to give it to a charity doing relief work in Haiti? What if you shared your act with the people you know and inspired them to give? What if you shared your act in the comments below and inspired us to give? I want to give my value to Haiti. Help me. I’m offering 1 hour of strategic coaching for free to…

• 
  Bloomacious Digs

• Frozen Water

  Carrie

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:32 am

  We didn’t get that big snowstorm over the weekend (Snowmagedden) here in Connecticut – but it sure was cold!  Waterfalls and rivers are literally freezing in motion.  The days are getting longer and the sun is moving higher up in the sky every day, so I know the warm temps are just a few weeks away.  So, yesterday I couldn’t help but head out and grab some shots of some of the frozen waterways around my area.  The waterfall is a dramatic, gorgeous location that used to power a mill – is now the backdrop for a restaurant in Chester. What you see is about 70% ice and…

• Essex Steam Train ala Annie Leibovitz and Vogue Magazine

  Carrie

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:16 am

  I was flipping through my February Vogue the other day and came across this gorgeous photo spread of Diddy and Natalia Vodianova shot by Annie Leibovitz.   I loved the beautiful train, the moodiness of the shoot, the classic clothes — and couldn’t help but feel like I’d been there before – at least on part of the project — especially when I saw the photo below. When I turned to the last page it became obvious – they’d shot the second part of this scrumptious collection of images right down the highway from me at the Essex Steam Train – one of…

• Camera Giftyness in the Age of the iPhone

  Carrie

  4 Feb 2010 | 4:12 pm

  Remember in olden times when taking great shots of flowers, your kids, your dogs, designer showcase houses, or your folks, required copious lugging and planning?  I still have my gorgeous old cameras around – the ones that use the big format film that came on the gigantic rolls that had to be carefully loaded and re-spooled.  I also remember missing tons of shots at conventions, parks, shopping, the streets of New York, store windows, because I didn’t want to carry a heavy camera bag with me. New innovations have spawned an entire culture of photo hobbyists who thrive on…

• Bloomacious Digs Now Smart Phone Ready!

  Carrie

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am

  Have I ever told you how much I love you Wordpress?  This iPhone / SmartPhone app is just another reason – just downloaded it and wella, this blog is iPhone friendly! To access the Bloomacious Digs on your smart phone, simply navigate to the page and scroll to the bottom.  You’ll see an option that says “mobile theme” – just slide the button to on and you’re all set. Take us to the park, to work, and even access our recipes in the kitchen!  Yay – isn’t technology great?

• A Mid-Winter’s Morning Dream

  Carrie

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am

  I woke up this morning to a light layer of snow that blanketed my garden and softened the light (below). And while that darned groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, I can’t help dreaming about planting my garden this year. The stack of gardening magazines is really piling up already – I can’t seem to resist them every time I go to the store.  I’ve been studying Fine Gardening, and the many Better Homes & Gardens SIP’s each morning.  I plan to populate the area above (see green arrow) with flowers of all kinds – it gets lots of sun and has very rich,…

• 
  Change.org's Women's Rights Blog

• Military to Make Plan B Available in All Treatment Facilities

  Brandann Hill-Mann

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:03 pm

  A huge victory has been won for women in uniform, and I don't mind saying that a wash of relief and satisfaction washed over me when I read the headlines. The military is implementing the recommendation of the Pentagon's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, an advisory panel made up of medical professionals from the military services, that Plan B (the brand name for levonorgestrel, a.k.a. the "Morning After" pill) be made available in every military treatment facility. Until now, the over-the-counter medication has been available in many, but not all, military pharmacies. Since it hadn't been…

• New Hampshire Women Want to Be Included in the Constitution

  Alex DiBranco

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am

  You let women get a little power, and what happens? They want to rewrite the whole constitution! Good for them. In the United States Senate, women fill less than a fifth of the seats. Pitiful. On the other hand, New Hampshire broke new ground in the 2008 election by voting a female majority into the state Senate, making it the first state in the nation to upset the tradition of male dominance. And women want the state constitution to recognize that they are here: proposed legislation would replace constitutional references to men with gender-neutral language, starting at the top, with "All…

• On One Florida Corner, "12th & Delaware" Finds Microcosm of Abortion Battle

  Ruth Fertig

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  Last week I had the privilege of watching some truly amazing documentaries at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. "12th & Delaware," directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady ("The Boys of Baraka," "Jesus Camp"), explores the battle raging on a Fort Pierce, Florida corner where an abortion clinic and a pro-life pregnancy center sit across the street from each other. Just before daybreak, a single pro-life protester awaits the arrival of an abortion provider to the clinic. When she sees him coming -- covered in a white sheet, sitting in the passenger seat of a bright yellow Mustang -- she lets…

• The Super Bowl: Double Standards and Fighting Against Choice

  Alex DiBranco

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:06 pm

  Super Bowl Sunday is over, but the advertisements live on around the internet. The misogyny certainly rolled; my fav is Dodge Charger's Man's Last Stand, which you can read a great Feministing commentary summing up. But since we've been chattering about Focus on the Family's Tim Tebow ad for a while now, I'll weigh in on that (hopefully) one last time. The ad was surprisingly cutesy and innocuous (if also vague and confusing), but Michael Jones over on the Gay Rights blog writes that even though it turned out not to spell out the extreme anti-choice message FoF is famous for, CBS was still…

• Abercrombie and Fitch Dislikes Disabled, Non-White, Non-Thin Women

  Sarah Menkedick

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:07 pm

  Here's to hoping that Abercrombie and Fitch is on the verge of a quick spiral into oblivion. The brand has earned a lovely reputation as a discriminator against Hispanics, Asians, African Americans and people with disabilities, and has been forced to settle lawsuit after lawsuit for its discriminatory and unfair unemployment practices. It's hard to think of a store that more faithfully celebrates white, blond, excessively thin WASP-iness as a superior aesthetic and, indeed, a superior racial category. It does so with a "look policy" that stipulates how long employees' nails should be, how…

• 
  Secret Women's Business Network

• SWBN Bitesize 34: Stop Being Tepid!

  Lisa

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:56 pm

  Sitting on the fence will not make you a market leader. In order to build a core group of raving fan followers you are going to have to “stand” for something, and as a result against something too. You are not going to please everyone…and nor should you want to. Stop being tepid and start to sizzle!

• SWBN Bitesize 33: Emulate Don’t Imitate

  Lisa

  2 Feb 2010 | 1:07 pm

  There is great value in seeing what makes someone a market leader and influential within their markets. Knowing what works and what doesn’t can help you when it comes to determining your own business persona. But, it’s important not to become a carbon copy of a person you respect. Those who mimic will always remain a follower and not a market leader. You need to find the best of you (as well as a few flaws) and develop you own story, you own persona.

• Are You Ready to “Up” Your Game

  Lisa

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:54 pm

  Tonight I’ve been catching up on some of the performances from yesterday’s Grammys (thank you YouTube – all the best bits, no fluff or acceptance speeches), and I was thinking about how some musical collaborations (often the ones you would never expect) really blow you away. I remember when I used to play tennis and my teacher always encouraged us to play people who were better than us because it made you “up” your game. Now, I know there are as many bad collaborations at the Grammys as there are good (I’m talking about you Jamie Foxx and T-Pain) but I…

• SWBN Bitesize 32: Market Leaders are Memorable

  Lisa

  30 Jan 2010 | 5:58 pm

  What makes you follow the market leaders you follow? What do you know about them? What’s their story? What makes them the people they are and what do they stand for? I can guarantee you could tell me a lot about the leaders in your market…

• SWBN Bitesize 31: People Want to Know About You

  Lisa

  28 Jan 2010 | 1:57 pm

  You may believe you have little in common with movies, books and TV shows, but the same principle applies in real life. If you want people to invest time, money and energy in you and your business (and keep coming back) they’re going to want to know about you. Who are you? What’s your story? How have you established yourself as an authority in this market? What are you personal philosophies (what do you believe and stand for)?

• 
  Get Organized Wizard

• Organize Your Living Area [Mission #31]

  Michele Connolly

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:02 am

  The living room can be the heart of a home – where you relax, where you enjoy conversation with friends, where the family ‘lives’ much of the time.So if your living room is disorganized, chaotic or downright embarrassing – let’s fix that now. You’ll be amazed at the transformation you can achieve in just 30 minutes.Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below.If you’re new, you might like to start here -> 52 Organizing Missions.Get Organized Mission #31: Organize Your Living AreaStep 1: Clear the Clutter (10 Minutes)The first thing to do…

• Get Organized in 5 Minutes: Establish an Errands List

  Michele Connolly

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:03 am

  Here’s something you can do to get better organized – and it’ll take you just 5 minutes!Establish an Errands ListFind a notepad or piece of paper and a pen.Place somewhere convenient – beside the phone, on the fridge door, or beside your bag or briefcase.Create 4 sections in columns, rows or quadrants.Label the sections based on your needs; eg: Groceries, Errands, Shopping, Library, Children’s stuff, School, etc.And you’re done!Now you have a simple and practical way to capture all the to-do items that need you to leave the house.Remember: 1. Move fast. 2. Don’t overthink. 3.

• Get Organized To Reduce Stress [Mission #30]

  Michele Connolly

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:28 am

  For some of us, being organized is an end in itself – a sense of order and freedom from clutter bring us pleasure and happiness.For the rest of us, being organized is a means to an end – a smarter path to the things we want. By applying a little thought and planning, we increase the chances and reduce the effort of achieving our goals.Managing stress is one such goal. Many of us deal with daily stresses, but few of us take an organized approach to thinking about what stresses us out, and how to better handle these triggers. So let’s spend this week’s 30 minutes doing just that.Get…

• Your Happiness Depends On Your Thoughts

  Michele Connolly

  28 Jan 2010 | 2:30 am

  I love reading Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor (he was played by Richard Harris in Gladiator). His Meditations overflow with wise precepts.But these 12 words are my most favorite:The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.Like Buddha’s ‘With our thoughts we make the world’, they’re a pithy nutshell reminding us of the power of our minds over the matter of our lives.If simply using old-related words makes you walk more slowly, then just imagine the effect of that non-stop mental tirade on how you live, and how you feel.I certainly…

• Time Management: How To Make the Most Of Your Personal Time [Mission #29]

  Michele Connolly

  25 Jan 2010 | 4:12 am

  In the last two missions we took stock of your:Business tasks, in order to improve time management at work, andHome organization tasks, for better time management at home.This week we’ll do the same for your personal tasks – like grooming and exercise – and find ways to be more effective with those precious moments of self time.Get Organized Mission # 29: Make the Most Of Your Personal TimeStep 1: List Your Self-Care TasksJot down the (ideally) regular activities on yourpersonal self-care list. Your list may include:Clothes…

• 
  Champagne Living

• Sonia Rykiel at H&M

  Zippy

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:23 am

  H&M has really been doing a fabulous job of attracting some major designers to do collections for them at WAY below their usual Prêt a Portér prices. Arriving on February 20th, 200 H&M's worldwide will carry some of Sonia Rykiel's signature striped knits, which come in sweaters, dresses, scarves and even leggings for children. You'll be able to find VIBRANT colored pieces, bows and fun

• February is FAFSA month!

  Zippy

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:13 pm

  Ben FINALLY graduated last May, but I remember scrambling to get my taxes done EARLY in order to fill out the federal FAFSA, so that he'd be eligible for AS MUCH financial aid as possible. I know that many of you have sons and daughters that will be attending college next September, so I wanted to take a minute to REMIND you that time if running out on filling out those FAFSA forms. For those

• The Champagne Living Community

  Zippy

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:27 am

  Join Champagne Living's NEW COMMUNITY! Share your finds. Make friends with others who enjoy living the good life. Get the LATEST gossip. Secret Giveaway's for community members. and More!

• Heaven's Alchemy

  Zippy

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:41 am

  I know, I know, Perfume is one of the more traditional Valentine's Day gifts (along with flowers and chocolates). I also know how difficult it is to buy a scent for someone, unless you know what they wear regularly. Frankly, buying someone the SAME perfume that they wear all of the time takes VERY little thought. Finding a scent that evolves memories, luxury and transports you to exotic places

• Free & Cheap Kindle Books

  Zippy

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:51 pm

   If you got a Kindle for the holidays, and are looking for some good reads, Amazon.com has a selection of books that are either FREE or pretty darned close to free. There's nothing like curling up on a cold winter night with a good book and a hot chocolate (YUM). Don't have a KINDLE? You can still download these books to you COMPUTER, iPhone or iPod Touch! Skeeter: A Cat Tale  .01 (make sure

• 
  Holler at Your Girls

• The Joy of Sex!

  Sunshine

  13 Jan 2010 | 8:48 pm

  Ok, now that I have your attention, I am seeking any advice that readers are willing to offer. A friend of mine (no, really, it's not me, it really is a friend) is anxious about having the sex talk with her fraternal twins who will turn 13 in February. The conversation is now unavoidable since the twins are going to be attending a co-ed camping trip. So, mom and dad are preparing to talk to their kids, but where should the conversation start? How far should the conversation go? Humor, is it advised (I kinda think so)? Should there be props? Should the conversation be done separately?So, I'd…

• Backing into the Lieberman

  Meg

  8 Dec 2009 | 4:01 pm

  One commonly loved sport among the Jews is to play the "Who's a Jew" game. At least one round of "Who's a Jew" is played at each of my family gatherings. We don't plan for it. It just happens. For whatever reason, the Jews get off on identifying the lone chosen one who makes a living doing something that is largely reserved for the gentiles - like NASCAR racing, or running a state fair (or enjoying/attending either one). Laker point guard Jordan Farmar is a favorite among my family, especially since my mom dated his grandpa, whom she met on J-Date Each round usually includes the following…

• High-Speed Peacock

  Meg

  1 Dec 2009 | 4:14 pm

  When I was an eager, young intern at NBC news, my job was to monitor the wires for breaking stories. One day, I spotted a report on a helicopter crash somewhere in the midwest, and so I alerted the news director. Just as I started gathering contact info and details, my supervisor told me the story was killed. Why? Because the helicopter engine that failed was made by General Electric, the parent company of NBC. A small, yet disturbing example of the hazards of media consolidation. So I did what any ambitious, idealistic intern would do... grabbed my coat and tagged along on a breaking news…

• Arnold, you make a terrible parent

  Meg

  28 Jul 2009 | 7:56 pm

  Maria, are you there? Do you not see that your husband is neglecting the children? Oh wait, your kids are being taken care of by a full-time staff. Sorry to bother you. You may be tending to your uncle who, even with full healthcare coverage and a malignant brain tumor, is still managing to fight for universal healthcare. Carry on. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs the budget that he calls, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Way to incorporate movie trivia into your new gig, Mr. Governator. Let's start with the bad, being the pessimist I have a tendency to be. The bad is obviously the fact…

• The Dating Game (I've Forgotten the Rules!)

  Sunshine

  15 Jul 2009 | 9:38 pm

  Any dating advice? Dating do's and dont's. Holla! I'm all ears! Love, Peace and Sunshine! :)

• 
  RUAWAKE

• Because I Laughed Longer Than The Video Ran

  RUAWAKE

  13 Jan 2010 | 7:55 pm

• Nine

  RUAWAKE

  8 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am

  Hello. Remember me? Yes, I know it's been a while. I needed a little break. Some time to sort things out. Replenish the well. And, truth be told, I was a little cranky. Unemployment seems to have the effect on me. And, fortunately for you, my misery does not love company. You're welcome.This happens to me (and I'm sure all writers) every once in a while, where I have so much to express but absolutely nothing to say. As bitchy as my blog can be, I don't like to rant all the time. Who wants to hear me moan about the job market and mounting debt? Aren't we all dealing with that in one way or…

• How Do I Say This...?

  RUAWAKE

  28 Sep 2009 | 9:36 pm

  I've noticed a new trend in Feminist writings (and, remember, I am one with a capital F), that I find rather concerning. Of course, talking about it will surely make me unpopular. But, so what? Popularity has never been a concern of mine. There seems to be a new wave of encouraging women to feel good about being heavy, while condemning other women for being thin. Some of the encouragement I've read borders on bullying. It doesn't make sense to me. The assumption is that heavy is normal, while thin is forced. As a woman, I find that somewhat offensive. We are still attacking each other, still…

• Now What Am I Going To Do?

  RUAWAKE

  14 Sep 2009 | 8:39 pm

  September sucks! "Rescue Me" ended on the first. Nine Inch Nails ended on the tenth (and sadly, no, I did not get tickets for the very last show at the Wiltern...sigh). And "True Blood" finished yesterday, not to return for nine long months. Nine months!!! Which I've made more painful by readying Alan Ball interviews replete with spoilers, so I have a hint as to what will happen NINE MONTHS FROM NOW! Farg.I suppose I need a hobby...or a life...but I do love good television. And it is so hard to find. So, when a show ends -- even for hiatus -- it hurts a little. And to lose two in such a short…

• Going Solo

  RUAWAKE

  4 Sep 2009 | 7:16 pm

  If you know one thing about me, it's probably that I act on impulse. I've long ago learned this is not always a positive. I mean, one should really look to see if there is water in the pool before one takes a dive, but I don't really have time for all that. Sometimes, I just have to do what I want to do, no matter what.If you know two things about me, the other is that love me some Nine Inch Nails. It's been bugging me that I've stayed so broke and couldn't afford to go to any of the last Nine Inch Nails shows. I missed the NIN/JA tour with Jane's Addiction. And, now, they were in town to do…

• 
  Empowered and Fit

• Understanding Wellness - The Keys to Illness and Health Lie Beneath the Surface

  Fred Krazeise

  Dr. John Travis, who created the “Wellness Inventory,” identified 3 critical components to overall wellness. Today, I’d like to talk about the second of these components: Illness and health is only the tip of an iceberg. To understand their causes, you must look below the surface. You may find it interesting to know that 90 percent of an iceberg is submerged, below the water. Only about 10 percent of the iceberg is actually visible. When we consider that state of your wellness, icebergs are a perfect metaphor. Why is that? Because regardless of whether you are ill or healthy, your…

• Do You Need a Coach?

  Fred Krazeise

  People ask me all the time about life and wellness coaching. What is it? What does a coach do? What's a session like? Working with a coach can help people break through obstacles that may be preventing them from leading the life they wish to lead. Coaches usually work with clients one-on-one, either in person or by telephone, to support their learning and growth within a safe and supportive relationship. As a coach, I view my clients as being creative, capable and complete individuals, who are fully capable of leading the life they desire. But, like most coaches, I help my clients move past…

• Reclaiming Your Body and Spirit – Loving Touch and Trauma Recovery

  Fred Krazeise

  I wrote this article for Owning Pink and it was first published there on September 30, 2009. Domestic violence is still a scourge in our country, with 3 women each day being killed by their partner. Please. If you are a victim, read this article and know: you are not alone. There are people ready, willing and able to help. Sometimes, you have to go a long way out of the way, in order to come back a short distance correctly. – From “The Zoo Story,” by Edward Albee Time: The Present I’ve come to my current career very late in my life. After working for many years in both government and…

• Meatless Monday - Potato, Zucchini and Red Pepper Curry

  Fred Krazeise

  Here's an easy, 30-minute vegetarian dinner for tonight. You can omit the coconut milk for a lower calorie version and it is still delicious. Potato, Zucchini and Red Pepper Curry Serves 4 Total Time: About 30 minutes Ingredients 1 lb. new potatoes, sliced in half 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 large red onions, halved then sliced into eighths 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 1 teaspoon fennel seed, lightly crushed 3 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped (or keep the seeds in for more heat!) 1 14-oz can light coconut milk (optional - it's a…

• Living in the Moment - Understanding Mindfulness

  Fred Krazeise

  "Mindfulness" is the term that describes the notion of being conscious in the present moment, not allowing your mind to wander into the past or into the future. For many of my clients, it's difficult for them to be completely present during their bodywork session with me. They may be thinking about the meeting they had earlier in the day, about the list of chores or errands they have to do on the weekend, about the fight they had with their spouse or partner the night before. We are also conditioned in our society to always be on the go, to cram as much as possible, rushing here and there,…

• 
  Fabulously 40

• My Perfect Valentine

  yana

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am

  When you’re in love, Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday, providing a great opportunity to go out to dinner, hug, kiss and cuddle with that special person in your life.  Even if you had a fight the night before, all is forgiven and love is gloriously renewed on Valentine’s Day. If you’re alone, however, Valentine’s can be the most miserable day of the year.  With all the cards, flowers, chocolate and constant reminders of romance, it can seem like everyone in the world is in love except you. This doesn’t have to be the case. At age 13, I met my…

• How to be Your Own Love Doctor

  yana

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am

  It may be wintertime, but your relationship doesn?t have to reflect the cold weather outdoors. We all know it  takes two to tango. Compromising is the key, and planning ahead always pays off. Men in general are not great planners, instead of getting bent out of shape that your husband isn’t taking the initiative, take matters into your hands..  It?s time to get some heat back between you and your man. 1.  Plan a perfect him-date and a perfect you-date.   It can be really tough to try to consistently plan dates that you both will equally enjoy.  Solution?

• 2010 Oscar Nominations Are In!

  yana

  2 Feb 2010 | 2:05 pm

  This morning Anne Hathaway and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak announced this years Oscar?s nominees. The Contenders are: BEST PICTURE Avatar District 9 An Education The Hurt Locker Inglourious Basterds Precious: Based on the Novel ?Push? by Sapphire A Serious Man The Blind Side Up Up in the Air BEST DIRECTOR Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker James Cameron, Avatar Lee Daniels, Precious: Based on the Novel ?Push? by Sapphire Jason Reitman, Up in the Air Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds BEST ACTOR Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart George Clooney, Up in the Air…

• Matchmaker Extraordinaire

  yana

  2 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am

  This year, be ready for Cupid. Matchmaker extraordinaire Joy Nordenstrom hosts her annual Valentine?s Day Prep Boot Camp! ? Kick this Valentine?s Day up a notch when you join Love Consultant and Host of Intelligent Love: 411 for Men, Joy Nordenstrom as she provides insights and lessons on how to make any man want you to be his queen for the day and you, in turn, make him feel like he?s your king. Also learn the ABC?s of aphrodisiacs while tasting delectable aphrodisiacs specially prepared by Crown & Crumpet. ? This ladies-only event happens this Friday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 pm in San Francisco?

• Happily Ever After

  yana

  1 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am

  People get married for love these days.  This may seem like a ?duh? statement, but over the past several decades there has been a creeping fear that women over 40 (especially college-educated women) who weren?t married were doomed to a life without a spouse.  Well, for one thing it?s never good to deal in absolutes; secondly, while you may remember Newsweek?s prediction of dying in a terrorist attack before getting married after the age of 40 like many other women do, that outrageous article has been debunked thoroughly. Recently, the University of Pennsylvania?s Wharton School has…

• 
  Renaissance Trophy Wife

• Hello, my name is reality (part I)

  RenaissanceTrophyWife

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:24 pm

  I’ve been blogging for a while but only alluded to some of my past.  This material is heavier stuff than I normally post but I felt like I couldn’t discuss my future without the relevant context.  So, my blog will be taking a slightly different turn for the moment.  Welcome inside my head. **Certain elements of this story have been changed to protect patient privacy.** I was 17 when I met them. She was the quintessential blond, blue-eyed all-American girl next door, captain of the cheer squad with doting parents and 3 little brothers who hung on her every word.  He was a…

• Managing Stress

  RenaissanceTrophyWife

  24 Jan 2010 | 2:04 am

  As a child, I used to stress out before auditions, some tests, performances, you name it.  My mom taught me breathing/meditative techniques that helped, but what has really enabled me to control stress as an adult is the perspective I gained during my time in medicine.  I’m not talking about the tests they gave us, though.  There is nothing like spending time in the trenches in the hospital, and I haven’t discussed it too specifically yet because it’s taken some distance to reflect well on how it affected me. There’s still a recurring series of vignettes that play…

• And the madness begins

  RenaissanceTrophyWife

  21 Jan 2010 | 10:56 am

  So now that we’re planning our wedding (gulp), I’m trying not to get totally overwhelmed with all the blogs and magazines and sources of inspiration out there.  BUT, I saw these on ideeli and couldn’t help thinking of a certain event. I love these simple but elegant options for a rehearsal dinner dress: And these would look fab on my bridesmaids.  I kinda want one for myself, and they’d be super rewearable, too.  I don’t think it comes out on the far right dress, but there are sweet rosettes on the front.  So pretty! That’s not the best part–…

• Summer in winter

  RenaissanceTrophyWife

  18 Jan 2010 | 8:10 pm

  “In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” -Camus In the depths of a chilly winter, I wanted a contrast to all the squash-focused and root vegetable dishes, and hearty meals that mark the season until the groundhog sees his shadow.  Since it’s crab season, I decided to take on a different kind of work this weekend– shelling my own fresh crab.  Yum! I picked up 3 smallish crabs, planning at first to make crab cakes with cucumber-mango salsa, but then decided to go with a less work-intensive version.  The crunch of…

• It’s still boot season

  RenaissanceTrophyWife

  16 Jan 2010 | 4:59 pm

  I love my warm, cozy boots… but I don’t love how my jeans or leggings get scrunched up inside the shaft of the boot. Thanks to the $1 bin at Target, I’ve had a cheap, easy way to keep my pants snugly tucked inside my boots for the entire winter.  Mitten holders to the rescue!  Turn up the cuff of your jeans, attach these like a stirrup, and you’re set. Hm, these look suspiciously like the stirrups sold at Stirrupz.com ($25) or JeanStraps.com ($10) but are a fraction of the price.  Target for the win! Anyways, looks like we’re in for some more cold weather, but at…

• 
  Everyday Baby Steps

• Watch Designer Abby Z on HSN!

  marybabysteps

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:42 am

  I just got home from Blissdom Sunday night, and I'm still dragging. It was a wonderful time, and I will blog about it, but first I wanted to give a shout out to a fabulous designer I spoke to recently. Her name is Abby Z, and she designs clothing for every woman. In fact, her tagline is "sexy in every size". Abby designs pieces that will look great on women from size 2 to size 24, and her clothing is amazing. I had the opportunity to talk to Abby not long ago, and her personality is so vibrant and warm. I know you'll love her, too. I also had a chance to try out some of her clothing, and the…

• Molly Brown Designer Girls Jewellery

  marybabysteps

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:42 am

  Molly Brown Jewellery is just for girls, from little girls to preteens. Based out of London, Molly Brown has been called the Tiffany for girls by Vogue magazine. I checdked out the Molly Brown site and loved what I found. Little girls love pretty baubles and want to be like mommy, and tween girls love sparkly things too. Molly Brown has lots of beautiful items designed especially for girls. There's jewellery for every occasion. Find something special for your little girl's birthday, a special holiday gift, or christening jewellery. The web site even offers a gift guide to help you choose by…

• Vegas Red Online Casino

  marybabysteps

  28 Jan 2010 | 2:24 am

  Vegas Red is an online casino where you can play all the games found in Vegas in your own home. Casino Red Vegas looks like a fun, flashy environment where people who enjoy the fun of casino games can take part in them without the expense of a plane ticket, hotel accomodations, and meals associated with a real trip to Sin City! You can preview the games they offer and choose which game or games you want to play. With over 100 games to choose from, you're sure to find something you like. Do you like card games? Vegas Red has all kinds of card and table games to choose from, such as Blackjack,…

• I'm Going to Blissdom With a Lot of Help From My Friends!

  marybabysteps

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:30 pm

  Yes, I'll be attending the Blissdom '10 Conference next week in Nashville, TN. I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it! You may remember that I went to my first blogging conference, Type-A Mom, this past fall. I learned so much there and connected with so many amazing, brilliant, talented and inspiring women. I was able to bring home a great deal of information and motivation that has helped me to add a few new writing gigs and to improve my focus. I can't wait to do it all over again at Blissdom! I also can't wait to meet him. Yes, the very handsome Harry Connick Jr. is going to be performing,…

• Store Brand Formula Found as Nutritious as Name Brand

  marybabysteps

  27 Jan 2010 | 10:12 am

  This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine. For those of you who bottle fed your babies, did you think you had to buy the expensive name brand kind? Did you feel guilty for even thinking about giving your baby anything but "the best"? That may be because of advertising from a name brand that led you to believe that store brands weren't as good. A recent ruling in U.S. District Court awarded PBM Products a $13.5 million false advertising judgment against Mead Johnson, makers of Enfamil. PBM is the maker of store brand formulas sold at Walmart,…

• 
  Workaday Superstar

• WORKADAY TIP #157: More From Laundry Soap

  Joy Taylor

  6 Feb 2010 | 8:38 pm

  When you get to the end of the laundry detergent, don't just throw it away. Fill the bottle with a bit of water and swish it around.

• WORKADAY TIP #156: Foundation as Undereye Concealer

  Joy Taylor

  18 Jan 2010 | 9:52 pm

  I have resorted to using my MAC foundation (which I never use anyway) as undereye concealer and it has been working like a charm! I use my undereye brush, dip into my foundation and lightly dab it under my eyes. It's generally lighter so I need to do two layers however this is why I like it so well.

• WORKADAY TIP #155: Go Everywhere Perfume

  Joy Taylor

  8 Jan 2010 | 9:48 pm

  I got the coolest gift for Christmas this past year - Solid Perfume. I had never seen or heard of it before. It's basically made out of wax and whatever fragrance you want. The great thing about solid perfume is that it's compact, affordable and since it isn't a liquid you can carry it on the plane with you! Plus, it's easy to use on the go, no need to worry about it spilling!

• WORKADAY TIP #154: Clean Up i-Tunes

  Joy Taylor

  11 Dec 2009 | 7:30 pm

  So now when I am listening to my ipod, I pull my i-Tunes library up on my computer screen. When it shuffles to a song I don't like, I delete it. This gives me a chance to add new music and make my music library better!

• WORKADAY TIP #153: Managing Your Calendar

  Joy Taylor

  15 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

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

• 
  Everyday Baby Steps

• Watch Designer Abby Z on HSN!

  marybabysteps

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:42 am

  I just got home from Blissdom Sunday night, and I'm still dragging. It was a wonderful time, and I will blog about it, but first I wanted to give a shout out to a fabulous designer I spoke to recently. Her name is Abby Z, and she designs clothing for every woman. In fact, her tagline is "sexy in every size". Abby designs pieces that will look great on women from size 2 to size 24, and her clothing is amazing. I had the opportunity to talk to Abby not long ago, and her personality is so vibrant and warm. I know you'll love her, too. I also had a chance to try out some of her clothing, and the…

• Molly Brown Designer Girls Jewellery

  marybabysteps

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:42 am

  Molly Brown Jewellery is just for girls, from little girls to preteens. Based out of London, Molly Brown has been called the Tiffany for girls by Vogue magazine. I checdked out the Molly Brown site and loved what I found. Little girls love pretty baubles and want to be like mommy, and tween girls love sparkly things too. Molly Brown has lots of beautiful items designed especially for girls. There's jewellery for every occasion. Find something special for your little girl's birthday, a special holiday gift, or christening jewellery. The web site even offers a gift guide to help you choose by…

• Vegas Red Online Casino

  marybabysteps

  28 Jan 2010 | 2:24 am

  Vegas Red is an online casino where you can play all the games found in Vegas in your own home. Casino Red Vegas looks like a fun, flashy environment where people who enjoy the fun of casino games can take part in them without the expense of a plane ticket, hotel accomodations, and meals associated with a real trip to Sin City! You can preview the games they offer and choose which game or games you want to play. With over 100 games to choose from, you're sure to find something you like. Do you like card games? Vegas Red has all kinds of card and table games to choose from, such as Blackjack,…

• I'm Going to Blissdom With a Lot of Help From My Friends!

  marybabysteps

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:30 pm

  Yes, I'll be attending the Blissdom '10 Conference next week in Nashville, TN. I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it! You may remember that I went to my first blogging conference, Type-A Mom, this past fall. I learned so much there and connected with so many amazing, brilliant, talented and inspiring women. I was able to bring home a great deal of information and motivation that has helped me to add a few new writing gigs and to improve my focus. I can't wait to do it all over again at Blissdom! I also can't wait to meet him. Yes, the very handsome Harry Connick Jr. is going to be performing,…

• Store Brand Formula Found as Nutritious as Name Brand

  marybabysteps

  27 Jan 2010 | 10:12 am

  This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine. For those of you who bottle fed your babies, did you think you had to buy the expensive name brand kind? Did you feel guilty for even thinking about giving your baby anything but "the best"? That may be because of advertising from a name brand that led you to believe that store brands weren't as good. A recent ruling in U.S. District Court awarded PBM Products a $13.5 million false advertising judgment against Mead Johnson, makers of Enfamil. PBM is the maker of store brand formulas sold at Walmart,…

• 
  White Hot Truth: because self-realization rocks.

• a lil’ invocation goes a long way

  Danielle LaPorte

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:51 pm

  We are here now to give witness to a shared truth that absolutely everything is progress that we have all that we need that brilliance is unfolding here and now and so it is. now, let's rock it. This is how I start my Fire Starter sessions with clients. I try to keep it light so my unsuspecting client doesn't think we're about to sacrifice a goat or I'm going to start talking about fairy guides. (And if you're one of my Fire Starters and I forgot to start off on this note, mea culpa.) I used to do some freelance publicity with a large independent business publisher in San Francisco. The CEO…

• if you rec’d an email from me…

  Danielle LaPorte

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:03 pm

  ...that SAID: "CONFIRM White Hot Truth and away we go!" please please open it and click on the link to update your e-subscription. I'm changing the program I use that manages all of my fabulous e-subscribers. The new program will allow me to send out my posts so they're stylin' and pretty. (FYI, for anyone who cares, I'm switching from Feedburner, ugly and controlling; to A-Weber, which is customizable and flexible.) Since I'm tryin' to, like, build an empire of conscious multi-media and rocking wisdom, every subscriber who cares about my content is precious and deeply appreciated. So check…

• ask me about branding

  Danielle LaPorte

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:49 pm

  I'm going to liven up my CBC TV, Connect With Mark Kelley segments - and White Hot Truth for that matter, and field some questions from...you, ideally. This week's theme: BRANDING. The good, the bad and the how-to. Tell me what you need to know to do it right. I'll take basic to high-concept questions. Just ask. Leave your questions or ideas in the comments and I'll try to refer to them on air and then answer them in a post. Ever grateful, Danielle And while we're on the subject, you might dig these posts: : 3 keys to un-branding…and why I changed my twitter name : kissing ass, quantum…

• awake

  Danielle LaPorte

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:55 pm

  Picture 58 Possibly Related Posts: go there gentle hidden strengths? core cheerleader true ego

• i get around: latest report

  Danielle LaPorte

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:19 pm

  Where I was last month, and a bit... INTERVIEWS Lindsey Mead asked me Very Big Questions about meditation & presence. "I’m more interested in observing my mind than trying to control it. Easier said than done, because there are soooo many others things that I’m also hooked on controlling." The Get Inspired Project asked me where my inspiration comes from. I think I said something inspiring. A conversation about style. A fun interview with Yoyomama, "Being an introverted, controlling, Lone Ranger, Creative-type, it’s really the only way to go." And this interview on Daily Whip Radio.

• 
  Lemondrop

• Link Love -- Turning Down Sex; a 12-Month Fashion Fast

  Teresa Wu

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  Filed under: Link Love How long could you last without shopping? Nearly 100 women have embarked on the Great American Apparel Diet, a 12-month no-shopping fashion fast. (TheFrisky) Sometimes you're just not in the mood ... but how do you break it to him without hurting ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• Reader Advice -- How to Get Over Your Ex

  Teresa Wu

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  Filed under: That's What She Said Breakups. In the moment, there are few things in life that feel more soul-shattering than getting thrown under the bus by the person you care most about most. In last week's GuySpeak/GirlSpeak, we asked: How do you deal with the heartache of ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 'Shrink It & Pink It' -- The Sad Truth About How Tech Markets to Women

  Amber Angelle

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  Filed under: Tech, News, Oh Please In 1955, Dodge unveiled a car made just for women. Painted in "Heather Rose" and "Sapphire White," with a rosebud interior, the La Femme was designed "with every sophistication your heart could desire," such as a matching purse and lipstick case. ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• Where the Boys Weren't -- Dating at a College With a Dude Shortage

  Julieanne Smolinski

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  Filed under: Sex, Dating & Love, First Person The New York Times recently took a compelling look at the effects of increasingly female-skewed enrollment in the world of college dating. Women have made up the majority of post-secondary education for a while now, but the Times reports that ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• The Super Bowl Ad That Didn't Send Us Into Lady Rage

  Emily Tan

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  Filed under: Mushy Stuff, Televation Super Bowl ads love to present guys as horny dolts and women as sexpots or shrill harpies. However, this year Google brought out its softer side and definitely played up the "aww" factor with its "Parisian Love" commercial. Starting off with an ... Read more Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 
  The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

• True Confessions Tuesday

  Lissa

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:58 am

  This is the time of the week where we confess our missteps and good intentions gone awry. Did you survive Superbowl Sunday (*sniff*) without going overboard or did you give into the salty, creamy goodnesses that often accompany the event? Go now, GO! Confess. True Confessions of Melissa 1. We spent the weekend on location with my husband at this rig. Not only does this mean tight, cramped quarters… it means in the middle of nowhere, slim food choices, and limited cookware. 2. Chips and dip. Not the healthy-inspired, made-by-me kind either. The full-out horrible processed cheese dips…

• The Monday Project: It’s the Final Countdown!

  christieo

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:56 am

  I’m getting a little misty-eyed over here! Rethink Your Shrink is coming to an end! Are you ready? Did you rethink? And moreover, did you shrink? What happened over the past 7 weeks? Did you move more? Did you find victories? Did you find non-scale victories? Did you do something you’ve never done before? (And in a good way?) How much did you lose? How much did you gain in knowledge and preparation? How did you do when you had an off-week? Did you fall off? Did you get back up? Where did you find motivation? Did you like this challenge? How did you do? These are all the questions…

• Motivation Monday: Reaching Failure

  april

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  By show of hands (and I want them raised high because I can see you.  Yes I can.), how many of you are afraid to fail?  How many of you that are afraid to fail, then avoid things BECAUSE you are afraid you’ll fail?  Or give yourself a hard time for failing? It really hurts my heart and can make me a tiny bit angry to see some of you get so down on yourself for having a bad week.  For failing for that week.  I admit that I can sometimes let that fear take control of me, but really, why do we do that?  Why do we let something like THAT have so much control over us? Well, what IF we…

• Recipe: Sausage Pepper Pasta

  thea

  7 Feb 2010 | 4:05 am

  I’m no cook. I try, but really I’m more of a Preparer. Or a Combiner. Yeah. Combiner. That’s what I am. I like to find recipes with the fewest number of ingredients so that I have less of a chance to mess it up. Which is why this is one of my favorite recipes to make. It’s one of the FEW recipes where I don’t need an actual paper in front of me to know how to make it. And it tastes good. AND the kids eat it. BONUS! Without further ado, I present to you Sausage Pepper Pasta (I’ll give you 3 guesses what’s in it…) 14 oz. package turkey kielbasa,…

• The Saturday Review: A GU Review

  christieo

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:49 am

  I love GU. Pronounced “goo.” GU is an energy gel. What is this energy gel I speak of? And who should be eating these? And why? Do we really need these in our lives? Yes. But not all the time. And it depends on what you’re doing. There are times to use them and times when you should not use them. They are about 100 calories, so you really want to use them sparingly for that reason. You don’t want to exercise out your calories just to put them back in with a gel. However, they can be really valuable when you’re exercising for a long time and losing a lot of…

• 
  oh hey, what's up

• I told you so.

  Corrin

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am

  I called it. I knew it. I told you so. Blissdom is the new Blogher. Calm, cool, and collected. Until Harry Connick Jr. walked on stage and we all lost our shit. In the most lady-like of ways, of course. Before I left for Blissdom, I made a decision. A big decision. This conference wasn’t going to be about blogging as a business for me. It was going to be about blogging for the bliss of it. I learned about inspirational writing and encouragement from Hallmark, about rediscovering play from Kevin Caroll, and about putting my best foot forward from Alli Worthington. I heard how Megan…

• Let the Bliss begin…

  Corrin

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:46 pm

  Congratulations to our winners…Sarah Buki and Cindy Schultz! Here are your random numbers: 15 9 Timestamp: 2010-02-08 15:39:00 UTC I’ve checked in, participated on one Wisdom Workshop, am freshening up for the evening gatherings, and I’m already confident that Blissdom is the new Blogher. It’s eclectic and intimate, the accommodations are stunning and well organized, and swag distribution is civilized and pleasant. I get to experience all of this thanks to GoGirl – the female urination device that is perfect for girls on the go. The GoGirl is super small and…

• Valentine’s Day Gifts: For Pets

  Corrin

  1 Feb 2010 | 7:04 am

  Congratulations to our winner…Angie! Here are your random numbers: 25 Timestamp: 2010-02-08 16:11:17 UTC You didn’t think I’d leave out our furry friends this Valentine’s Day, did you? These are a few of Ollie’s favorite things (that maybe possibly make us happy, too). Oh – and sorry to all the cats out there down. I think you’re kind of evil so you’ve largely been left out of the Valentine’s Day love. Also, don’t miss my picks for gifts For Him, For Her, and For Kids! 1. Hand Stamped Pet Tag from Jean Skipper Originals Etsy Store 2.

• Valentine’s Day Gifts: For Kids

  Corrin

  1 Feb 2010 | 7:03 am

  Lots of winners for this giveaway! Congratulations to…Meredith, Mary S, Connie Foggles, Angie O, and Mandy! Here are your random numbers: 31 - $50 My Kids Art on Canvas Gift Certificate 38 - $50 My Kids Art on Canvas Gift Certificate 44 - Personalized Valentine's Card from Little Lamb Design 115 - Complete set of McNeil Designs for Brighter Minds games 35 - Bag 'O Doxies from Sweet Little Birdie Etsy Shop Timestamp: 2010-02-08 16:19:37 UTC Valentine’s Day is always a fun day when you’re a kid. Handing out Valentine’s, classroom parties, and fun little gifts from…

• Valentine’s Day Gifts: For Her

  Corrin

  1 Feb 2010 | 7:02 am

  Congratulations to our winner…Jennifer Barr! Here are your random numbers: 29 Timestamp: 2010-02-08 16:04:58 UTC Obviously my most favorite group of gifts. I either own or would love to receive everything listed. Also, don’t miss my picks for gifts For Him, For Kids, and For Pets! 1. Diamond Ring Key Squeeze Light from Perpetual Kid 2. Shit Bitch Bear from Love Is Lame 3. Hugs & Kisses Bouquet from Proflowers 4. Custom Hand-Lettered Shop Sign from Three Potato Four 5. Sugar Hearts from Cox & Cox 6. Better Than Chocolate from Eden Fantasys 7. Aquoline Pink Sugar Perfume from…

• 
  HerHotSpot.com - Real Life, Not Sugar Coated

• I have just found out I am pregnant! Cri...

  janet.joplin@busselecta.com

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:20 pm

  I have just found out I am pregnant! Crikey it's a bit of a shock. Have I left it too late to take folic acid tablets?? Also, any ideas on what other vitamins I should be taking?

• So, about nine months ago give or take a...

  apps+81293875760.757605693.7dd7c473127ed5c1837a2e73692f9b1c@proxymail.facebook.com

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:18 pm

  So, about nine months ago give or take a couple of weeks my boyfriend went to a friend's party for the weekend. While he was there he spent most of his time with his friend's sister. A few days after the party they sent each other private messages on Facebook saying how they had an awesome weekend and my boyfriend said he couldn't wait to see her again. read more

• QotD: February 8, 2010

  brette@girlsguideto.com

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:36 pm

  I found out that the things that hurt us the most can become the fuel and the catalyst that propel us toward our destiny. It will either make you bitter or make you better.  ~T.D. Jakes

• Recently, I discovered that my exbf, who...

  apps+81293875760.1538520386.cd08fc7a1c6c158756ce8a4f91c4beb7@proxymail.facebook.com

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:13 pm

  Recently, I discovered that my exbf, who I've been in love with for the past two years, is engaged. I can't pinpoint how I feel, but any ideas for getting past this? I've tried going and working out with friends, but the friends I have aren't really there for me the way I need them to be. They don't understand that I'm not "okay" and need a hug. read more

• What is a good way to get rid of water w...

  sdecker_104@yahoo.com

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:56 am

  What is a good way to get rid of water weight? I've been feeling kind of bloated for a few days, I know it's not my period and I'm not pregnant. What's a good product or home remedy to get rid of water weight, or at least make me feel less bloated.

• 
  YourTango

• And The Most Romantic City In America Is...

  Melissa

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:39 pm

  In celebration of Valentine's Day, Amazon.com went on a quest to find the most romantic cities in the country. And the winner? Alexandria, VA! Keywords: city, country, list, love buzz, romance, romance novel, romantic comedyBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• Valentine's Day Weddings & Proposals (So Cute!)

  Denise Ngo

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am

  Love or hate it, Valentine's Day puts the pressure on all of us to step up our game and romance the heck out of our loved ones. Some people go the chocolates and flowers route. Others plan elaborate and sensuous meals. Still others look to the big day as an excuse to escape on a romantic getaway. But try living up to these couples: Some of them got engaged on Valentine's Day, and still others had their actual weddings on February 14. So was it the lovey-dovey, fairytale event they'd always dreamed of? And how do they top such a thing years later? We asked couples who took VDay to the next…

• Unusual Ways To Tie The Knot

  Carly Okyle

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am

  Not everyone has his or her heart set on tying the knot in a traditional way. It’s becoming increasingly common for couples to seek out locations that are a bit more unique and memorable. These six awe-inspiring places—from simple to simply over-the-top—are sure to leave you and your guests breathless.Keywords: ceremony, Engaged, making it work, marriage news, reception, taken, wedding, wedding trendBookmark/Share this post with: read more

• Dating A Narcissist: Should I Leave Him?

  Gwendolyn Bond-Upson

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am

  With shows like The Pickup Artist remaining perennially popular, it seems that male narcissism is flourishing if not becoming epidemic while being fueled by our culture and the media. While egomaniacs may make for irritating but good TV, they can have a truly destructive impact on the lives of their loved ones. A Chicago Tribune article about dating narcissists offered some handy tips on how to diagnose and, more importantly, decide to live with (or leave) a narcissist. The American Psychological Association lists nine core traits of narcissism, but someone only needs five of these to qualify…

• Brangelina Sues Mag That Started Breakup Rumors

  Becky Broderick

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  Over the past two weeks, there have been roughly 50,201 tabloid tales about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and all of them stem from a report published in the infamous UK rag News of the World. Brangelina never really addressed the breakup rumors directly...but now they've had it. They're going to court. Keywords: Angelina Jolie, angelina jolie news, Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie, brad pitt angelina jolie news, brad pitt angelina jolie separation, brad pitt news, Brangelina, brangelina news, brangelina separation, celeb gossip, celebrities, celebrity news, lawsuitBookmark/Share this post…

• 
  Female Forum

• Proper Skin Care for the Face

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  Young females often do not think much about their skin care routines. Yet, as they get older, skin care generally comes to the foreground as soon as that first wrinkle or age spot appears. The fact is that the older we get, the more fragile our skin becomes. Our oil glands become less active and our skin becomes thinner. This means dry skin and wrinkles can start becoming the norm and we are more susceptible to sun damage and developing skin disorders. To maintain a youthful glow and to keep you skin at its optimum health level, there are a few skin care procedures that you can do. These four…

• Preparing and Arranging Flowers Is Easier Than You Think

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:13 am

  Nothing feels as creative as taking fresh flowers and making an arrangement out of them. Flowers can change the atmosphere in a room and bring life to a drab area. There are hundreds of books out there that discuss flower arranging. Yet, most people who are into flowers already have an eye for what works and what does not. To be honest, some of the rules that are listed in many of these flower books should be thrown out the window. For instance, if you prefer to mix colors that a book says not to mix, do it anyway. Go with your gut and do what you think will look the best for you and your…

• Can You Afford to Go Back to Work After a Baby?

  28 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm

  For years women have dealt with the struggle of being able afford to stay home after having a baby, but these days, times have somewhat changed. With the price of fuel and food rising every week, along with the other related cost increases, many women are now faced with the problem of being able to afford to go back to work. Though the time with your new baby has been magical, you may be one of the many women who are chomping at the bit to get back into the working world. Just as for women who are hoping to stay home, women who are considering a return to work have a lot that they need to…

• The Importance of Body Language in the Dating World

  28 Jan 2010 | 5:57 am

  Body language needs no words. People surmise a lot about a person’s personality by their body language. If you are in the dating scene you should monitor your body language to see what kind of signals you are sending out. Some women are pros at body language. They can send the sexy ‘I’m interested’ signal or the ‘get lost’ signal in a matter of moments. If you are wondering why you’re never approached by men, it may be something as simple as the message you are sending with your body. Women who are not tuned into their body language often send out the…

• The Benefits of Leasing a Space in a Shared Office

  21 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm

  The great thing about being a freelancer or self-employed is that you can have your office wherever you want it to be. You can work from the dining room table, living room, sunny back porch, coffee shop, a picnic table in the park or you can set up a workspace in your garage. The options are virtually limitless when it comes to where you can work. However, this freedom does have its drawbacks and the major drawback is the ability to focus. Being able to focus on your work can be hard to do if you are in a high-traffic area in the home, at a coffee shop that blasts music or you are freezing…

• 
  She Takes On The World

• Best PR Practices: How to Build Media Contacts and Get Press

  Kristin Marquet

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:15 am

  Image courtesy of Shutterstock As business owners, we know that publicity is worth its weight in gold because it is a more credible form of marketing in contrast to advertising.  Since publicity isn’t paid for directly by the company or person and advertising space is, PR specialists can’t control the size of a write up the way advertisers can. When your product, service, name, or company is in ink or featured on TV or the radio, it can generate great attention, which is why billions of dollars are spent using PR firms every year. Follow these steps to create a strong list…

• Build a Better Home Office

  Chantielle MacFarlane

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am

  Image courtesy of Shutterstock If your lifestyle is like mine, chances are you spend a great deal of time in your home office. In fact, it’s probably the most used room in your house, next to the kitchen. So why then, does your workspace look like more of a dungeon than a sanctuary? Wouldn’t work be more enjoyable if your office was a place you liked to be, rather than a place associated with achy muscles, squinty eyes, and stress? Changing the way your home office looks and functions can have a direct effect on your personal productivity. Here are a few simple tips to help you transform…

• Interview with Olympic Figure Skater, Tuğba Karademir

  Natalie MacNeil

  26 Jan 2010 | 3:25 pm

  Tuğba Karademir is a world class figure skater from Ankara, Turkey who lives and trains in Barrie, Canada. In 2006, she became the first figure skater to represent Turkey at the Olympic games and was also Turkey’s flag bearer. Now, Tuğba is Olympic bound again and aiming for a top 10 finish in Vancouver. Despite her crazy schedule (she just finished skating at the European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia) she granted an interview to She Takes on the World. Natalie: What does it mean to you to be an Olympic athlete and represent your country, Turkey? Tuğba: It means…

• Nine Powerful Social Networking Sites for Women Entrepreneurs

  A. Michelle Blakeley

  25 Jan 2010 | 10:56 am

  Image courtesy of Shutterstock What is the real power behind women entrepreneurs? A study by the Center for Women’s Business Research shows that women now own 40 percent of private firms, women-owned businesses generate about $3 trillion in revenue and employ 16 percent of the workforce; making them significant players in the national economy. In addition, the study found that 85 percent of women surveyed do not believe being a woman is detrimental to their business success, and 32 percent believe being a woman is beneficial. There is power in being a woman entrepreneur. There is even more…

• Add More ~ing to Your Life: Interview with Gabrielle Bernstein

  Natalie MacNeil

  14 Jan 2010 | 11:26 am

  The New York Times calls her “the next generation guru.” She is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and sought after life coach. Today I’m pleased to be interviewing Gabrielle Bernstein about her new book, Add More ~ing to Your Life, and talking about an awesome giveaway. Natalie: What led you to write Add More ~ing to Your Life? And for those who don’t know, what is ~ing? Gabrielle: ~ing stands for inner guidance. Our ~ing is our intuition and our inspiration. ~ing is the cheerleader in the back of our mind that guides us to love ourselves. The inspiration behind…

• 
  Shaman Mother

• Learning to Love

  Shaman Mother

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am

  There are very few who truly know how to love.  Most of us are operating on an ego based personality, looking towards another human being to fill the cracked holes within ourselves.  Early in a relationship, our hearts and minds are filled with euphoria and happiness, like a box of chocolates.  This tastes so good.  We start to associate that the other person is making us feel this way.  Then reality sets in like a dark cloud and the ‘blame game’ begins.  You begin to say “you don’t bring me flowers anymore; you did this to me;  you make me feel like a piece of…

• Manifesting Money

  Shaman Mother

  28 Jan 2010 | 6:31 am

  It’s easy in today’s economy to get swept up in the tidal wave of mass belief of lack.  People losing jobs and their homes sends aftershocks into the vibrational field of energy that surrounds us.  This fear spreads like a virus among all of us.  Beliefs have a strong impact on creating our reality.  Yes, you create your own reality.  The moment you decide to be self responsible, everything in your life will change. Thoughts are energy and so is money.  A dear friend of mine Dr. Bhutti, a Tibetan physician, once said to my husband, “All this stress over a piece of…

• Complaining…..it holds you back!

  Shaman Mother

  21 Jan 2010 | 4:32 pm

  You’re complaining…it’s raining or what else is bothering you?  Did you ever stop and LISTEN to all the whining and complaining?  It will wear you out.  I stopped in my local coffee shop for my daily cup of coffee and listened while the owner complained to every customer.  She complained that her help never shows up.  She complained about customers complaining and today was the day she was going to call up an interested buyer to buy the shop.  Then my twenty one year old daughter came home from a long day.  She complained about school and her job. Be more positive I…

• Lady in Red…..STOP forcing pain in your life!

  Shaman Mother

  8 Jan 2010 | 2:32 pm

  The real question is why are we creating so much pain in our life?   Our whole society is addicted to pain and the only way out for most of us is drugs and alcohol.  We want a quick fix.  What can we do differently?  First a quick story…..  Saturdays in the afternoon you can find me dressing women in my daughter’s boutique “Twilight.”  I have always had a passion for fashion since childhood and it really balances out the inner work I do with clients Monday thru Friday. Saturday is for feeling good on the outside.  A couple of weeks ago I was assisting a young…

• Tiger Woods ~ Judgment Day!

  Shaman Mother

  11 Dec 2009 | 3:27 am

  Judgment is truly low energy and something that keeps us from reaching our true spiritual potential as human beings.  The media once again is in a feeding frenzy over the Tiger Woods’ situation. Television and radio talk hosts are debating the character of Tiger Woods.  I don’t know about all of you but I am tired of this. Gossip serves the lower aspects of our souls because we delight in the fall of grace of a wealthy, public figure. It makes us feel good that someone so successful has screwed up. The most famous spiritual teacher, Jesus said: “He who has not sinned cast…

• 
  The Classy Closet

• Teeth Whitening

  sandra hilson

  A healthy smile is happy smile and everyone desires beautiful ,white and sparkling teeth . You’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re doing something good for yourself. I you have been looking for brighter and whither smile Teeth Whitening may be the perfect solution .Your smile is with you all day and everyday .A beautiful and healthy smile is one of the first thing that many people notice and making a good first impression is just as important .having a smile that is brighter and whiter can improve your self esteem and help you to feel better about yourself Teeth whitening is the…

• She called my bluff....

  jenn

  OK OK... so I have a 10 year old. Most of you know that. What you may not know is that my ten year old is extremely brilliant though she is ADHD so she sometimes has major issues with focusing. She also is a very accomplished musician and con artist. She could sell just about anything. Her fashion sense and style is severly lacking. Like BAD. She is a tom-boy at heart and though she has her "girlie" moments... she is mostly a jeans(ripped) and t-shirt kid. Ugh, it frustrates me to no end. She wears glasses. Cute and spunky ones. She has several pairs. a.) because I work at the eye doctor b.)…

• A Tribute to Our Dog Reece

  Jennifer Ford Berry

  This month we had to put our 12 year old dog, Reece, to rest. We had many people tell us how difficult this would be, but nothing could have prepared us for how hard it really was. Reece was not just any dog. He was truly one of a kind. Right about the time I was graduating from college my, then boyfriend (now husband Josh), and I thought it was time for a dog. Someone to be responsible for other than ourselves. I felt strongly about rescuing one, so every weekend I would search the local animal shelters of Palm Beach County (we lived in South Florida at the time). There were many great dogs,…

• 2010 Valentine Ideas are in!

  Mama Snow

  Thanks for everyones input. I have put together a fun list of ideas and links to tutorials for valentines. Please check it out and if you have something you want to add you can add the link to the Valentines Linky! I hope you all take the chance to check it out. There are also a couple of giveaways near the bottom you may want to enter! 2010 Valentine Ideas and Tutorials

• Do you?

  jenn

  So its super funny because my 15 yr old daughter just came upstairs and asked to look through my shirts for a "long tee-shirt" to wear with some leggings to school tomorrow. And I got to thinking... I have long tee-shirts. And I wear leggings occasionally ( with long sweaters, that is.) I am 36 yrs old. She is 15. She is a size 5 jean... since I have lost weight I am a size 7 jean. She is a medium shirt, I am a large. (large breasts people... really suck!) Anyway... she is also a 34 D while I am a 36DD. Super scary, isnt it. Yup. I have given up on taking her bra shopping because frankly I…

• 
  Awakening Women's Blog

• New pathways overflowing with lush greens and fragrant roses

  awakeningwomen

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am

  Many of us are using this time of the year as a time to reconsider habits that no longer serve us. Eating habits, exercise habits (or lack of them), mental patterns or relationship habits. Our brain is an amazing tool; it monitors and adjusts so that the energy we have, is spent in the most efficient [...]

• When I Was The Forest

  awakeningwomen

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:38 pm

  by Meister Eckhart When I was the stream, when I was the forest, when I was still the field, when I was every hoof, foot, fin and wing, when I was the sky itself, no one ever asked me did I have a purpose, no one ever wondered was there anything I might need, for there was nothing I could not love. It [...]

• the end of the 4 week cleanse

  awakeningwomen

  2 Feb 2010 | 4:53 pm

  So I did it! 4 weeks herbal cleanse including one week Fasting (!!). Wow. What a journey it has been. It has been wonderful to hear from so many of you who also have been inspired to ADD more vibrant foods into your diet. I say add, because this has been the main key to my [...]

• Awakening Women Global Sisterhood Manifesto

  awakeningwomen

  31 Jan 2010 | 10:09 am

  (Image:Shiloh McCloud) We now have more than 7600 women joined us in our  Group on Face Book were you are invited to take a stand for a new women’s culture: The relationship we have to other women reflects the relationship we have to our own feminine essence. We take a stand for a new way of being women [...]

• By Your Side

  awakeningwomen

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:11 pm

  This song has been for many years one of the favorite songs in The Awakening Women gatherings. Now Sade is out with a “best of” album and have created this sensual and poetic video to the song. Enjoy!

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  Blissfully Domestic � Timeless Bliss

• Denim-licious in Any Size!

  Selena

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:59 am

  Denim That Looks Great on You… ReallyDungarees. Jeans. Denim. Regardless of what you call it, women every where are still asking the same question: how can I find a decent pair of jeans that actually compliments, flatters and oh yeah, fits?I don't know about you but this type of information definitely ranks high on the "must know" barometer.Fortunately for us, I've learned a few tricks of the trade that just might help us find what we're looking for. Now, let's get started shall we?Know your shape: I'd go into stores and look at the jean on the…

• Smell Your Way to a Healthier You!

  Selena

  25 Jan 2010 | 4:23 am

  Smelling Your Way to a Happier, Healthier YouWhat's one of the first things we notice about people or places aside from appearance? You got it, smell. No matter how dapper or grandiose something (or someone) appears, nothing turns a person off more than a foul smell. Could you imagine going into a five-star restaurant only to be greeted with the smell of mildew, rotting food or musk? Eww.The smell of something can either turn our stomachs or turn our heads. And according to new research, aromas can help improve our emotions and overall health.Ever notice how the smell of fresh baked…

• Water Never Tasted So Good: Recipes to Put Some Zip in Your Sip

  Selena

  20 Jan 2010 | 5:23 am

  Ahhh, Now THAT'S Good WaterOne of my health goals this year is to drink more water. Generally, I start off strong; but after several weeks, I drop off the grid. Why? Because water is so plain, boring and tasteless that sometimes it puts my taste buds to sleep. Zzzzzzz.What's a gal to do? Give it up? WRONG. Water is a necessity. It helps regulate our body and cell functions, hydrates our skin and assists in weight management. So what can you do? Put a bit of zip in your sip and add a little flavorThis week I made my own flavored water:1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced1/2 anjou pear sliced…

• Health & Beauty Rumors: Separating Fact from Fiction

  Selena

  18 Jan 2010 | 5:50 am

  What You Put In, Is What You Get OutOne of the greatest beauty secrets I learned is that outer beauty begins with what we put inside of our bodies. Much like everything else–cars, life or nature–it's impossible to expect outer beauty or perfection if we're constantly neglecting the  inner workings of the vessel or object. Outer beauty and inner health go hand in hand.I've heard it said: without knowledge, people perish. Ignorance isn't bliss, it's dangerous. Want to be your most beautiful? Start by being selective about what you're putting inside…

• Spice Up Your Wardrobe with Accessories Pt. 2

  Selena

  12 Jan 2010 | 5:51 am

  Put a Bit o' Color in Your Wardrobe Stat!Brrrr. It's cold, icy and dreary outside. If it weren't for the occasional splash of color in the early morning sky, I'd swear the sun headed south for the winter. Drab and overcast outside doesn't mean your wardrobe has to be the same inside.Hello Fasssshionistas and welcome back for part 2 of learning which accessories can heat up your wardrobe.Extras and Spice Makes all Things NiceLast week, we hinted at three every day accessories that add flava to any outfit. Let's take it from the top, shall we?Who says hats are only…

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  Mars Venus LIVING

• A Martian’s Guide to Fourteen Loving Acts for Any Day of the Year

  Sure Valentine’s Day is an important day to do something impressive for your significant other. But too often, men focus on the big acts of love and forget the small ones that for women count every bit as much. Generally on Venus women naturally exchange simple, thoughtful acts of kindness. Martians on the other hand, ignore [...]

• Dieters Delight: Healthier Fast Food Options

  Not long ago, a mom or dad on a diet had to argue against their children’s wishes to go to McDonald’s for a Happy Meal. But, as so often happens, the kids’ pleas were too persistent to ignore, and the parents relented and got everyone in the car for the obligatory trip to the land [...]

• John Gray on Passionate Marriages

  In this weeks video message John introduces the first of a three part series on the importance of keeping passion alive in your marriage. As John says, “often when people talk about passion in a marriage they are talking about connecting with one another and having a close relationship.” While John agrees that this is [...]

• Dear Lauren, I’ve Had Fourteen Years of Uncertainty

  Dear Lauren, I’m 32 and have been in love with the same man since I was 18! We broke up 4 years ago.  Since then we have remained close, at times intimate. When we do try our hand at other relationships we keep each other in the dark. A few months ago, however, he told me [...]

• Ronda Priestner’s Deep Chocolate Truffles

  This Valentine’s Day you can enjoy your sweet treats and benefit from them as well. Decadent chocolate truffles that melt in your mouth, formulated for optimal brain chemistry and overall improved health? It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. This adored delicacy will soothe your soul, create oxytocin, boost your libido, [...]

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  The Eloquent Woman

• The Eloquent Woman joins BlogHer

  Denise Graveline

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am

  I'm happy to say that The Eloquent Woman blog is now part of BlogHer, the community for women who blog. You'll find a link to The Eloquent Woman here on BlogHer's directory of blogs--a great resource if you're looking for more blogs relevant to women.  It's just another way to widen our circles to reach more women with news about public speaking. Are you a member of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook? Join our thriving community to get extra content, early input into my blog posts, and to share your questions, photos and video. New! Sign up for The Eloquent Woman's free monthly newsletter,…

• Palin's hand-written notes: For speakers

  Denise Graveline

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:15 pm

  Your political views aside, Sarah Palin's use of notes written in the palm of her hand over the weekend--caught by cameras--adds a whole new layer to our discussion of whether you need notes or not when you speak. This Los Angeles Times columnist hits the nail on the head for most speakers: Most of us need some help when we speak in public. In high school, I competed in extemporaneous speaking, an event in which you had to analyze a current-affairs topic for eight minutes without much preparation. The rules allowed you to use an index card with a maximum of 50 words of notes, but my teammates…

• Today's top black women speakers: your list

  Denise Graveline

  7 Feb 2010 | 11:49 am

  Last year, another speaker coach asked me to help find video examples of today's top women speakers, because he was having trouble finding examples to share with trainees that were of current, rather than historic women speakers.  This year, for Black History Month, I asked readers on Facebook and Twitter to help me crowd-source a list of today's top black women speakers, to give us current role models and examples.  Here's the list you made, with video or speech excerpts where available.  Please add your favorites in the comments! Tara Leigh Tappert recommended "my friend…

• Use your public speaking skills 36 ways

  Denise Graveline

  4 Feb 2010 | 5:38 pm

  Sure, developing public speaking skills can help you deliver a big speech or major presentation. But you can put these workhorse skills to use in these 36 additional ways, in settings that range from everyday life to unusual situations. Will this list help you make the case--to yourself or to your boss--for seeking out training to hone your skills? Formal speaking situations: Testifying in court Arguing for a change in policies before your city or county council Testifying before the Congress or a state legislature Debating (in a meeting, or in a formal debate) Presiding over a…

• Make storytelling compelling with details

  Denise Graveline

  2 Feb 2010 | 10:18 am

  Telling a story can be a powerful way to engage your audience, breathe life into a speech or presentation, get away from jargon to explain a complex point, or persuade your listeners.  But if you want the telling to be compelling, you need to sweat the details. And not just any details.  An effective story includes details that are: Visual:  Jacqueline Novogratz opens her speech on global humanitarian aid with a story about a funny-looking sweater she wore at age 12. She describes it in detail:  The blue sweater "had fuzzy zebras walking across the stomach,…

• 
  Everyday Goddess

• Adventures in Textured Vegetable Protein

  lizriz

  7 Feb 2010 | 1:04 pm

  When I first started getting into vegetarian cooking I noticed that my favorite cookbook, The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook included two recipes that called for textured vegetable protein (aka TVP). Which I had never heard of, but which turns out to be a soy product that resembles bread crumbs and is meant to be a meat substitute.I'm not a fan of the "meat substitute" concept, but I was curious because one of the recipes that called for it was for Portobello Burgers which also included zucchini, onion, and sun-dried tomatoes. Yum! Plus I'm really into the whole veggie patty…

• The Long and the Short of Life.

  lizriz

  6 Feb 2010 | 12:41 pm

  Perspective. Is a fascinating thing.I've been thinking about one particular aspect of perspective ever since I watched (and loved) "Up In The Air." The scene that has my brain gerbils running on overdrive, is the scene where Ryan and Alex sit across from Natalie in the middle of an airport, and Alex and Natalie discuss what they look for in a man. Now, there is something about scenes where people sit and talk that I love nine ways from Sunday, both as a viewer and as a director. Somewhere inside me, I always feel like, OK, Now we can get to the meat of it. And if you can make a sitting down…

• Oh Yes, my friends, it's come to this.

  lizriz

  3 Feb 2010 | 10:27 pm

  I've been joking that I wish someone would wake me up every morning with a slap across the face and say, "He didn't love you! Get over it!"But since I don't have any live-in staff, I suppose a book with Greg Behrendt's name on the cover is the next best thing.

• 2010: In Which I Blow My Bottom Line To Hell

  lizriz

  1 Feb 2010 | 9:37 pm

  First, I took a temp gig in the Awards Office at Sony. Clearly, getting laid off wasn't anything I controlled, and I'm sure I made the right decision when offered this gig. I've always wanted a job at a studio, I'm learning tons, the job is busy and rewarding - in short, I love it! Not to mention the opportunity to work to support films I really believe in (my favorite 2009 film is District 9), on a lot and at a studio that it turns out I really like. But, I *don't* love paying $300/month for Cobra because the temp agency I actually work for only offered limited benefit health insurance.

• Heading to Wax Poetic in Burbank for their 10 YEAR anniversary tonight!

  lizriz

  30 Jan 2010 | 9:05 am

  Yeah, so, I'm totally one of those customers who will tell you how I've been going to Wax Poetic since it was just one space. Pretty impressive when you see that now it's 3 spaces with a wonderful art gallery on one side. But even I can't believe it's TEN YEAR anniversary time! That's so amazing.I've been playing introvert a lot these days, but you know I wouldn't miss this! Here's the 411, if you're an L.A. peep and you want to check it out:WAX POETIC GALLERY PRESENTS BABY TATTOO’S PRIVATE COLLECTION:  7 years of Art Shenanigans.  SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010.  Wax Poetic Gallery is proud…

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  Parlour Magazine

• Sonia Rykiel for H&M…Again!

  J. Baker

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:45 am

  So I don’t know how to feel about this new Sonia Rykiel X H&M line set to launch on February 20th. While I liked her retro-feel holiday lingerie line, something about this collection of knits says “just throw on some sweatpants” to me. Uff, I just ate a huge sandwich, so maybe that’s it (don’t [...]

• Wale X Tabi Bonney = My Sweetie (New Vid!)

  J. Baker

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Wale aka the rapper with my favorite logo just released this new video for one of his bonus tracks “My Sweetie”, directed by our boy Tabi Bonney (yay DMV!). We are super happy that they decided to go forgo the LES-downtown-hipster scene and took it straight to your mom’s basement with a Naija (Nigerian) vibe. [...]

• In The Philippines, Sinatra Kills—Literally

  J. Baker

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:14 am

  If there is one thing I hate in music, it’s when someone tries to cover a legendary/iconic standard. With the exception of the National Anthem, there are certain songs not open for reinterpretation—but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna shoot you if you mess up “Weak” by SWV. In the Philippines, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra [...]

• Introducing PARLOUR Maven…Vivian Scott Chew

  Mahogs

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:15 am

  You may see her touring with Kem in London, planning an event for Ledisi in Berlin or working with some of the top hip hop artists in South Africa. When it comes to international marketing and promotions, Ms. Vivian Scott Chew, a citizen of the world, knows what it takes and has a successful career [...]

• Tavi Hate, Cont’d

  Hillary aka Steely D

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:20 am

  For the longest time, I’ve tried to figure out the fashion industry’s obsession with 13 year old Tavi Gevinson. She initially got attention by her daring ‘far beyond her time’ outfits, but as far as I can see– it ends there? I mean, she hasn’t even finished High School or a formalized writing class- so I’m [...]

• 
  Evil Slutopia

• Get your Valentine's Day (and ANTI-Vday) Gifts NOW!

  Lilith

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 pm

  Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner... we wanted to let you all know about our brand new Cafepress store... Love Sucks.  (If you order by midnight on February 8th, Cafepress will give you a FREE shipping upgrade to ensure delivery by Valentine's Day!) This design will appeal to Valentine's Day haters and vampire lovers alike. For other vampy goodness... don't forget to check out our other similar shops: Vamp Love I Love Eric And of course... for that special bitch in your life... Maenad It's important to remember, that regardless of whether or not you have a 'special…

• When Mirena Meets Mommybloggers

  Jezebel

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:29 am

  There are Tupperware parties, Passion Parties, Pampered Chef parties, and...Mirena IUD parties? Yes, apparently these events popped up early last year and were a joint effort from Bayer Pharmaceuticals and the mom marketing site Mom Central.Here's one mom blogger's description of the Mirena party that she hosted:Then tonight I hosted a party at my house with Mom Central. Mom Central had found me through this blog and asked me if I would be interested in hosting an event sponsored by Mirena. As I welcome any opportunity to sit down with some girlfriends with some free food and drink, I was…

• Best Road Trip Ever!

  Lilith

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am

  Yes, we know we've been neglecting the comic... but there were more important things to do! But we've got a few comics lined up for February so enjoy! [Read more: I Read While He Plays Video Games]

• Blogroll Amnesty Day

  Jezebel

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:06 pm

  Today is Blogroll Amnesty Day, a day for bloggers to share the love by linking to smaller blogs or just blogs that we think deserve more attention.This year our pick is The Sin City Siren. (Follow her on twitter too.) Here's a piece of her latest post, just to show you why you should be reading:Okay, okay. Are you getting sick of the pregnancy-related posts, yet? (Hopefully not.) Well, make room for one more. I had no idea there was so much about pregnancy and being pregnant in America that would spark my feminist thought-machine!A very popular question I get these days is, “So, is it a boy…

• Cosmo's 99 Recycled Sex Moves

  Lilith

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

  Every month Cosmo offers so many sex tips that they're bound to run out of them eventually. (We already know that they recycled that dumb vibrator-on-the-side-of-the-mouth trick twice in a three-month period.) But we really think that they've just completely run out of ideas by now. Their past covers have tempted us with these sex-obsessed headlines: "100% Hotter Sex" (01/10) ... "His #1 Sex Move" (12/09)"Foreplay Men Crave" (11/09) ... "Bad Girl Sex" (10/09)"50 Sex Tricks" (09/09) ... "Guys Rate 125 Sex Moves" (08/09) "The Orgasm Whisperer: Every Woman Needs One!" (08/09) ... "Sex Extras"…

• 
  Premium Woman

• Eight essentials of gym fashion

  1. Don’t sweat it out ‘No sweat’ is the mantra for gym wear. Today a lot of brands have come up with antisweat, dry fit track lowers, which are hip yet comfortable to wear for intensive workout sessions. However, hosiery tracks are an all time favourite with Revati. While Preity feels that, shorts are an ideal wear [...]

• Kill those flakes with home remedies

  Do those ugly white dandruff flakes make themselves visible just when you are getting cosy with someone? Solution is to rid them completely with these deadly home remedies. What is dandruff? When the scalp becomes very dry, dead tissues of the skin start flaking. These flakes fall off when you comb or brush your hair and [...]

• Home remedies for acne

  Do you hate your face on the days when you wake up, see the mirror and have a zit glaring back at you? We show you simple home remedies that will eventually erase acne from your face and give you a face you will love every day. What is acne? Acne is a temporary skin disorder. There [...]

• Your mini guide to facials

  A facial can banish most skin-deep woes but are we doing it right? From the plethora of options that salons offer, here’s how to choose one that’ll work for you. Why get a facial at all? -   Facials are much more than a pampering experience – they nourish, rejuvenate, repair and detoxify your skin thus preventing [...]

• Five things never to say in a fight

  Ever have fights and regret something you’ve said? Ever thought a word or a jibe less and you could have ended the argument an hour ago? Here are five deal breakers to keep out of your relationship vocabulary “I told you so!” Why it’s a deal breaker: One of the classic signs of the blame game, this [...]

• 
  Lip-Sticking

• Super Bowl Ads: Female Friendly?

  Yvonne

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:48 am

  Ok, so how many of the Super Bowl's $3mill per 30 second ads actually appealed to women, you might ask. I wondered, even though I didn't ask. After all, who would I ask? Other women, presumably, but that's a limited group (if I'm asking during the Super Bowl). Interestingly enough, Hoffman York's advertising to women's division, the Kaleidoscope Group, just released the 2010 PURSEuasion Report and it talks about how effective the Super Bowl ads were to women. Prepare to be informed. I am pretty impressed with the note I received about this. We all know, by now, that this yearly "bowl" game…

• It's all bliss!

  Yvonne

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:46 am

  I missed it. Did you miss it? Over 500 fantastic women were at the Blissdom Conference last week, in Nashville where they networked, laughed, learned, and did what women do: became sisters of the heart. I did win a $100 gift certificate to Dress Barn, the better to be gorgeous at Blissdom, but I never made it there. I'll be using that gift card soon enough - at BlogPaws, where all the pet bloggers will meet for networking, fun, and education. But, back to Blissdom... I'm so jealous that they not only had Wendy Scherer (@wendyscherer) whom I have yet to meet, but they had Harry Connick Jr…

• It's Not Right But, It's (Not) OK

  Lena West

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:42 am

  by Guest Blogger, Lena West, Chief of Social Media Strategy at xynoMedia(Another blog title ripped from a songstress...) It would appear that with the social media craziness, some of us have lost our minds when it comes to basic Internet marketing common sense. So, as a reminder, it is absolutely NOT acceptable - under ANY circumstances - to share people's contact information or add them to your mailing list without their permission. Period. I was recently invited to what appeared to be a very interesting (read: different) local networking event. Normally, I'm not a "networking event" type…

• Women Doing Good and Getting Recognized for it

  Yvonne

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:45 am

  Every now and then I get something really worthwhile in a pitch. This is one of those times. Yesterday, I was pitched the announcement from SELF Magazine about their program Women Doing Good. Essentially, the magazine is looking the the next "Women Doing Good" - described as "extraordinary women who are working hard and are determined to make a difference, whether it is within their community, environmentally, medically -- or whatever, the sky is the limit." Winners receive $10,000 donation to their favorite charity, they're featured in the September issue of SELF, and they are honored at an…

• Do You Need Your Hand Held?

  Mary Schmidt

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:29 am

  By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter I often use examples from politics in talking about marketing.  Campaigns are excellent examples of target marketing (and its misfires) as well as using emotion – versus logic - to “sell” something.  (Note: people didn't vote for "the Democrat" in the last election; they voted for change. Something neither party seems to quite get.)    Then I run across this in a article, GOP Still Short On Women. Gee. Wonder why? Well, you don’t have to wonder once you read this:  …

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  Hitched

• Use Colors to Create a Romantic Bedroom

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:27 am

  Create the perfect bedroom sanctuary for you and your spouse with a few passionate colors.

• 5 Ways to Beat Valentine’s Day Stress

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am

  Don’t let this Hallmark holiday get you down. Use these tips to have a day both you and your spouse will enjoy.

• Valentine’s Day For Men

  31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm

  We know what women want, but what do men want for Valentine's Day?

• A Leap of Faith

  31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm

  Sara opens up about the different personalities between her and David and how they tackle risk in their lives.

• How to Write a Love Letter

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

  It’s never too late to write your spouse the perfect love letter. Follow these steps and show them you’re a regular Shakespeare.

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  Connections for Women

• What Superbowl? Bangkok Snapshots Feb. 8 2010

  Connections for Women

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:09 am

  Fourteen hours ahead of Tucson - left the hotel around 8 a.m. heading for the Grand Palace hoping to beat the crowds. Came across a cafe - seats lined up on the sidewalk - everyone facing inwards looking at a small TV screen - Superbowl time Bangkok.Young women - impeccably coiffed, silky black hair piled into chic chignons, tailored short skirts, spikey high heeled shoes, stand in line waiting

• Smile for the Python

  Connections for Women

  26 Jan 2010 | 10:42 pm

  I've never met a snake I liked and I'm not about to change my ways now! No wonder I freaked yesterday at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - was wandering along the land market area when a touch on my arm stopped me - turned and there was a smiling man, python around his neck, urging me to have "photo, lady, 10 bhat" ( about 2 cents).You've all seen posters and iconic pictures of Thailand

• What's not to love - starfish fingers, gas smiles

  Connections for Women

  23 Jan 2010 | 2:03 am

  Finn was born in the wee hours of January 21 in Bangkok, he came 'home" to the apartment rented for the next few months a little while ago. Mom feels great; Dad looks like the cat that got the cream, and Maxine assures everyone that she loves "brudder" - personally I think she is more interested in snagging a set of bath toys someone left for the newborn.He was born at the Samativej Sukhumvit

• The King and I

  Connections for Women

  18 Jan 2010 | 11:46 pm

  Butterfly this morningCan't get the image of Julie Andrews and Yul Bryner waltzing in that great movie - The King and I. The current king is very well-liked here and street signs proclaim, "We love our king". His photo is in most shop windows.Arrived in Bangkok around 1 a.m. Sunday morning Bangkok time after 32 hours of continuous travel. Wow, that takes it out of you. Popped a Melatonin and

• It's really simple - limit terms served

  Connections for Women

  10 Jan 2010 | 12:15 pm

  Like many I'm disgusted with the puerile, self-serving behaviour of elected officials in Congress and the Senate. I'm disgusted with them openly admitting not to having read proposed legislation but being "convinced" its wrong; voting yes or no on party lines; callously disregarding what might be good for the majority of Americans to curry favor with a wealthy, influential few; cavalierly

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  Gotham Gal

• Yerba Buena Perry Street

  joanne wilson

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am

  Slowly but surely Greenwich Avenue between 7th and 6th has changed.   From the stores to the restaurants.  Yerba Buena Perry, although located on Perry, is right on the corner of Greenwich and Perry.  This is the latest addition to the block.  This is not the first restaurant from the group.  Yerba Buena is also located in the East Village and with the success of that restaurant, they opened another.  It does drive me insane when the noise level is really hard to hear the other people at the table speak.  It is something that can easily be taken care of in construction with the right…

• Kickstarter

  joanne wilson

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:06 pm

  I met Tanya Monteiro when I was in London this past autumn.  She came in to London to meet with me after reading my blog.  I was such a delight to meet her as well as I was seriously thrilled that someone would want to come and meet me.  Tanya made a major life change a few years ago.  She dropped out of the insane business world of NYC and headed to Portugal to reconstruct her life.  This particular project, making a documentary about Surviving or Thriving was something she passionately wanted to do.  The topic is interviews with 6 people around the world who…

• the actual buffalo chicken wings

  joanne wilson

  7 Feb 2010 | 4:14 pm

  I busted out the deep fryer.  I bought one years ago when they were seriously on sale and felt it was just one of those things I needed to have as part of the kitchen appliances.  I am embarrassed to say how many years it has been since I pulled it out but today I was damn glad that I owned it. When the oil heated up to 320, I put the wings in.  They hung out in the oil for about 8-10 minutes until they got super crispy.  Took them out, hung them over the oil for a few minutes.  I felt so professional!  Then tossed them into a bowl and mixed with the hot sauce I made earlier.  A…

• My father has a blog

  joanne wilson

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:08 am

  Fred egged him on and now my father has a blog.  Truth is my father has always had a lot to say.  I could say a lot of things about my Dad but the one thing that I find incredibly impressive is that he is probably one of the most tech saavy 70 years old that I know.  Not that I know that many 70 year olds but my Dad is all over the latest and greatest in technology.  Gotta love it.  This is his first post.  Gives you a little insight into the man himself....starting with the name of the blog. The Wisdom Of Solomon February 7, 2010 Introduction of Louis P. Solomon My name is Louis P.

• Second Dan

  joanne wilson

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am

  Last night, in the bitter cold, we ventured out to Rockwood Music Hall to see our friend play.  His band is called Second Dan.  I can't remember when we met Dan Rosen but he has one of those big warm-hearted personalities that make you feel as if you have known him all your life.  Super smart Aussie from Melbourne who not only has a band but works in the technology industry too.  Love him!Rockwood Music Hall is a tiny venue on Allen Street right off of Houston.  One drink minimum.  Packed to the gills with a string of musicians that play hourly.  The girl sitting next to me, so lucky…

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  Brittany Bohnet

• Introducing the Street View snowmobile - one of the coolest...

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:39 am

  Introducing the Street View snowmobile - one of the coolest Google Maps innovations I’ve seen.

• Here’s a visually stunning presentation about the state of...

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:05 pm

  Here’s a visually stunning presentation about the state of the Internet. The blogosphere section was particularly interesting.

• Woke up to fresh snow in Tahoe. Time to get out on the mountain.

  7 Feb 2010 | 11:19 am

  Woke up to fresh snow in Tahoe. Time to get out on the mountain.

• Finally, Heinz reinvents the ketchup packet! Now you can dip -...

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:02 pm

  Finally, Heinz reinvents the ketchup packet! Now you can dip - OR - squeeze. And it holds 3x the ketchup - so less handfuls of ketchup packets. Genius. “Heinz, which sells more than 11 million ketchup packets a year, will continue to sell its traditional foil packets as well, ABC News reported. The new packaging is getting a road test in the Midwest and Southwest this summer and is expected to be available in fast-food restaurants this fall. In addition to updating the ketchup packet, Heinz is reducing the sodium content of its core line of ketchup products by 15 percent. It’s also…

• Fun with punctuation

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:55 pm

  Fun with punctuation

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  Skirt magazine

• I don't really care if you like me anymore

  elaynaalexandra

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:32 am

  I don't care if you like me anymore. I know that sort of sounds terrible: rude or stuck up. It isn't meant to be either though, it is an exciting revelation actually. I have always cared so much about what others think of me (I know if you know me, you are probably saying "maybe but then why do you do ----") that I think I have sabotaged a lot of potential relationships. My own insecurities have worn on my relationships. But I don't care anymore. I am the person I am: I am loving, caring, passionate, enthusiastic, sometimes considerate, pissy and bitchy, I swear more then I should,…

• A Difference in Age - Why she left the Bachelor

  tessinatlanta

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am

         Given the choice between a job and a man, I would choose the man even if he was not perfect for me.  But then again, I am in my 40s and single.  It may have surprised many that Ali, a 23 year old marketing specialist decided to go back to her job and leave her chance to be "the one" in this season's Bachelor.  I was actually surprised also.  Her trip home with Jake went quite well.  He liked her family.  They liked him.  She even said that her mom told her on the phone that if she left her job and stayed, everything would…

• Solitude Street

  IlanaYael

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am

             I enjoy my solitude. Starting my junior year of college, I lived by myself. When I studied abroad, I purposely picked a university where I wouldn’t know anyone. I love walking into yoga class knowing that today’s practice will be my own study. I find myself walking in to an open gym just to shot free throws and listen to the steady bounce of the basketball as it hits the parkay floor. In fact, most days, I find that I don’t talk until my work shifts begins at 4:30pm. I’m a combination of an introvert and…

• I'm getting CHEEKY...

  SoapBoxBrooke

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:02 am

  When I set out to do this soapbox therapy thing, I had a destination in mind. I wanted to be an advice columnist. And now, I have to say...it certainly is everything I had hoped for. Now, I'm adding another location to where soapbox therapy will be published and I wanted to share it with my skirt friends! Check out the article below from the great womens site, cheekychicago.com.... thank you for your amazing support over the past 6 months! I can't wait to share more with skirt. xoxoxo Bread more

• On the wings of love ...

  Iwrite06

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am

   First of all - that's the cheesiest title possible for an already cheesy show ... you know what I'm talking about ... this season's The Bachelor.  Ugh, gag me.  !!!!!Spoiler alert!!!!! Stop reading if you don't want to know what happened on last night's episode.  Anyway, on last night's show, Ali and Jake had a great date and he asked her mom for her blessing, if he decided to propose to Ali.  Well mom said yes.  Ali laid all her cards on the table at the end of the date and it was all very touching and sweet, especially considering I haven't liked her that much…

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  The Next Women

• Entrepreneurial Technology Women in Italy

  At the end of 2009 more than 1500 people attended and viewed online, the second ‘Women and Technologies 2008-2015′ conference, hosted by the Milano Chamber of Commerce.  Men and women, all who work and live with a focus on skills, merit and diversity, came together as ‘bringers of a vision’ to make original contributions to [...]

• What are Guys Doing to Get More Girls into Tech?

  Many tech fields have a low percentage of women. If you are a guy do you wonder what you can do about it? At the upcoming SXSW event in the US, a panel of predominantly men will discuss the lack of women in IT from a male prespective. The aim of the panel: “To learn [...]

• There are 100 Sexy Roles a Woman Can Take in Tech: Eileen Brown of Amastrada

  This is a guest post by Rebecca Thomson, Reporter at Computer Weekly and WITsend. The NextWomen are running a series of stories on women in tech, explaining what inspired them to work in the industry. The baton has been passed to Eileen Brown, CEO of Amastra Ltd and a former Microsoft Evangelist, who started the ‘Connecting [...]

• Report: Women-owned or Led Firms are Becoming a Leading Entrepreneurial force in Technology

  “New research shows what many have long suspected:  women entrepreneurs are poised to lead the next wave of growth in global technology ventures.” This is conclusion from the very thorough research on entrepreneurial women in tech, performed by a team led by founder and CEO Cindy Padnos of Illuminate Ventures, a venture fund that focuses on [...]

• The USA Debate a Visa For Start-up Entrepreneurs

  The BBC last month announced that officials in the US would welcome in the new year by looking at an overhaul of their immigration system with a particular focus on the retention of foreign entrepreneurs within the country. According to the article and statistics from Duke University research, almost half of all people founding tech companies [...]

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  Marcia G. Yerman

• The Super Bowl Slippery Slope: Advertising and Free Speech

  Marcia G. Yerman

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:52 pm

  I have to start off with an admission. I haven't watched the Super Bowl in over twenty years. Bone crushing violence does nothing for me. I prefer the cerebral match up of a pitcher and a batter. That being said, I realize that this sporting event is a major occurrence for families all over the country. (The closest I come to that kind of extravaganza is the Academy Awards.) I appreciate the group experience that transpires as friends and relatives gather around to enjoy communal entertainment. I have heard that the match up between the Colts and the Saints could bring record viewership.

• Families Use Social Media To Respond To Gardasil Side Effects

  Marcia G. Yerman

  30 Jan 2010 | 8:17 am

  When I originally named the final installment in the Empowher Gardasil series, the title was "A Mother Speaks Out." Yet, I found that that one woman's story was reflected in the journeys of parents around the world who were searching to understand why their daughters had become mysteriously ill. A series of circumstances seemed to be replicating, and the Gardasil vaccine kept popping up as a common denominator. As parents sought to navigate a situation where their healthy daughters had become sick and, in the worse case scenario - died, they turned to the Internet for answers. Scouring the…

• Thoughts for a New Decade: What I Wish for Women

  Marcia G. Yerman

  23 Jan 2010 | 7:25 am

  As we move into a new decade, I can't help looking over my shoulder at all the things I would like to leave behind. VIOLENCE: Number One - Violence perpetrated against the female gender. Whether it is domestic violence behind closed doors in the United States, acid being thrown in the faces of young girls in Afghanistan trying to attend school, or rampant rape as a tool of war...It must end. DYSFUNCTIONAL HEALTHCARE: I would like to discard health care that doesn't take into account the needs of women, and policies that don't speak to the disparities in care for all members of the female…

• The Unheard Truth -- Poverty and Human Rights

  Marcia G. Yerman

  19 Jan 2010 | 5:02 pm

  October 17th was the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. However, a one-day a year acknowledgement doesn't suffice. The Unheard Truth - Poverty and Human Rights, a book by Irene Khan, advocates for awareness about what she sees as the indisputable link between the title's two components. Khan states flatly, "Poverty is the world's worst human rights crisis." As the first woman, Muslim, and Asian to take over the reins of leadership as Amnesty International Secretary General (2001-2009), Khan has plenty of accolades and on-the-ground experience. She spent twenty years at the…

• Day of Action for Women's Health 1/13/2010

  Marcia G. Yerman

  13 Jan 2010 | 1:44 pm

  Women (and men) who believe that women's health care should be "safe, fair, and covered," have the opportunity to make their voices heard today by joining in a chorus demanding that women's bodies and health be respected. As the average American tries to make sense of the constantly shifting health plan and attendant debates, one issue remains crystal clear. Women's reproductive rights are being used as a football and bargaining chip in the fight to secure a long awaited health care bill. The Women's Media Center, whose tag line is "Making Women Visible and Powerful in the Media," has created…

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  Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global

• Hello World, It’s Icy Cold in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

  Laurel Delaney

  7 Feb 2010 | 12:45 pm

  Thought you would appreciate these stunning photos I captured today at the lakefront in Rogers Park (seven miles North of downtown Chicago), Illinois, U.S.A.  As cold as it is today (upper 20s), with the sun shining bright, it makes for a magnificent day to take a crisp walk, ice skate or downhill ski. Wherever you are in the world, we say “hello” and  hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Back with you soon. Photo credit:  Laurel Delaney.  Posted by:  Laurel Delaney Filed under: Inspiration, Miscellaneous, Photos (magnificent), Seasonal Tagged: Chicago, hello world, icy…

• Desperately Seeking Women Entrepreneurs In India

  Laurel Delaney

  2 Feb 2010 | 4:25 am

  Dr. Andrea Smith-Hunter, a professor at Siena College in the United States, is writing a book on women entrepreneurs globally and needs our help to get it done.  To broaden her research effort, she is specifically seeking women entrepreneurs from India (such as Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, pictured; but you can be running any size enterprise) to complete this survey which takes approximately 10-15 minutes. We hope you will take the time to participate in this study as soon as possible.  Preliminary results from her research will be made available on June 30, 2010.  The book, “Women…

• How Women Entrepreneurs Fare Worldwide

  Laurel Delaney

  31 Jan 2010 | 1:52 am

  Why study women entrepreneurs worldwide?  It sheds light on wealth creation, employment choices, human capital, labor market dynamics, family dynamics, employment, business creation and world peace says Maria Minniti, holder of the Bobby B. Lyle Chair in Entrepreneurship at SMU’s Cox School of Business.  She takes stock of what has been learned so far about female entrepreneurship, and what more needs to be done. The study of women entrepreneurs reveals new trends. Over the period 1975-1995, female self-employment grew by 60% compared to only a 20% increase for men. Recent data from…

• How To Sell To More Than 1.7 Billion People

  Laurel Delaney

  27 Jan 2010 | 5:07 pm

  Conducting business online with customers worldwide doesn’t have to be complicated.  It merely requires the discipline of reviewing ten factors to consider before you go global to make sure you have everything covered. Here’s a snapshot of Factor No. 1: Get a company-wide commitment. Every employee should be a vital member of the world team, from the executive suite to customer service through engineering, purchasing, production, and shipping. Read more here. Posted by:  Laurel Delaney Posted in Education, Exporting, Global trade, How-to, International business Tagged: Doing…

• European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors

  Laurel Delaney

  22 Jan 2010 | 4:28 am

  The potential of women entrepreneurs constitutes an underdeveloped source of economic growth and of new jobs. They represent, on average, 30 per cent of entrepreneurs in the European Union but often face greater difficulties than men in starting up businesses and in accessing finance and training. Help is on the way.  Introducing …  the new European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors, whose goal is to boost the rate of women business activity across Europe. The “Ambassadors” will share their experiences of becoming and being a businesswoman at promotional…

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  The Vyne

• Photo of the Week: Precious Stars Pose for Annie

  thevyne

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:06 pm

  Famous photographer, Annie Leibovitz, shoots  Oscar-nominated Precious stars Mo’nique, Gabourey Sidibe and director Lee Daniels for Vanity Fair.

• Jason Wu Designs Black Doll for Madame Alexander

  thevyne

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:59 pm

  Jason Wu, young Fashion Designer to celebrities like Michelle Obama and Kerry Washington has added “doll designer” to his resume with his new line of Cissy dolls for Madame Alexander which includes this black doll in an off-white corset dress and pink strapies. You can see Jason’s full line for Madame Alexander here. What do you think?

• Zoe Saldana’s Harlem Renaissance Photo Shoot

  thevyne

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:36 pm

  Check out Zoe Saldana’s Harlem Renaissance inspired Vanity Fair photo shoot from August 2009.

• Spotlight On: Marian Wright Edelman

  thevyne

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:13 am

  Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.  – Marian Wright Edelman Marian Wright Edelman is the epitome of what it means to be a service minded person. Her efforts have positively impacted children and families all across the nation and will continue to do so well into the future. Marian, daughter to Arthur Jerome Wright and Maggie Leola Brown, was the youngest of five children born in Bennettsville, South Carolina. It can be said that Marian’s interest in public service grew out of the encouragement and example…

• Smell Your Way to Health and Happiness

  thevyne

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:52 am

  What if you could reduce your stress, sleep better at night, increase your mental alertness and balance your energy and moods all at the same time? According to Ayurvedic doctors and Aromatherapists, you can…just by inhaling the pure fragrance of essential oils. The impact of aroma on the brain’s limbic system has been studied for ages. Scientific research and studies continue to grow and in several cases have shown significant results linking the aroma of essential oils to positive impacts on the mind and body. Here are a few easy ways to introduce the benefits of aromatherapy into your…

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  She Just Got Married - Blog

• There's a geyser in my kitchen! - Kenya

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:51 am

  Saturday morning I woke up early to start prepping for a Girl's Night I was hosting at my apartment.  I cleaned a bunch dishes, swept and mopped the floors and finally when I thought I was done, I remembered that I needed one more dish for the pasta.  I go to take it out and give it a quick rinse.  And that's when a geyser exploded in my kitchen!    It seriously looked like that.  No joking.  Water was being sprayed everywhere! I finally put my mind into action and shut the switch off and after about 30 seconds, water stopped flowing from the faucet.  …

• TACT-ICS - Mimi

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:31 am

  Have you ever known people who just didn’t seem to possess even an ounce of tact? I don’t know if it just comes naturally to them or if they stay up late nights practicing, but they always seem to say things the wrong way. You know the kind... “What on earth have you done to your hair?” “You’ve put on a few pounds since I saw you last.” “I can’t believe you’re wearing that color.” “Didn’t you make this same recipe the last time you asked me over?” My hubby has a blunt but concise description for those folks:…

• How the hubs wakes me up from a nap - Kenya

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:33 am

  Saturday night I was prepping all day getting ready for a girl's night I hosted.  Girls came over and shenanigans were had!  We all had so much fun and the wine was flowing.... flowing A LOT.  That night, I went to bed around 2 in the morning.  I cleaned everything up and washed the dishes and then sat and waited for the hubs to come home.  He was sent off to my best friends house to play video games while my best friends wife came to girls night. Hubs was originally suppose to be out of town that weekend which is why I jumped on the opportunity to host girl's …

• Love Everyday - E-Book Download FREE - She Just Got Married!

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:44 am

  Love EveryDay What do you get when you take 27 authors who are passionate about marriage and stick them in a group together? Well, you get an eBook called Love Everyday. ♥ I was honored when I was asked by Dustin (Engaged Marriage) to participate in this collaborative effort. But what is the real motivation behind the project?  Editor Stu Gray (The Marry Blogger) said in the Love Everyday introduction, "I don't think most people go into marriage thinking "Man, I want this thing to last six and a half years and then move on to someone else." Most want the dream-a relationship that…

• These Are Not the 'Droids You Seek - Sandy Philpott

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:32 am

  Do you ever get the feeling that your husband is the victim of a Jedi mind trick that blinds him to things that are right in front of his face? Does he stare into the open fridge and announce there's nothing to eat? Does he walk past the dirty socks in the middle of the floor without seeing them? Does he never notice when you wear a new outfit or cut or color your hair? H is rarely guilty of the first two, but he has told me right out that he doesn't notice things like a different hairstyle or a new blouse. This came as no surprise, considering that we've had the following exchanges: H:…

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  The Tall Poppy

• Totally off topic

  Anne

  22 Jan 2010 | 7:11 pm

  This is one of my favourite pieces of music.  It is a Metallica song played by the cello's of Apocalyptica.  The song is called "Nothing Else Matters".  I hope you enjoy it.

• Watermelon Raspberry Mint Salad

  Anne

  30 Dec 2009 | 2:34 am

  I found this recipe at one of my favourite online magazines. It is called the Modern Goddess Magazine. It is well worth a read and this particular issue is all about living your best life. Ingredients: 4 cups (about 2 lbs) of seeded and cubed watermelon 1/3 cup of minced fresh mint 3 cups of fresh raspberries 1 tbsp honey 2 tbsp lime juice Instructions: Divide the watermelon cubes in a

• Keep on Trying

  Anne

  26 Dec 2009 | 3:37 pm

  I found this quote over at Papercraft Designs and felt that it was worthy of passing on. Oprah can come up with some really wise words on occasion! Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it. Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, September 2003 US actress &

• Some days are just like this....

  Anne

  4 Dec 2009 | 1:27 pm

  Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

• Win with Your Cheeky Monkey

  Anne

  8 Nov 2009 | 2:27 pm

  From now until 5pm on the 11th of December 2009, every purchase from Your Cheeky Monkey of the book "What I Wish I Knew Before I Became A Mother" goes into the draw to win a share of $400 in prizes for Christmas! What I wish a knew before I became a Mother is that book. Written for new and expectant mothers the book, addresses topics such as pregnancy, preparing for birth, coping with post

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  Just Doing My Best

• Guest Post – 17 Ways to Save Your Family Money

  Heather

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:37 pm

  Many thanks to my new blogging friend Karen, from Saving the Family Money, for writing this guest post.  Her blog is a fantastic complement to mine because she posts quite a few more specific deals than I do.  If you are a bargain hunter, I know you will enjoy her site as much as I do. Thanks Karen! I have become such a deal addict that whenever I need to make a purchase, I go through my mental list and see what will work for this purchase. Once you start saving, it’s hard to stop. Here is a list that may help you. Refer a friend program – This usually works for services like pest…

• Just What the Doctor Ordered

  Heather

  28 Jan 2010 | 6:48 pm

  Oh faithful readers, I’m glad you are still around after my little break. Sometimes, doing our best means we have to let something go for a little while. This time, it was my website. After two bouts of pneumonia in our home, one being mine, and a malfunctioning laptop, I’m back. I’m headed to a conference next week and posts might be a bit sporadic as well, but rest assured, more tips, recipes and ideas are on their way. Thanks for being a faithful reader and I look forward to sharing more ideas with you soon.

• Sauteed Parmesan Broccoli

  Heather

  14 Jan 2010 | 5:47 am

  Did you know you can blanch vegetables as a way of cooking ahead and saving time later? I didn’t and it was a very simple process. My children gave this broccoli recipe a thumbs up. Sauteed Parmesan Broccoli Ingredients: 1 pound broccoli florets 3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon brown sugar 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper Directions: Blanch the broccoli up to two days in advance. To blanch: bring a pot of water to boil and carefully add the broccoli. Fill a large bowl with half water and half ice. Allow…

• Peanut Butter Play Dough

  Heather

  13 Jan 2010 | 4:32 am

  Peanut Butter heart We recently tried this Peanut Butter Play Dough recipe and I think we ended with only half as much as when we started. Apparently this is as tasty as dessert! Even if you have older children, don’t discount the idea of homemade playdough. My two children are older but still looked forward to this snow day activity. Peanut Butter "Lego" Peanut Butter Play Dough 1 cup smooth peanut butter 1 cup powdered milk (plus enough to keep from sticking) 1 cup honey 1 cup oatmeal Simply mix ingredients, adding a little more milk if needed to make dough firmer. It will…

• Snow Day Activities

  Heather

  9 Jan 2010 | 11:01 am

  In our family, snow days feel like mini-holidays. However, when cabin fever sets in, a few fun activities can help break up the monotony. Below are links to posts I have written about our favorite winter activities: Fort Building My children would do this for hours and hours. Make Snow Cream My pre-teen still requests this. A miscellaneous assortment of free winter activities Snow Paint – This was a favorite! Homemade play dough – This is a no-cook recipe that uses basic ingredients. No cream of tarter or powdered milk here. Peanut Butter Play Dough – This one does require…

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  Italian American Girl

• I-ITALY VIDEO. GUIDO. AN ITALIAN AMERICAN YOUTH STYLE

  7 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am

  Interesting video produced by iItaly.org; I have a lot of opinion behind this topic and because I am a first generation Italian American. I don't necessarily agree with all these opinions. Watch this video; share what you think.

• Top Ten In Rome- Eat As The Romans Do...

  31 Jan 2010 | 8:08 am

  Article provided by When In Rome Tours , a full service tour operator providing Rome and Vatican Tours.It goes without saying that when traveling to Italy, half of the fun lies in the food. This is precisely why we insist that When in Rome, you should EAT as the Romans do.What better way to start out your day in Rome than with an Italian sugar and caffeine bomb.1. A morning espresso or cappuccino at a reputable coffee bar in Rome such as the Tazza doro bar near Rome’s Pantheon.2. Make room next to that coffee for Italy's bombastic answer to the cream-filled donut: the bomba con crema. While…

• Italian American Events For 2010.

  30 Jan 2010 | 7:23 am

  January 31 - Carnevale Italiano -Last Chance to RegisterTime: 1:00 – 5:00pmLocation:Trumpets Jazz Club6 Depot SquareMontclair, NJMembers: $45 / personNon-members: $50 / personFor more information: http://ciiacofnj.org/February 20th- Miss Italia Nel Mondo - New York CityMISS ITALIAMarch 3 - Italian Language Classes for ChildrenLet’s Play in Italian will be working with CIIAC in an effort to further promote the Italian language and culture to our youth. Please remember to enter code when registering for programs.Location:Starlight Dance Studio7 High StreetNutley, NJFor more information:…

• Italian American Tweetchat Tonight- January 24th at 7 p.m. We're discussing Italian American Stereotyping in Mainstream Media.

  24 Jan 2010 | 5:41 am

  I'm hosting a Tweetchat this Sunday, Jan 24. at 7 p.m. We're discussing "huge" debates on stereotyping Italian Americans in the media. What are your thoughts? I want to hear what you have to say! So all my Italian Americans, get over to Tweetchat.com and sign up if you dont have a Twitter account. Get one! Enter the conversation at tweetchat.com and the hashtag to enter is #italianamerican

• Is "Jersey Shore" Going To Go Away?

  20 Jan 2010 | 3:37 pm

  Another week, another month...another day and you still see the show whether weekly or on a marathon on MTV. As I discussed in a previous post here on IAG, my feelings toward the show are not exactly what you would necessarily think from an Italian American, who happens to live at the "Jersey Shore." I'm not a guidette, nor practice any of the tri-state so called, "guido" characteristics. My point in the previous post was that the kids from "Jersey Shore" are real and this is how they behave, look and live.If you're from New Jersey then you know the term "guido" is a real thing and yes, many…

• 
  The Kush Report

• Canadian Distributors Wanted

  admin

  21 Jan 2010 | 8:25 am

  The Kush Company, makers of Kush Support the revolutionary breast support for side sleepers, is looking to develop distributor relationships for the Canadian provinces. This product is experiencing phenomenal growth, and has already signed deals with partners in The United Kingdom, Europe and South Africa and is now focusing on selecting companies to service Canada The [...]

• Our Playboy Mansion Video

  admin

  9 Nov 2009 | 12:25 pm

  The Founder and CEO of Kush Co., Cathinka Chandler, attended the 2009 Hot Summer Nights event at the Playboy Mansion this past August.  During the time spent there, we made a little video to give you a sense of what we saw while we were at this Third Annual Charity Event.  Can’t wait to get [...]

• Promoting Susan G. Komen Race Participants

  admin

  30 Sep 2009 | 10:02 pm

  It is the start of another October, the month when pink ribbons adorn many apparel items and are included in retail displays nation wide. It is of course Breast Cancer Awareness Month and here at Kush Co. we continue to be year round advocates of focusing attention on funding and awareness. Last year at this time [...]

• It’s the Playboy Mansion

  admin

  17 Aug 2009 | 9:19 pm

  The 2009 Hot Summer Nights party at the Playboy Mansion to benefit The United Breast Cancer Foundation took place this past weekend, and was attended by the CEO and Founder of Kush Co., Cathinka Chandler. We’ve been looking forward to this event for months now, and it did not disappoint.  The party was attended by fashion [...]

• Breast Support Made in the USA

  admin

  5 Aug 2009 | 8:54 pm

  We are very grateful for the response that Kush Support has received this summer.  The exposure from our YouTube videos and coverage from radio stations, bloggers and magazines has contributed to a soaring volume of traffic, and customers looking for a breast support sleep aid. It has also provided some tremendous customer feedback regarding the product, [...]

• 
  Independent Belle

• Things I’ve Learned Along The Way

  Independent Belle

  27 Jan 2010 | 9:52 pm

  Let me tell you about the best gift I ever received. And it’s not a piece of Yurman jewelry, or a new pair of Stewies, or even a term of endearment. I’m talking about my memory. When I was 25, I had a pretty severe seizure without any warning.  Soon after, I was heavily dosed on medication to prevent me from having another, and in the process it prevented me from doing much of anything.  Every time I would go to the doctor for a follow up visit I would explain my side effects from the medication (dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, coordination problems).  I’d struggle to put…

• Belle Of The Ball: Brooke Neufer

  Independent Belle

  3 Jan 2010 | 10:06 pm

  Brooke is a real life Steel Magnolia, simply put.  A sorority sister, a college roommate, and a forever friend.  And I should mention that she witnessed this Independent Belle fall in love at first sight with The Player in college, who also happened to be our waiter the night before she moved home from college. LOL  Good times! Below are Brooke’s responses to the Proust Questionnaire.  Thanks Brooke… you’re a Steel Magnolia and undoubtedly, an Independent Belle as well. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being alone Where would you like to live? Wherever…

• Save The Mistletoe Belles, Let’s Plan On Lots Of Kissing In 2010!

  Independent Belle

  22 Dec 2009 | 6:30 am

  Okay I admit, this self proclaimed Independent Belle spends a little time daydreaming of Prince Charming, even if right now my definition of bliss includes a large enough 401(k) to retire early and an evening at Stuart Weitzman rather than “happily ever after“.  Fact is, we’ve probably already met “Mr. Right” only he went by another name.  Maybe you called him “Mr. Bad Timing”, “Mr. Needy”, or my favorite, “Mr. Just-A-Friend”. See, I think in a world where we’re constantly striving for perfection, we look for it in…

• Wisdom From A Single Belle In The City…

  Independent Belle

  9 Dec 2009 | 11:46 pm

  Once upon a time, oh say 6 years ago, I ventured out in Chicago’s dating scene for the first time after my split from the Trader.  After my engagement didn’t work out, I made a smart decision and took some time to evaluate why I seemed to choose (i.e. chase, fall for, flirt with, etc.) the kind of guy that’s “just not that into me” and while I can’t promiste that I have the romance department completely figured out, I can say that I’m no longer trying to live up to someone else’s standards and I’ve finally set my own. Considering I spent…

• A Belle’s Thoughts…(cont)

  Independent Belle

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:15 pm

  As a follow up to the Proust Questionnaire, I asked that fellow Belles fill out their own Proust Questionnaire and submit it to Belle@IndependentBelle.com.  Below are the answers from our another featured “Celebri-Belle”, Courtney.  Hope everyone has had a great week.  Enjoy! What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Lonliness Where would you like to live? The Hamptons, NY or Santa Monica, CA What is your idea of earthly happiness?   Loving and being loved To what faults do you feel most indulgent?   A strong desire for material things Who are your favorite…

• 
  Ramble Ramble

• Breathing is apparently overrated

  Ginger

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:40 pm

  I have 3 websites launching this week (like, TOMORROW), and our big trade show next week, and I am FREAKING OUT because I have so much to do and so little time to do it, and I feel like one of those cartoons where the steam inside the character’s head keeps building and building and building until their head explodes, and dear GOD do I want this week to be over, and then, maybe then, I can relax and not feel like this giant ball of OMGOMGOMG! So um, yeah, posting may be a little sparse until later this week when I might be able to, ya know, breathe or something. P.S. Your comments on my…

• A painful comment?

  Ginger

  3 Feb 2010 | 12:38 pm

  This is a somewhat awkward blog post, but I can’t seem to get it out of my head, so I’m putting it up anyway. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Lately, I’ve found that a number of the bloggers I read are dealing with the issues of infertility & miscarriage. It’s heartbreaking to read their struggles and frustrations and hurt and anger, but the grace they show in their writing of these events is amazing to see. They make me cry, and they make me think, and they make me hope along with them that things work out this time. Here’s the part I’m…

• Feed the machine

  Ginger

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am

  Three times a day, I leave my desk and head upstairs to an empty office. There is no phone, no computer, nothing but a chair, a desk, and a door with a lock. Three times a day I sit in this empty office and willingly connect myself to a machine that makes me feel distinctly like a dairy cow, so that my kid can eat the next day. Ah, the joys of pumping. I don’t like anything about pumping. About the only thing I like is the little bit of satisfaction I take in filling those bottles up everyday. Other than that?  I don’t like that little room, which is always either freezing or…

• Email can be fun!

  Ginger

  1 Feb 2010 | 9:23 am

  Today’s list is the top 20 email subjects in my inbox. Sounds thrilling, I know, but wait! Before you run away, let me give you some context. Our childcare situation is pretty cool–I work, and N.C. stays home with the baby. He’s the stay at home dad. Which is all yay for him and yay for the baby, but kind of boo for me. I may have mentioned before that it rips me up a little bit inside to think of how much I miss with the kid by being at work. So when I went back to work, N.C. started sending me emails throughout the day, complete with photos, to help me stay a little…

• Letters from a weary worker

  Ginger

  29 Jan 2010 | 11:28 am

  Hey, how bout some letters, hmmm? Dear Work, Please stop trying to kill me. I beg of you. Overworked, Me Dear Battlestar Gallactica, I know, I know I’m late to finding out how awesome you are. But you are totally rocking my world. I’m already sad to think of you ending, even though we still have 2 more seasons to get through. What will I do without my fix of Starbuck & Adama & co.? Until then, you keep rocking. Wondering who else is a Cylon(but don’t tell me!), Me Dear Kid, So I know you’re probably going through a developmental spurt or something, but…

• 
  Manisha Thakor

• Are You Dating a (Financial) Deadbeat?

  mthakor

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:55 pm

  Ahhh, it’s February – the month of romance.  While thoughts of love are in the air, down here on the ground the financially savvy person might want to give some solid thought to whether their sweetie is in the red or in the black when it comes to their personal finances. While this may not sound romantic, it’s very practical. Money is routinely cited as one of the top causes of fights in marriage and one of the top causes of divorce. So here are five questions to find out if your honey has trouble with money. 1. Does your sweetie always insist on picking up the check at a big…

• Live It, Love It, Earn It: Marianna Olszewski

  mthakor

  24 Jan 2010 | 8:52 pm

  This is an interview with the Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Marianna Olszewski… super inspiring money expert, life coach, and author of the newly released book Live It, Love It, Earn It.  Marianna is the embodiment of the American Dream. From a modest start (living over a butcher shop with her parents and four siblings) she climbed her way to the upper echelons of Wall Street as the founder and CEO of Madison Financial Management LLC, a broker-dealer and hedge fund marketing company. Here’s what Marianna has to say on the subject of achieving financial prosperity. 1.

• 3 Common Credit Card Problems… and How to Deal with Them

  mthakor

  11 Jan 2010 | 6:00 am

  This is the second of two guest posts from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), a non-profit dedicated to improving the financial literacy of all Americans.  I frequently get asked for unbiased web-resources for financial literacy, and am thrilled to be able to bring this great organization to your attention. NEFE operates the site Smart About Money and have developed a selection of Economic Survival Tips, worksheets and articles focused on financial education related to Housing, Spending, Credit and Job Change. Join me in following NEFE on Twitter at @nefe_org (1) I missed…

• Seven New Years Financial Resolutions for 2010

  mthakor

  2 Jan 2010 | 9:38 am

  Are you looking to get on top of your finances in 2010? Do you wish you had a simple go-to resource for unbiased financial information as you work to better manage your money?  If so, you are not alone… and the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) can help. This is the first of two guest posts from the great folks at NEFE, a non-profit dedicated to improving the financial literacy of all Americans. NEFE operates the site Smart About Money and have developed a series of articles filled with tips to help you make 2010 the year of financial freedom.  You can also find…

• The Expense of Expectations

  mthakor

  29 Nov 2009 | 6:22 pm

  This is a guest post by Francine Jay, author of “Frugillionaire: 500 Fabulous Ways to Live Richly and Save a Fortune.” Francine also offers money-saving tips and advice on her thought-provoking blog, www.Frugillionaire.com. * * * * * * * * * * In my book “FRUGILLIONAIRE,” I offer 500 tips on living a frugal, yet fabulous, life. Tip #485 is “Lower your expectations.” It may seem odd advice in our “shoot for the stars,” “fake it ‘til you make it” society. But expectations are a powerful psychological influence over our spending; and they can, indeed, spell the…

• 
  Straight Talk On Relationships

• RELATIONSHIPS AND CHANGE: FOCUS ON YOURSELF—YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE

  lmerlobooth

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:48 am

  As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves. Ghandi One of the biggest obstacles to...

• STRENGTHENING YOUR CORE AND TRANSFORMING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS: A TELE-CLASS FOR WOMEN

  lmerlobooth

  6 Feb 2010 | 4:55 pm

  I just wanted to give a quick update on the tele-class for women: * There are only 8 spots remaining. * The early bird fee ($179.00) ends at midnight on February 7th after which it will go up to $199.00...

• THE SILENT TREATMENT: HOW TO HANDLE WITHDRAWAL IN A RELATIONSHIP

  lmerlobooth

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:41 pm

  Paul’s wife Janet was so angry at him that she didn’t speak to him for two days. When I asked Paul what he meant about her not speaking, he said she literally had not said one word. Apparently this is...

• WHAT DO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE?

  lmerlobooth

  31 Jan 2010 | 5:24 am

  A reader asked: Are there really any healthy relationships? If so, what do they look like? Rather than just listing the characteristics of a healthy relationship, below is a glimpse of the day-to-day interactions of a healthy relationship. Sally and...

• TRANSFORMING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS BY STRENGTHENING YOUR CORE: A TELE-CLASS FOR WOMEN

  lmerlobooth

  25 Jan 2010 | 2:58 pm

  Throughout the years I've worked with hundreds of women who were struggling in their relationships. Most of these women knew they were unhappy yet felt clueless about how to change it. After working with so many women in pain, I...

• 
  Pearls of Travel Wisdom

• Snow Snow Snow

  Carol Margolis

  9 Feb 2010 | 9:32 am

  That was quite the weekend of the Mid-Atlantic states getting dumped on with many feet of snow. Just because I live in Orlando doesn’t mean I can’t relate. I lived through years and years of tons of snow. I was born and raised in Chicago so I know what cold and snow and wind is! I had years of software projects all over Winnipeg, Ontario, Alberta, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana . . . so I KNOW winter!  I’ve seen more ice houses on frozen lakes in Ontario than I’ve ever wanted to see (how can they drive their trucks on the ice??) I suffered through my share of rental cars that never…

• Travel Gems for February 1st – 5th

  Carol Margolis

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:23 pm

  Each Monday through Friday, a Travel Gem of the Day will be posted at SmartWomenTravelers.com. These Travel Gems are tips that will help a traveler travel smarter, safer, handle home issues, be prepared and enjoy their journeys. Here are last week’s Travel Gems: Monday Feb. 1 - Don’t be caught without a phone number or address while you’re driving! You can’t find the restaurant where you’re supposed to be meeting your best friend or biggest client, nor do you have their telephone number. Don’t panic. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road and use Google’s…

• What Happens to Your Miles When You Die?

  Carol Margolis

  4 Feb 2010 | 11:11 am

  Many of us save our air miles and hotel points for that special international trip or for retirement when we dream of having lots of time (and hopefully money!) to travel. In a perfect world, the day we expire is the day we’re on a trip enjoying the last of our rewards. But chance are, there may be a few miles, or million miles, in your account when you head to your permanent vacation spot in the skies. So can you will your miles to someone else? My husband and I were just talking about this a few days ago, and then poof! this great article appears. USA Today published an article by George…

• Using Twitter as a Travel Resource

  Carol Margolis

  3 Feb 2010 | 12:21 pm

  Travel and Twitter combine beautifully! I used Twitter this past weekend to ask my ‘tweeple’ about places to stay and romantic restaurants in Sedona, Arizona. My husband and I are heading there for Valentine’s Day weekend. I received great suggestions for both, made my selections and am ready for the weekend! I could have first researched for these things on TripAdvisor or other travel review sites, but I decided to first start with Twitter. It only took a few seconds to send a couple of tweets on what I was looking for, and the suggestions started rolling in not only from…

• Apple iPad: Good or Bad for Travelers?

  Carol Margolis

  2 Feb 2010 | 2:04 pm

  Last week, Steve Jobs gave a keynote speech introducing Apple’s answer to the tablet computer – the iPad. Watching the announcement online, I was both pleased and disappointed with the new Apple iPad. The size and weight are wonderful. It is quite easy to travel with a 10″ screen that weighs only about 1.5 lbs. The built-in keyboard and numeric pad seem easy to operate and the battery life of 10 hrs – one month on standby – is extraordinary. I also like the multi-touch, similar to the iPhone, as well as the bright color LED-backlit screen. The iPad is an…

• 
  About.com: Women's Issues

• V-Day 2010 Empowers Girls With Release of Eve Ensler's "I Am an Emotional Creature"

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:35 am

  It's the world's most empowering holiday for women and girls, and it isn't even on the standard household calendar. It's V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls celebrated on or around Valentine's Day. It relies on creativity to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize existing anti-violence organizations, and it began with one woman -- playwright Eve Ensler -- whose groundbreaking work, The Vagina Monologues, gave voice to women around the globe. Celebrating its 12th anniversary in 2010, V-Day is the catalyst for a series of events throughout February and…

• Planned Parenthood's Super Bowl Response and What the Media are Saying About the Tebow Ad Controversy

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:26 am

  Planned Parenthood has come out with its own advocacy ad about the importance of choice and trusting women to make their own decisions about their health and their future. Since they don't have the budget that Focus on the Family has to spend over $2 million on a Super Bowl ad, they've released theirs on YouTube. In it, former NFL player Sean James and Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner address the Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad and why celebrating families includes supporting our mothers, daughters, and trusting women. Below is a partial transcript of the YouTube video, "Sean James and Al Joyner…

• Beyonce's Record Breaking Single Ladies - Is it a Female Anthem?

  2 Feb 2010 | 4:47 am

  When Beyonce shattered records at this year's Grammy Awards on Sunday by winning more honors in one night than any other female recording artist, half of her six Grammys were for the song Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It). That tune, about a woman who's out clubbing and having a good time despite a recent breakup, earned her Song of the Year, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song. It not only impressed Grammy voters but also Rolling Stone magazine, which gave it the top spot in its 100 Best Singles of 2008. Judging from the number of downloads, it also resonated with the…

• Slate Exposes Complexities Behind Tim Tebow / Pam Tebow Super Bowl Abortion Ad

  1 Feb 2010 | 6:31 am

  The Super Bowl's most anticipated ad this year is also its most controversial. And when we watch it this Sunday, we should know the back story to understand what's at stake. I've already written about why the Tim Tebow "Celebrate Life" ad, funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, has no place in the Super Bowl. And I've discussed why tackling a highly-charged topic in 30 seconds can only offer a simplistic view of the issues. But Slate takes it several steps further. In an exceptionally well-researched piece, "The Invisible Dead: The grisly truth about the Super Bowl…

• Separation of Turf and State - There's No Room for Abortion Politics in a Super Bowl Ad

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:52 am

  Advertisers know that the Super Bowl puts more eyeballs in front of the TV than any other broadcast/cable event, and they pay millions for a 30-second shot at getting their message across. Super Bowl ads have been provocative, entertaining, funny, and memorable. But this year, one ad that's slated to run is heavily political, and the decision to air it breaks with a tradition of  keeping  Super Bowl commercials free of controversial issues. After decades of separation of turf and state, an abortion-themed ad thrusts a divisive subject in front of viewers who are tuning in to have a good…

• 
  Vital Voices Blog

• Turkish Girl Buried Alive in Honor Killing

  vital voices staff

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am

  Turkish police have found the body of a 16-year old girl who they believe was buried alive in an honor killing “carried out as punishment for talking to boys,” reports The Guardian. An informant allegedly told the police that the girl had been killed after a “family council meeting.” The father and grandfather of the [...]

• First Female President Elected in Costa Rica

  vital voices staff

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am

  On February 8, Laura Chinchilla was declared winner in the presidential election in Costa Rica, becoming the first female president of the nation and the fifth in Latin America. Winning 47 percent of the votes counted, Chinchilla avoids a potential run-off. In her acceptance speech, Chinchilla said to the gathered crowd: “Thank you, Costa Rica. It’s [...]

• Secretary Clinton on Haiti at the 58th National Prayer Breakfast

  vital voices staff

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:48 pm

  In her keynote address at the 58th National Prayer Breakfast on February 4, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about the current crisis in Haiti, where tent cities, “food lines and makeshift hospitals” are evidence of the urgent needs of millions of people. “When I think about the horrible catastrophe that has struck Haiti, I am [...]

• Vital Voices Honoree Kakenya Ntaiya Voted one of People of 2009 by One World

  vital voices staff

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:23 am

  Kakenya Ntaiya of Kenya, 2008 Rising Voices Award honoree and a valued member of the Vital Voices network, has been voted as one of the People of 2009 by One World, an online news service. Kakenya provides young girls an education through her Academy for Girls, the Kakenya Center for Excellence. One World was introduced to [...]

• International Violence Against Women Act Introduced to Congress

  vital voices staff

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:06 pm

  On February 4, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) joined Representatives Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) to introduce the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) to both Houses of the 111th Congress. The bipartisan bill would authorize the development of a 5-year strategy to “reduce, prevent, and respond [...]

• 
  creatingatwill.com

• 5 Reasons De-Cluttering Helps Career Development

  Laurie

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  Every woman knows that getting rid of junk always feels good after the fact–that is, after the work has been done. It’s not always easy to set the time aside to clear out unnecessary items from your home or office, but these 5 reasons might give you career-development incentives to take the time to declutter, especially if you [...]

• Meeting the Expectations of Others

  Laurie

  2 Feb 2010 | 12:13 pm

  President Lincoln’s quote, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time,”  has been altered over time.  We use this same quote but substitute ”pleasing people” for “fooling people,”  maybe that’s because the person who continues to [...]

• 7 Tips to Disarm Upsets and the Imaginary Tissue Box

  Laurie

  28 Jan 2010 | 1:19 pm

  Years ago I took several workshops on relationships and communciation through Landmark Education Corporation.  I’ll never forget some of the very valuable techniques I learned, including an exercise using a tissue box.  But before I give that story to you, here’s some tips from my 3 C’s for Effective Living: Change, Creativity and Communication audio recordings.  [...]

• Beauty Doth Not Escape Me

  Laurie

  19 Jan 2010 | 4:38 pm

  The truth is, beauty sometimes does escape me.  I’m busy getting things done, and I forget to notice the world around me.  But it means a lot to me to not let it slip by.  I go for walks as often as I can and remind myself to catch the sunrise, sunshine, late nights when the [...]

• This Emotional Life – Happiness/Intimacy

  Laurie

  6 Jan 2010 | 1:45 pm

  “This Emotional Life – Happiness/Intimacy,” Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, talks about intimacy and relationships and uses the story analogy of why people are like porcupines.  Courtesy of YouTube.com, 1:58 minutes

• 
  Here We Are...with Luci

• 10 Easy Tips To Stay Healthy This Winter

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  4 Feb 2010 | 4:45 pm

  A Guest Post by Marie-Christine Lochot, NCTMB (republished with permission) We are almost half-way through this winter season. Some people enjoy each day while others struggle to maintain their physical health and mental well-being. If you are counting the days until springtime, then try these 10 easy tips to help you be well this winter. 1. A good night's sleep is more important than ever. Studies show that half of Americans are sleep deprived. Eight hours a night is the goal. Interestingly,... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• February: Warm and Fuzzy

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:06 pm

  Announcements, Updates, and Reminders ANNOUNCEMENTS Love, Love, Love: It's the month to celebrate being in love. When we think of this, we usually think in terms of a significant other. Hallmark, Godiva, and 1-800-Flowers spend a lot of money on advertising to sell a lot of cards, candy, and flowers. Why not make this month about loving yourself? While you are giving gifts to special people in your life, remember to treat yourself well, too. Indulge yourself with a new trinket, get a massage,... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• Our Deepest Fear: Stepping Into Your Power

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  29 Jan 2010 | 4:13 pm

  Part 1 of the Here We Are series, Live Your Life Out Loud Are you struggling to bloom into the rose you were meant to be? It may be time to step into your power and become the person that lights up a room, lives to her fullest potential, thereby encouraging the best in others. She is in there, and you know it! Don't be afraid that this is too hard to accomplish or that empowerment will take more energy than you have to make a change. Sometimes all it takes is the realization that you have been... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• Wave Goodbye To Dry Hands: Quick Tips To Soothe Your Skin This Winter

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:55 am

  Are you wringing your hands because they are dry from hand washing this winter? Have you looked down and said to yourself, "Whose hands are these?" Surprised by the cracked cuticles and shriveled skin you see? Hand to hand combat occurs when we repeatedly wash our hands in an effort to stay healthy because the resulting dry skin can make us vulnerable. Our skin's natural protective moisture barrier goes down the drain with the germs we wash away. That moisture is important because extremely... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• The ABC's of Aging Gracefully: More Than Skin-deep

  luci@HereWeAreWithLuci.com (Luci Weston)

  19 Jan 2010 | 3:32 pm

  As another year has closed behind us, here is a wonderful list for making the most of the days ahead. Avoid Botox Bloom Late Celebrate Dance At Weddings Eat More Chocolate Fall In Love Again Go Grey Hold Hands Inspire Jettison Grudges Kiss Like You Mean It Laugh Mend Fences Nurture Friendships Open Doors Perspire With Aplomb Quit Whining Rekindle Romance Spoil Babies Teach Someone To Read Upset Convention Volunteer Wear Red EXpect Joy Yield Gracefully Zing ~ Attribution Not Found Which one is... [To read the rest of this article, please click on the title...Also, we'd love to hear your…

• 
  The Bobby Pin

• Superbowl ads on the homefront

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:34 am

  There’s two camps to join post-Superbowl. The ads were funny, some spot-on. Or the ads were sexist and a horrid display of what Madison Avenue believes our society to be. I fall somewhere in the category of “hey now, women wear pants too” and Doritos and Budweiser have an inflated advertising budget. I can't help but agree with this chart about the ads. Poor men. They gotta get the girl, and then they gotta get away from the girl before she emasculates them. But wait! Instead of ending the relationship, there are products to help! The ad I understood? Using a naked Megan Fox to sell a…

• What I meant to say

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am

  The first Sunday of each month at a LDS church is "fast and testimony meeting." Members are instructed to fast for two meals before attending, and after the sacrament is passed, the meeting is open for anyone to speak. Sometimes this means some interesting times. I do believe at some point in the past two years my ward has been chastised by a Seventh Day Adventist. From our own pulpit. Awesome day. And of course there are good, uplifting moments too.  Today somehow I felt as though I should speak. The words were in my head. But when I went up there, I totally bombed it. My voice was…

• Pom poms

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am

  Another contender for one step too far in the headband trend. For me anyway, for another perhaps it would work. From Etsy seller Spinthread. Who actually has amazing jewelry. Love this "right angle necklace" though anything with triangles makes me think about that horrible GMAT.

• Originality

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am

  There is an ongoing debate on creativity -- are there any new ideas or do all ideas just build on past ones? While this would explain the reoccurrence of lime green being "the color for summer" about every four years, I tend to stick with the "new ideas" camp. This totally explains why I think that. And it kept me fascinated for quite some time. A series of YouTube clips that can be played all at once or at different times, and they always sound like a song. Thanks Sarah.

• Flight guide

  Natalie | The Bobby Pin

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am

  Somehow, in a rough economy, the travel industry is getting away with highway robbery. They advertise that they'll take you somewhere, but don't let you take anything with you to do so. "Sure, come on an exotic getaway, but that swimsuit has to stay home. Unless you wear it on the flight." "Want a fabulous weekend in New York City? Book our flight, but don't stay too long because we don't let you take shampoo. Don't want a smelly return trip!" Makes. No. Sense. The extra fees do influence who I fly with. Next month, we're taking a getaway to Seattle, and it is on Southwest. I was stoked to…

• 
  Furthering the Worldwide Cultural Conversation

• Magical thinking

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:03 am

  I’ve been thinking about magic. Even though I’m reading Joan Didion’s memoir about the year she spent pondering how she might reverse her husband’s death, I don’t mean that kind of magical thinking. I’m talking about context. In its absence, everything looks like magic. David Blaine’s recent TEDmed talk reveals the training behind the endurance-artist’s 17-minute feat of holding his breath under water. Rather than illusion, the magician relied on science. “What will the world be like 10 years from now?” asks the Shorty Awards…

• What expat bloggers are made of

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  18 Jan 2010 | 3:52 am

  Last week I was honored to be included in a group of Cross-cultural and International Bloggers to Watch in 2010. This week as the guest curator in a review series at SheWrites, I’m pleased to note a few fellow expat bloggers. Members of the Ning network’s blogging group can read it here. I’m drawn to the subject matter of these writers (and many others who I hope to highlight in the future). Posts seem compelled by the daily negotiation of expat/immigrant/exile identity. Shaped by unfamiliar environments. Inspired by moments when belief systems are challenged or uprooted.

• I dream of GenY

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  7 Jan 2010 | 6:33 am

  If you’re over 30 you probably don’t yearn to recapture 20-something days of gritty uncertainty. It’s even less appealing if you’re from the tail end of the Baby Boom like me. This week a visiting friend and I reminisced about our salad days in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Now Sex and the City types fill its fashion showrooms, art galleries and wine vaults but in the late ‘80s — when our loft went Hollywood in the film Fatal Attraction and Madonna launched her naughty picture book from the basement nightclub — it was a no man’s land of motorcycle gangs…

• New year’s evolution

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  21 Dec 2009 | 7:01 am

  We resolve to be different. Fitter. Pay off debt. Volunteer. Clean out that god-forsaken garage. Stepping into a fresh calendar year seems like a chance to try on a colorful persona, yet new year’s resolutions are so often based on territory (and self-images) we already know. Instead, surprising facets of ourselves are evoked by a novel landscape and our metamorphosis chooses us. This year I took charge of my own web presence. A major undertaking requiring vision and planning — but it didn’t rate an end-of-’08 resolution. When I set down a tiny microblogging footprint…

• Nostalgic baggage

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  13 Dec 2009 | 6:09 pm

  There’s so much talk of movement these days, the advice on everyone’s lips. Personally I’m charmed by the elegant momentum of agile living. A young woman posed a question at TravelBlogExchange this month, asking round-the-world travelers and serial expats how they face their homesickness. She wants to be an expat one day soon, she wrote, but how can she leave her family and everything she knows? Being abroad for long stretches — some of us looking at forever — sure we get homesick, I told her. packing for the Grand Tour But it’s actually deeper than that. With…

• 
  Furthering the Worldwide Cultural Conversation

• Magical thinking

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:03 am

  I’ve been thinking about magic. Even though I’m reading Joan Didion’s memoir about the year she spent pondering how she might reverse her husband’s death, I don’t mean that kind of magical thinking. I’m talking about context. In its absence, everything looks like magic. David Blaine’s recent TEDmed talk reveals the training behind the endurance-artist’s 17-minute feat of holding his breath under water. Rather than illusion, the magician relied on science. “What will the world be like 10 years from now?” asks the Shorty Awards…

• What expat bloggers are made of

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  18 Jan 2010 | 3:52 am

  Last week I was honored to be included in a group of Cross-cultural and International Bloggers to Watch in 2010. This week as the guest curator in a review series at SheWrites, I’m pleased to note a few fellow expat bloggers. Members of the Ning network’s blogging group can read it here. I’m drawn to the subject matter of these writers (and many others who I hope to highlight in the future). Posts seem compelled by the daily negotiation of expat/immigrant/exile identity. Shaped by unfamiliar environments. Inspired by moments when belief systems are challenged or uprooted.

• I dream of GenY

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  7 Jan 2010 | 6:33 am

  If you’re over 30 you probably don’t yearn to recapture 20-something days of gritty uncertainty. It’s even less appealing if you’re from the tail end of the Baby Boom like me. This week a visiting friend and I reminisced about our salad days in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Now Sex and the City types fill its fashion showrooms, art galleries and wine vaults but in the late ‘80s — when our loft went Hollywood in the film Fatal Attraction and Madonna launched her naughty picture book from the basement nightclub — it was a no man’s land of motorcycle gangs…

• New year’s evolution

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  21 Dec 2009 | 7:01 am

  We resolve to be different. Fitter. Pay off debt. Volunteer. Clean out that god-forsaken garage. Stepping into a fresh calendar year seems like a chance to try on a colorful persona, yet new year’s resolutions are so often based on territory (and self-images) we already know. Instead, surprising facets of ourselves are evoked by a novel landscape and our metamorphosis chooses us. This year I took charge of my own web presence. A major undertaking requiring vision and planning — but it didn’t rate an end-of-’08 resolution. When I set down a tiny microblogging footprint…

• Nostalgic baggage

  Anastasia M. Ashman

  13 Dec 2009 | 6:09 pm

  There’s so much talk of movement these days, the advice on everyone’s lips. Personally I’m charmed by the elegant momentum of agile living. A young woman posed a question at TravelBlogExchange this month, asking round-the-world travelers and serial expats how they face their homesickness. She wants to be an expat one day soon, she wrote, but how can she leave her family and everything she knows? Being abroad for long stretches — some of us looking at forever — sure we get homesick, I told her. packing for the Grand Tour But it’s actually deeper than that. With…

• 
  micro-chasms

• The List

  1 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm

  I wasn’t going to do this this week. I had decided to have one Sunday night when I didn’t lie awake worrying about what, who, why and whether I could be creatively interesting enough to entertain myself and a few significant others with a posting. A musing about my relatively untroubled, unremarkable life over the past week, and all the incredibly unchallenging things that haven’t been playing on my mind. Then I found myself writing lists instead. Lists are great right? I don’t really know anyone who doesn’t love a good list when it’s presented in the right way. I think they’re…

• GUEST FRIDAY - Hazel Gould

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:46 am

  A good friend of mine went on a last-minute-late-night date last week that began with a phone call at 10.30pm, and ended at 5.30am at her flat with two large G & Ts and Emergency on Planet Earth at top volume (our parents turned to Rumours for nostalgia, we look back to Jamiroquoi to channel our early youth.) They both passed out, and when they got up he went to work. I imagined the scene: him stumbling into the office with a can of coke and a wry smile and saying to his colleagues “mate, I only went to bed at 6, I was wasted. I’m probably still pissed” and then sitting down to do a…

• Tell me on a Thursday

  25 Jan 2010 | 12:01 pm

  There are two ways of embracing change. The first is to embrace it. This is the way that involves excitable announcements, late-night planning conversations, lists, photos, maps, associated purchasing and public celebrating. The other way is to see potential change as a vertiginous cliff edge that should be kept clear of, preferably with the assistance of fences, warning signs and a strictly enforced let’s-never-visit-this-place-again policy. My husband loves change – particularly the hours of internet research and aforementioned late-night planning conversations it inevitably allows.

• The deciding factor

  18 Jan 2010 | 9:05 am

  Do you ever wonder who decides things? General, omniscient things I mean, not whether Mariah Carey is interesting enough to be the cover story of a Sunday supp magazine. (I would suggest the correct answer to this is no, but evidence would prove otherwise.) Who decided the bus routes, the national fear of spiders, that Brussel sprouts are only eaten at Christmas? Under duress? Maybe it’s an eldest child thing, but decision-making is close to my heart, and I consider myself pretty good at it on the whole. I’m certainly prolific. I can decide all day, sometimes for fun, sometimes to avoid…

• Time poor, intentions waning

  11 Jan 2010 | 2:10 am

  Novelists have always been at the top of the achievement ladder for me. Admittedly they might not be as good at saving lives as medics, or preventing world wars as teachers but, aside from performing a solo flute concerto at the Albert Hall or having several diplomatic languages under my belt, they have done the one thing I’d most like to do before I die. Or maybe even reach 40.Like anyone who has ever put a pen to paper for purposes of enjoyment rather than to compose a shopping list, I am slightly convinced, in the dark hours of the night, that I could one day be sipping champagne…

• 
  IPS Inter Press Service - Women: Leading the Way

• INDIA: Lay-offs from Recession-hit Gulf Lead to New Lives at Home

  THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Feb 9 (IPS) - Domestic worker Beena Joy, 35, came back empty-handed after losing her job in recession-hit United Arab Emirates, but soon found that getting laid-off has given her a happier life back home here in this southern Indian city.

• COSTA RICA: Chinchilla to Join Club of Women Presidents

  SAN JOSÉ, Feb 8 (IPS) - Laura Chinchilla of the governing National Liberation Party (PLN) will be the first female president of Costa Rica and the ninth in the history of Latin America.

• PAKISTAN: Community Midwives Gain Recognition But Concerns Remain

  KARACHI, Feb 8 (IPS) - As Kanwal Gul, 25, lay on the delivery table a year ago, preparing to give birth to her first child, she made sure the traditional birth attendant (TBA) assisting her knew exactly what to do. Put on the gloves, she instructed her.

• PERU: Women Combine Invention, Tradition to Improve Rural Diets

  PAUCARÁ, Peru, Feb 7 (IPS) - Although Huancavelica is the poorest region of Peru, it has more than just poverty, malnutrition and unmet needs. There are also women using their creativity, efforts and traditional indigenous knowledge to improve the diets of their families and communities.

• CUBA: Women Knitting for Change

  HAVANA, Feb 5 (IPS) - A neighbour started calling Andrea del Sol "Perseverance," and the name stuck. Since 1998, she and a small group of women from Alamar, on the outskirts of the Cuban capital, have been throwing their combined energies behind a common purpose: "changing things."

• 
  The Women's Information Network

• 'COLORME' Happy Birthday

  colormedebralee

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:17 pm

    read more

• Bunches of Smiles just for you

  Together We Can Change The World

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am

  Bloggle brings you a Smiling Thought for you today . THE VALUE OF A SMILE A smile cost nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to read more

• Super bowl success

  Together We Can Change The World

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:26 pm

  Bloggle would like to share 7 Super Bowl Success Champions Quotes from John D Lemme. I encourage you to print these quotes out and put them up on your Dream Board! :) They'll Fire you up way beyond the Super Bowl Weekend . Go to: www.bloggle.me

• Feels So Good!

  annelouise-expert

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:20 pm

  I have one thing to say today. When I try something new and succeed, I feel so good!  Here's what happened...I was writing s song and could hear the music in my head but though t "I do not know how to play this on the guitar."  So I tried piano but no go. I thought I would go find someone who might help me but had no time. ( the song was for a songwriting class) Then I decided to sit down and just fool around on the guitar and see what happened. And do you know, I figured it out myself!! read more

• Garage Organization (show 029)

  lauraandvicki

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:33 pm

  According to Peter Walsh, a well known PO, a garage is the equivalent of the modern-day elephant burial ground. It is a common place to put things you don't have space for in the rest of the house. We often close the door and just forget about the items stored there. Garage Organization is made easier with our simple organizing formula. Listen to show 029 to learn our SPARK formula for organizing your garage. read more

• 
  Urbane Perspective Magazine for Latina, Black & Asian Women

• Which Mindset Are You?

  Urbane Perspective

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:53 am

  Mindsets are beliefs. They are the beliefs people have about ...

• Simple Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

  Urbane Perspective

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:41 am

  For most couples Valentine’s Day is the day of the ...

• Oscar Nomination Congrats to Monique and Gaby Sidibe; Vanity Fair’s Lack of Color Mention from Jezabel.com

  Urbane Perspective

  2 Feb 2010 | 1:24 pm

  Congratulations are in order for actresses, Mo’nique, who grabbed a ...

• Toye` Adedipe: Changing the Face of Styling

  Urbane Perspective

  28 Jan 2010 | 7:49 am

  Once in a while you’ll run across a stylist who ...

• Personal Action Plan – 5 Tips For Setting Personal Goals

  Urbane Perspective

  28 Jan 2010 | 6:25 am

  Do you have an action plan for your life? We’re ...

• 
  Be gay about it.

• Two babies.

  Erika

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:49 am

  This post will be ineloquent and unpoetic and nothing like I hoped it would be the million times I’ve written it in my head since Thursday night. On Thursday afternoon at 3:10pm, I received a call from our adoption worker. She told me that there was a possible placement of two little girls and that another worker would be calling me within minutes to find out if Jenn and I would take them immediately. She provided minimal details and asked that we make a decision as quickly as possible to get the girls settled in for the night. Mind you, I’ve had the worst cold of my life this…

• BGAI Together: I do? That’s easy for you to say. (guest post by headbang8)

  Erika

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:27 am

  Naturally, Master Right and I are in favour of gay marriage. But we violently oppose gay weddings. So many trappings of a conventional wedding demean and insult the couple whose joint life it is meant to celebrate. The bride officially becomes property of the groom, while the groom is more-or-less a bytander at the whole affair. Mainlining alcohol, guests unpack their emotional baggage on each other and behave like monkeys. Yes, weddings suck. Thankfully, in Germany, one doesn’t need to do all that. One simply visits a notary’s office, signs an agreement, and you’re hitched.

• I have a sign!

  Erika

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:07 pm

  I’ve had a touch of gay fatigue lately, which is why I haven’t posted anything gay-themed, politically, personally, or otherwise in awhile. Sometimes I need to take a break from all the outness and just be Erika, you know? So, I tune out all the debates, the blogs, the referenda, the noise, but today — today I saw something that can’t be ignored. It’s simply too good not to share. If you’ve ever been to a Pride event or if you’ve ever seen coverage of a Pride event on television, then you’re familiar with the likes of Fred Phelps and the…

• The worst call.

  Erika

  31 Jan 2010 | 3:50 pm

  The phone rang at approximately 11:30pm. She answered, more alert than anyone else might have been in that moment, startled from sleep in the middle of the night. It was dispatch, an automated recording, stiff and impersonal. She caught every few words. ‘Domestic disturbance …all squads…shots fired.’ The electronic voice penetrated the earpiece, violating the peace she somehow managed to find all the other nights he’s on patrol. The call ended. The night returned to quiet, except for the full throttle thrum of her heartbeat and the million thoughts charging…

• A. (or whatever it turns out to be).

  Erika

  28 Jan 2010 | 11:15 pm

  I kid you not when I tell you this, but the day after my last adoption post, we received an email from our adoption worker, subject line: “Possible placement.” Jenn was at work and we were on the phone with each other in seconds. We opened the attached description of 18 month old A. and couldn’t skim it fast enough. We said, ‘Okay’ out loud to every one of his special needs, each ‘Okay’ a verbal assertion that we could handle it, that this wasn’t as bad as the scary special needs adoption class made us think it would be, that for all we knew, if…

• 
  My Two Cents

• Our Ikea Adventure

  jacarsen

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:33 pm

  This past Saturday, Eric and I headed across the border with our respective moms (aka “Nana” and “Nonni”) to the Ikea in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Our mission? Cheap yet structurally sound baby furniture  – specifically a crib and a changing table. It was quite an adventure. This will not be news to anyone who’s ever been to an Ikea before, but the grandmas and I had never been and we were well and truly overwhelmed. After working our way through a maze of faux leather couches, storage baskets of all shapes and sizes, and massive throngs of children hopped…

• Ah, the irony…

  jacarsen

  5 Feb 2010 | 1:25 pm

  Loyal readers may recall a post a few months back about the possibility of our house being taken over by eminent domain in several years’ time to make room for a new 4-lane bridge. As far as we know, this remains a slim yet real possibility. Yesterday, we received word that our building permit (necessary for the new construction that will eventually accomodate our new bedroom – complete with TV – and bathroom) is being held up because we are in a historic district and will need to present our case in person to the people in charge of the Portsmouth Board of Old Houses (or…

• I Have Lost the Battle (and Possibly the War)

  jacarsen

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:46 am

  Ever since we started dating – even before we were living together – Eric has been pushing me for a TV in the bedroom. His reasons: 1. There are times it’s nice to snuggle up and watch a movie in bed. 2. It would enable Eric to watch TV with the door closed, so as not to disturb my work (my office is in an open loft directly above the living room TV). 3. We’re not Amish. Now that the Olive is on the way, the arguments have stepped up further: 4. Our sleep is going to be disrupted by the baby; multiple TVs would give Eric more options as to where to watch if…

• Halfway There

  jacarsen

  3 Feb 2010 | 2:02 am

  I’m now 20 weeks and change into the pregnancy and still feeling really good, which I’m grateful for. I’ve officially gained as much weight as my mom gained during her entire pregnancy with me – 14 lbs. – but that was the early ’70s, when some doctors were actually advising pregnant women to take up smoking to keep their weight down. So I’m not putting too much stock in that. I thought I would have more of a belly by now, but the weight has so far come on in an annoyingly even layer all over my body – I feel like a harp seal laying down blubber…

• A useful catchphrase I’ve discovered…

  jacarsen

  2 Feb 2010 | 1:53 am

  …when I’m feeling cranky, exhausted, or otherwise entitled: I’m creating life, dammit!