Today in History October 24, 1984

Steffi Graf plays her 1st pro tennis match ...yes yes.. i'm still on high from my trip to the US OPEN this year.

Charles Lindbergh famously fell asleep while crossing the Atlantic, and despite strict federal rules against it, experienced airline pilots say it's not uncommon to sneak a nap inside the cockpit.....is this a trend we really want while flying 30,ooo feet in the air? Well obviously not... but are arguing pilots any better? CNN reports The co-pilot of a Northwest Airlines flight that overshot the Minneapolis, Minnesota, airport by 150 miles says he and the pilot weren't asleep and they weren't arguing.... tomatoe... tomahto. uggh!

President Obama has declared Swine Flu a National Emergency... KFC here we come!

Fab Find Friday

So, I'm wandering around the mall going through all kinds of stores and I found a little number in Forever 21. This outfit has so many possibilities: (a)you can dress it up w/heels n maybe a cardigan (b)wear it to work w/a black jacket buttoned up (accesorize both a & B w/ some necklaces) or (c)wear it casual w/a denim jacket and some ballet flats. The price for this multifaceted outfit? $39 plus tax. I've also attached some pieces I think will go well (for a dressy or casual look) w/this dress. Keep in mind these are suggestions, you can substitute one brand for another but at least you have an idea of what I'm thinking.



Both necklaces are from Nordstrom (their brand) priced at $58 each. The pin is sold at Nordstrom and the brand is Cara $38.

Shoes: Tory Burch ballet flats from Nordstrom @ $195 & from Piperlime (www.piperlime.com) D Lola 06 @ $129.95.

Since it's staring to warm up...I'll go w/a short sleeved jacket from Banana Republic...their monogram collection @ $275.

Pumps: Zappos (www.zappos.com) Jessica Simpson Lindsay @ $59.95
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=65&category=cat20006&prodId=188374&brand=

Happy Hunting...enjoy!

Fab Fav Friday

For those of you who have and still currently live in California, the air here sucks big time. Especially in the winter season...your legs start to look like a croc handbag! I'm all about trying to live "green" life whenever possible YET look for products able to fulfill my demands. I have found a product satisfying both! Burt Bees! The packaging is eco-friendly and their products are GREAT!

I am currently using from their line:
Rich and Repairing Cocoa Butter & Macadamia Nut Body Butter

How it Works
Our richest body butter provides long-lasting moisture, leaving skin naturally soft, smooth and supple. Emollient cocoa butter and macadamia nut oil nourish the skin, while sunflower, rosehip and borage seed oils combine to repair, restore and promote healthy skin renewal, naturally.

How to Use It
For best results, apply butter daily, focusing on problem dry skin areas.

Featured Ingredient
Cocoa Butter — Triglycerides of fatty acids made from the beans of the cacao tree (Theobroma Cacao).




I love the way this cream goes on effortlessly and quickly slathers onto your skin and then forming a thick luxurious & moisturizing coat.

Also I am currently using from this line:
Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Bar

How it Works
Get naturally soft, smooth, beautiful skin as you cleanse with this natural, creamy soap made from milk and shea butter. It's also rich in essential vitamins A, E, and F, which nourish and condition skin.

How to Use It
Simply rub the bar on wet skin to cleanse and moisturize in one easy step.

Featured Ingredient
Milk Powder — Defatted cow's milk. Milk has been used for centuries as a natural, soothing skin cleanser and softener.



The wrapper on this body bar breaks down naturally thus not creating any excess environmental pollutants in our landfills. No need to recycle the paper.

Suggestions?

For those who are following us...is there anything in particular you would like to hear more from us on? Politics, makeup, fashion, etc.?

I had a few thoughts n ideas I wanted to share w/our followers...here are some random ideas I am tossing around.

1-In light of our struggling economy I was going to scour the mall and put together an entire outfit for a set dollar amount (complete w/pictures). I'm thinking how much would you guys spend on an outfit that you think is reasonable? I am going to create an outfit anywhere from $100-$200!

2-Fab Fav Products. This is where I will try various products (or have tried) and give my feedback. This will be known as Fab Fav Friday (starting today).

REMEBER, if you'd like to see more of something do not hesitate to drop us a line.



M

Thai police: Carradine Death May Be Accidental

BANGKOK – The body of American actor David Carradine, best known for the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu," was found in a hotel room closet with a rope tied to his neck and genitals, and his death may have been caused by accidental suffocation, Thai police said Friday.

The 72-year-old actor's body was discovered Thursday in his luxury suite at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel. Police initially said they suspected suicide, though Carradine's associates had questioned that theory and authorities later said no suicide note was found in his room.

Police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chewprecha told reporters that Carradine was found with a rope tied around his genitals and another rope around his neck.

"The two ropes were tied together," he said. "It is unclear whether he committed suicide or not or he died of suffocation or heart failure." Another senior officer, Col. Somprasong Yenthuam, said there was also strand of rope tied around Carradine's wrist.

"The initial cause of death is likely asphyxiation, which was probably caused by the rope that was tied around his neck," said Somprasong.

Police completed an autopsy on Carradine on Friday. But Somprasong, superintendent of the Lumpini police station, which is handling the case, said results would not be ready for at least three weeks because the cause of death was unclear. He called the time lag "normal."

Dr. Nanthana Sirisap, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital's Autopsy Center, told reporters that the autopsy was conducted because of the "unusual circumstances surrounding Carradine's death," but did not elaborate.

The body was later removed from the hospital to an undisclosed location by U.S. Embassy representatives while preparations were being made for its repatriation to the United States.

Police Lt. Teerapop Luanseng had said Thursday that Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," and that police at the time suspected suicide.

But one of Carradine's managers dismissed the theory.

"All we can say is, we know David would never have committed suicide," said Tiffany Smith of Binder & Associates, his management company. "We're just waiting for them to finish the investigation and find out what really happened. He really appreciated everything life has to give ... and that's not something David would ever do to himself."

Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science, said Carradine may have died attempting a sex act known as auto-erotic asphyxiation — cutting off oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal.

The practice is said to result in a form of giddiness and euphoria — similar to alcohol or drug intoxication — that enhances the sexual experience.

"If you hang yourself by the neck, you don't need so much pressure to kill yourself. Those who get highly sexually aroused tend to forget this fact," said Pornthip, who is considered the country's top criminal forensics expert but who did not take part in the autopsy.

Carradine had flown to Thailand last week and began work on a film titled "Stretch" two days before his death, Smith said. He had several other projects lined up after the action film, which was being directed by Charles de Meaux.

Carradine was in good spirits when he left the U.S. for Thailand on May 29 to work on "Stretch," Smith said.

"David was excited to do it and excited to be a part of it," she said by phone from Beverly Hills.

Filming began Tuesday, she said, adding that the crew was devastated by Carradine's death and did not wish to speak publicly about it for the time being.

Monica Donati, a spokesman for the French film company MK2, which was making "Stretch," said in statement from Paris that the film crew in Bangkok was "clearly shocked" by Carradine's death but would finish shooting. Carradine only had three more days of filming left in Bangkok, she said.

Aurelio Giraudo, the hotel's general manager, said Carradine checked into the hotel May 31 and he last saw him June 3. He said Carradine chatted with staff and even played piano a few nights in the lobby as well as flute which the "guests really enjoyed."

"I was a fan. I had a very nice talk with him when he checked in," Giraudo told The Associated Press. "He was very much a person full of life. I mentioned to him that I had seen (the movie) "Crank" with my family and that was the last smile he gave me."

Giraudo said a chambermaid discovered Carradine's body, adding that she knocked and entered after there was no response. Police arrived shortly thereafter.

Somprasong said there was no evidence there was anyone else in the room at the time of Carradine's death.

Carradine, a martial arts practitioner himself, was best known for the U.S. TV series "Kung Fu," which aired in 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China after killing the emperor's nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.

Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby.

He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." Bill, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates, including Bill.

Actor David Carradine found dead in Bangkok

BANGKOK – Actor David Carradine, star of the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" who also had a wide-ranging career in the movies, has been found dead in the Thai capital, Bangkok. A news report said he was found hanged in his hotel room and was believed to have committed suicide.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, confirmed the death of the 72-year-old actor. He said the embassy was informed by Thai authorities that Carradine died either late Wednesday or early Thursday, but he could not provide further details out of consideration for his family.

The Web site of the Thai newspaper The Nation cited unidentified police sources as saying Carradine was found Thursday hanged in his luxury hotel room.

It said Carradine was in Bangkok to shoot a movie and had been staying at the hotel since Tuesday.

The newspaper said Carradine could not be contacted after he failed to appear for a meal with the rest of the film crew on Wednesday, and that his body was found by a hotel maid at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. The name of the movie was not immediately available.

It said a preliminary police investigation found that he had hanged himself with a cord used with the room's curtains. It cited police as saying he had been dead at least 12 hours and there was no sign that he had been assaulted.

A police officer at Bangkok's Lumpini precinct station would not confirm the identity of the dead man, but said the luxury Swissotel Nai Lert Park hotel had reported that a male guest killed himself there.

Carradine was a leading member of a venerable Hollywood acting family that included his father, character actor John Carradine, and brother Keith.

In all, he appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. One of his prominent early film roles was as singer Woody Guthrie in Ashby's 1976 biopic "Bound for Glory."

But he was best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest traveling the 1800s American frontier West in the TV series "Kung Fu," which aired in 1972-75.

He reprised the role in a mid-1980s TV movie and played Caine's grandson in the 1990s syndicated series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues."

He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill."

The character, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates.

In "Kill Bill — Vol. 2," released in 2004, Thurman's character comes face to face again with Bill himself. The role brought Carradine a Golden Globe nomination as best supporting actor.

Bill was a complete contrast to his TV character Kwai Chang Caine, the soft-spoken refugee from a Shaolin monastery, serenely spreading wisdom and battling bad guys in the Old West. He left after three seasons, saying the show had started to repeat itself.

After "Kung Fu," Carradine starred in the 1975 cult flick "Death Race 2000." He starred with Liv Ullmann in Bergman's "The Serpent's Egg" in 1977 and with his brothers in the 1980 Western "The Long Riders."

But after the early 1980s, he spent two decades doing mostly low-budget films. Tarantino's films changed that.

"All I've ever needed since I more or less retired from studio films a couple of decades ago ... is just to be in one," Carradine told The Associated Press in 2004.

"There isn't anything that Anthony Hopkins or Clint Eastwood or Sean Connery or any of those old guys are doing that I couldn't do," he said. "All that was ever required was somebody with Quentin's courage to take and put me in the spotlight."

One thing remained a constant after "Kung Fu": Carradine's interest in Oriental herbs, exercise and philosophy. He wrote a personal memoir called "Spirit of Shaolin" and continued to make instructional videos on tai chi and other martial arts.

In the 2004 interview, Carradine talked candidly about his past boozing and narcotics use, but said he had put all that behind him and stuck to coffee and cigarettes.

"I didn't like the way I looked, for one thing. You're kind of out of control emotionally when you drink that much. I was quicker to anger."

"You're probably witnessing the last time I will ever answer those questions," Carradine said. "Because this is a regeneration. It is a renaissance. It is the start of a new career for me.

"It's time to do nothing but look forward."

8 Toxic Personalities to Avoid

8 Toxic Personalities to Avoid

Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.

Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.

Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.

Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.
2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."

Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.
3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.

Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.
4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.

Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.

5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.

Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.
6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.

Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.
7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.

Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.
8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.

Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.
All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time.

Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier. Have you encountered these personalities? What have you done? Any personalities you would add?

The Worker Bee

The Worker Bee phase is that time in a woman's life when she learns to hold on to a level of responsibility critical for success while also saying, "to hell with everything" on occasion. But she doesn't learn this lesson of balance overnight. It only comes after many days of drudgery, weekends starting at a computer screen, and several missed vacations. Only after she pushes herself to the limit repeatedly does she realize she can't live like a workaholic maniac forever. Then she takes steps to improve her quality of life. But until she comes to this realization, she works hard, plays rarely and carries the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

If you've been a Worker Bee in your past or you are now, you know that being one is no field day. The urge to do everything well can drive a girl to stay awake around the clock for weeks on end even if she's battling pneumonia. When you're in Worker Bee mode, you'll do whatever you can to check off the duties on your enormous task list, even if getting things done comes at the expense of your health and sanity.

While being diligent and responsible are respectable attributes, a Worker Bee takes her need to achieve one step too far, pushing herself to the limit every day. Review the following characteristics of the Worker Bee to determine if you share any of her habits and needs.

*The Worker Bee Is Just a Tad Bit Too Diligent
*The Worker Bee Is Afraid to Take Time Off
*The Worker Bee Helps Anyone Who Asks
*The Worker Bee Wants to Do Everything Perfectly
*The Worker Bee Looks Worn Out
*The Worker Bee Likes Structure & Control
*The Worker Bee Spreads Herself Too Thin
*The Worker Bee Knows She Needs a Change

Taking a Time-Out
Commit to memory these 10 workplace tips, which you can apply on the job every day. they will help you ditch the madness of the Worker Bee phase for good and have a more relaxed state of mind all the time, even when life gets hectic.

TEN TIPS FOR WORKPLACE SANITY
1. Find the Easy Way Every Day: find out exactly what you need to do and determine the easiest way to do it so you never overwork and overstress about a task.

2. Give "No" a Go: the Worker Bee thinks if she says "no" to a project, people will think she's lazy and the world will crumble. Sometimes this inability to say "no" carries over into other parts of her life too. You'll find that the more often you say "no," the easier it gets, and people do listen. You'll find that the world won't fall apart, and soon you'll wish you'd been saying no all along. Not to mention, you'll have a lot more time and energy for the things you do take on and you'll perform better.

3. Mimic the One Who Works and Has Fun: the hardest thing for the Worker Bee to realize is that she will actually do better on the job if she learns to give herself a break once in awhile. To get over this "I'll end up a labeled a loser if I slack" mentality, find a role model who has achieved balance in her life.

4. Say "To Hell with the Cell": electronic devices have enabled the Worker Bee to take her projects everywhere. Though a cell phone is outstanding if you're using it to coordinate cocktail hour with friends, it should not be ringing with work-related tasks during your vacation or over the weekend.

5. Take a Day to Get Away: if you carry over vacation time every year, kick yourself and put an end to it. Always take a day you have coming to you, and call in sick once in a while too.

6. Toss a Crappy Boss: sometimes a boss is a Worker Bee, and there's absolutely nothing you can do to change that. If you have a workaholic boss, she will not understand your need to live a balanced life. Ditch her immediately, even if it means leaving your job for a better one or changing departments. Working for people who respect your personal life and have a life of their own is crucial to being happy on a daily basis.

7. Don't Feel Bad for Getting Mad: a Worker Bee sometimes feels guilty for asserting herself. Whether she's stating that a task is unnecessary, asking an underling to do something, or speaking up with her ideas in a meeting, she views herself as being bitchy or angry. NEVER feel bad for being assertive, speaking your mind and putting your foot down if someone is dumping work on you.

8. Know the Power of One Hour: you don't have to go across the globe to feel like you've taken a vacation. Leave it all behind on the weekend by driving just one hour from where you live. That's all it takes to gain perspective and feel relieved of the daily grind.

9. Be Bold and Ask for the Gold: a Worker Bee often spends endless hours toiling away but doesn't feel adequately compensated for her work. Remember that your job is a partnership with you employer - you work for the company and it owes you compensation for what you do. Don't wait for someone to notice that you are worthy; speak up and ask for a raise or promotion.

10. Put "You" Before What You Do: the word "selfish" has a bad rap, but being selfish can be a really good thing for a Worker Bee. She, more than anyone, needs to put her own needs first.

When you make these 10 workplace tips a part of you daily life, they will help you put distance between yourself and your work even when you're sitting in the office w/a phone ringing in your ear. You'll be able to relax more often and you'll feel that you have the right to speak up, set priorities and leave at a decent hour. But you still might have to remind yourself regularly that you deserve a break. So keep these 10 tips pinned up nearby, and remember how important it is to find that middle ground between beach bum and bonkers: balance!

The Dollarless Diva

A Dollarless Diva can afford to review a few simple lessons in cash management so she feels reassured that she will always know the right way to handle the green stuff. As confusing as stock symbols and nightmarish investment lingo can be, the way to keep your wealth at its peak position is to follow the very basic "RICH" chick principles:

*Rake in the dough
*Invest like the best
*Cover all debt that has an interest rate attached to it
*Have a whole lotta fun too

Any chick to commits these principles to memory will be on the road to riches in no time.

RAKE IN THE DOUGH
Unfortunately money doesn't fall out of the sky - unless, of course, some girl annoyed w/her rich banker boyfriend decides to dump his life savings off a ten-story building. So we have to work for it. To be happy, you don't have to rake in as much as Donald Trump but you do need to determine what your own personal goals are and how you're going to achieve them. Whatever you choose, recognize the trade offs and make sure you're happy with the work/life mix you pick. Keep a few things in mind, whether you're about to interview for your first job or making a career switch.
Know what to expect.
Understand demand.
Avoid a stifling workplace.
Do what you like.

INVEST LIKE THE BEST
The word "invest" can be scary because it conjures images of lots of numbers, strange tickler symbols, and men and women wearing suits and glasses seated around a conference table. But regardless of how much money you make, it is important to get comfortable w/investing. You might think, "I'm still collecting the deposits on bottles to make ends meet. I have nothing extra to invest," but you do. Even if it's a dollar a day, investing is crucial for any girl who wants to get out of the Dollarless Diva phase for good.

"It take money to make money may be a cliche," but it's also the truth. If you have money and invest it wisely, it will grow exponentially over the years. Let's assume you do want to invest your money. The key is to find a place to put it where it will earn the most interest at a level of risk that you can tolerate.

Companies and organizations of all types need cash to operate, so they "borrow" yours and promise to give you interest (i.e. a little extra) in return for the "loan." These are a few common investments that will earn interest for you:
Stocks
Bonds
Mutual Fund
Checking or Savings Account
Money Market Fund
CD
401(k)


COVER ALL DEBT THAT HAS AN INTEREST RATE ATTACHED TO IT
Just as you earn interest when you loan out ur cash, other people charge interest when they loan you money. The biggest culprits are credit card companies and student loan officers. You'll grasp this concept quickly if you're stalked by Master Card, Visa or Sallie Mae. To get yourself out of this nightmare cycle of credit card debt, you have to work hard to pay back more each month on your debt than the interest they charge you. Every moment you have outstanding debt w/an interest rate attached to it, you are losing cash. When you pay back more than the interest and cut into the principal amount you owe, you slowly chisel down the debt. The annoying little sucker will eventually be gone.

HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FUN TOO
Pay your bills on time, invest a little bit each month and generally be responsible about money, but don't scrape by day-to-day while a big fat wad of cash sits in your bank account. No way! Head for the Bahamas, Diva!

As a general rule, no girl should deprive herself of happiness in order to save money. If you make an effort to put something away out of each paycheck, you can then allow yourself to enjoy the rest of your cash now. Sometimes sacrificing a pleasure today is just not worth the dollar or two it saves in the long run.



Real-Life Tales from Dollarless Divas
"I used my parents' calling card to call a friend from a pay phone because I didn't want to use up my cell phone minutes."

"I bought a slightly imperfect dress for $10 and tried to fix it. It ended up being a slightly imperfect $10 cleaning rag."

"I filled my purse w/sugar packets from work and brought them home to use in my own kitchen."

"I took all my cash out for the week on Sunday night and separated it into seven amounts so I would know exactly how much I could afford to spend each day."

"I lied about my Payless shoes and said they were Prada. My friends went looking for them and I lied again, insisting they were probably sold out."

"I wanted to win a drawing for a new DVD player so badly that I snuck the entire stack of blank tickets into my bag, filled them all out at home, and went back and put them in. And I won!"

"I was afraid to answer the door at night because my neighborhood was so sketchy! Turned out, it was two firemen banging on the door because the basement broiler exploded!"

"I refused to take a cab at three in the morning and my friend and I ended up in a dingy neighborhood, all because I was cheap and made us take a the train we never took before."

~Nordstrom Event~

I'm not sure if this is just California specific but it's worth checking out...

On Saturday, May 30th if you purchase any two fragrances you receive a free full-sized body lotion/creme! This is a perfect way to get a lovely father's day gift set and a little something for yourself as well! =D

The New Graduate

Sorry folks but I spent the last few weeks concentrating on project due and finals in school. But now I'm free as a bird...as promised the first of 10 samples of book, "The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35."

Life in the Real World
Here's what it's like for the New Graduate: One moment she is sleeping soundly, dreaming of the exciting days ahead as a twenty-something with a paycheck. Then someone comes into her room, whips open the curtains, and wakes her up. She sees her surroundings for the first time under the bright lights of the real world and feels bewildered, exposed, and unpolished. She wonders, "Where the heck am I and how can I be so excited about the furniture one minute and so freaked out the next?" She feels like she went to sleep a college kid but woke up in an unfamiliar land.

Like all New Graduates, she feels enthusiastic but overwhelmed, excited but terrified, grown up yet more naive than she was in grade school. This exciting but challenging time is typical of life as a new member of the adult world. When you're in it, you can expect to feel a number of conflicting feelings that make you a little nutty sometimes.



College to Real-World Lingo Translator
You hardly recognize your best friend when she dons a power suit and struts into the office. The "We Miss You!" cards from mom and dad have been pushed aside by a lengthy new employee information packet. Now, to make matters worse, the adults around you are using the words you took for granted in new ways. The most familiar part of your life, your own language is in disarray.

Have you noticed that people speak differently in the real world than they do in college? About a month after you have your diploma in hand you start to realize that the lingo just isn't the same. If you're having problems making the transition because you can't figure out what the heck those real-world people are talking about, use this translator to learn the new meaning of your favorite terms.


KEG STAND
College Definition: The act of holding a frat boy upside down so he can drink nasty beer straight out the barrel.
Real-World Definition: A beautiful varnished wooden beer holder the rich yuppie forty-something has in his basement.

LIKE
College Definition: A word used frequently in college conversation that adds no meaning to a sentence but somehow enhances communication. Example: He is like so hot and like not gay either.
Real-World Definition: A word that pops out of the New Graduate's mouth in meetings, making her feel like a total idiot. Example: This report is like so wrong. A word she learns to use in the proper way in the real world. Example: I don't like getting up every day at 7 a.m. I don't like my boss's breath, which makes the ends of my hair fry when he leans over my shoulder and asks me what I'm working on.

REAL LIFE ROCKS BECAUSE
*You finally have a steady income and can stop collecting soda cans to make an extra buck.
*You can take classes for fun w/o stressing about that grade or whether or not "The History of Fashion" will look weird on your transcript.
*You can tell your mother to stop freaking out about everything you do, even though she probably never will.
*The people you know do not all live in the same building, so you actually have some degree of anonymity.
*You met lots of new and interesting people.
*You get to drink beer that doesn't taste like it was brewed in a toilet.
*When your workday is done, it's done, and there are no papers or schoolwork dangling over your head.
*Guys finally have to shave their nasty goatees for work.
*You can read trashy literature that is not part of a recommended reading list.
*When you go out at night your feet no longer stick to the floor like they did in college frat houses.

**Tomorrow: The Dollarless Diva**

The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35

and even if you are over 35, I'm sure you can relate and are maybe still going through these metaphoric changes.

I bought this book written by Alison James a few weeks ago and I was able to relate on some level to all the different degrees of women I will have evolved or grow into. At some point this week I will start listing and giving a brief summary of the 10 women you will be by age 35.

I must admit, I'm a 34-year-old woman and I still feel as if I'm fluctuating between these persona's right now!

Here's the quick list:

1) The New Graduate
(So Naive You Can't Believe!)

2) The Dollarless Diva
(Cereal, Tuna and a Lotta Debt)

3) The Worker Bee
(I Can Do It All Baby)

4) The Party Girl
(Like, Call Me on My Cell)

5) The Body-Conscious Babe
(Vitamins and Mineral Water)

6) The Chameleon
(I'll Have What He's Having)

7) The Crisis Chick
(Junk Food and Sleep)

8) Ms. Independence
(Empress of the Universe)

9) The Whirl - Half Woman/Half Girl
(Call Me Ma'am and You'll Die)

10) The True You
(I Made It!)

Every woman should have (regardless of age & race)

-a signature Chanel fragrance. Timeless/classic & long lasting! It's not like one of those designer perfumes like Juicy Couture or what not that will go bad sitting in its bottle for two years!

-a GREAT tailor. To help those not so great fitting outfits contour your better better. Also, a well fitted, nicely tailored outfit (regardless of the cost of the garment) always looks more than what it costs.


-one very well fitted and tailored interview/power suit. When you walk into the room, look as if you own the company!

-a string of real pearls. Don't think of pearls as something your grandma wears. They are very elegant and in today's market come in all sorts of beautiful arrangements and mixtures (gold n pearl necklaces). Can't afford a real one? Get a nice costume jewelry piece (and I'm not talking about a Forever 21/H&M etc. store either - Kenneth Jay Lane costume jewelry pieces or the like).

-a friend(s) who let you be who you are & always has your back. You want to be comfortable in your own skin and not feel obligated to be a certain way or worry if you will offend someone w/something you say.
-a digital camera. You want something to capture all the special moments in your life. Don't rely on other people and their camera nor on your memory (one word - Alzheimer).

-if there is ONE thing you must do in your lifetime is to take a (or a few) destination vacations to somewhere you desire. If you have to donate blood, recycle, etc. to save up your pennies...do it! We work hard and go through so much in life. There are so many beautiful countries and experiences to be had out there...open up yourself to take that trip the Bahamas/Caribbean/Europe/South America/Africa trip you've always wanted to take.

-never wait for anyone (even your girlfriends). Don't wait for someone to finally & actually do things in your life. No one to take that Caribbean trip w/you? Go alone! Do a one of those group tours. Don't be afraid of being alone or you'll miss out on all of life's great thrills and experiences waiting for someone to be able to do something that you want to do.

-get that education! Having an education is very important if you want to succeed in today's world. A bachelors is the new equivalent of a high school diploma.

- have a "Plan B." Just in case Plan A decides to act the fool. =p

These are just a few random thoughts that came to me and I'm sure this list can develop into a larger list. But for now, I will keep it short. Feel free to post comments adding to this list as well. Always looking forward to hearing from our readers!


M

Dinner Story...One For the Ladies

Most of you will get a kick outta this and draw your own conclusions/theory...here goes:

There's this guy that worked at my job, I really was not remotely interested in him PERIOD (even though my friends all kept trying to persuade me to "give him a chance"). I made a point to make it clear we are "just friends." Well around my birthday time he got a great offer to work at another company and he was consistently ask me to go out to celebrate. His exact words, "I will be making tons of money and money is no object. Lets go out n celebrate." Considering the birthday I had, I was not interested in drinking to celebrate. I basically said more-or-less I'd take a rain check. Well I found out he got w/my girlfriend who was at my birthday party and they had went out on a first date.

I told him hey, don't forget u owe me dinner n some gossip. He first suggested taking me to this inexpensive cafe called Cafe Bizou. I went there one time and ordered the Lobster Risotto and wasn't impressed w/it and then when I looked around the room, it was mainly composed of old folks. I mean senior citizens. I saw this one patron wheeling an oxygen tank up in there!!! I was like oh hell no...this is not the spot for me. Anyways...I'm big on seafood so he finally decided on Cheesecake Factory.

Now I had plans to meet up w/some g/f's after work and for the first time in weeks I got into work on time. I had an upper respiratory infection and was not feeling well for a good week, week n a half. I looked cute but was casual cute, my outfit were some white capri white denim jeans (7 by all mankind), a striped paul frank flowy tube top, a true religion dark blue denim shirt over it & my Havanas flip flops. Also I had classes the night before and I'm like this is just a homie...there is no need to get dressed up. If he sees me looking all super casual (yet cute) oh well. He's seen me dressed at work before and going out.

So I ordered a drink and we started talking. He was surprised I knew about his date w/my girlfriend and I had to stand corrected they had two dates already. Now I'm going to fast forward all the brouhaha and get the juicy part, where the bill comes! The waiter brings the bill and gives it to him and then he asked me, "how are we going to do this?" I said, "What do you mean? Aren't you paying for it?" His reply, "Well you know if I am going to pay I might expect something (while laughing appearing to be joking around)." I looked at him and was about to get up and walk out. But instead I just paid for my dinner (as the way I look at it, is I don't need you anyways...I can pay for my meal) and got my parking validated and was ready to leave. I was pissed off. If I had to pay for a meal it would not have been there and definitely I would have better company! Some of my other g/f's were at a restaurant n I could have met up w/them instead and had a blast. It gets better.

He asks me where I parked at and said he was going to walk me to my car. I'm thinking WTF for? I know you guys & gals are probably shaking your heads and laughing at this point. He walks me to my car and inspected a dent I had in my bumper giving his expert advice. Oo After all like he said (even though my car is a brand new car) he has a BMW and it has a lot of dings and he doesn't worry about it. I put my purse n stuff down in the passenger seat of my car and then walk over to the back to see what he was talking about and then I started walking over to the drivers side. He just kept standing there, lingering. I looked at him n said thanks, bye. And hopped into my ride.

LOSER! And apparently his whole wack game n intentions became clear obviously at the end. But I'm telling you, I have never had something like this happen to me except once in my twenties. I am damn near 35. I can guarantee if this type of situation occurs again...I'm just going to get up and leave, not an excuse me I'm going to the bathroom...nothing. Just leave.

Naturally all contact information has been deleted since that day. =D

The Obama's New Dog

What a cute pup huh? Too bad it grows into an ugly dog. Yeesh.

Rihanna & T.I.'s Live Ur Life Video Shoot

Granted I'm taking this information from an old copy of US magazine (more specifically from the Oct 2008 edition) I found the irony in this article. I'll skip the brouhaha and get to the main gist of it all...

The Slap
During a dance scene, T.I. accidentally hit Rihanna. No diva antics for her: "She just laughed, rubbed her face and rejoined the singing," onlooker reports.

That's cuz Chris Brown was already whooping that ass! She was used to it! Tsk tsk tsk.

Hot or Not?!

So I'm really feeling Kim Khardashian's entire outfit & B's new hair style. Her bangs are banging. What I'm not feeling is Carrie Underwood's Scarlett O'Hara ensemble, just "too much." I think it's distracting not adding to her her gorgeous figure and face.

Halloween Costume Ideas for the Doggie Luvers

I thought these pics were sooooo freakin cute & hilarious I just have to share them. Needless to say, I'm buying Bella a devil costume! It was either dressing her up as a devil or terrorist. IDK where I can get a mini head thingy from tho! Oo Then again, some people might get offended. Oh well, too bad.

Attack on American Soil....at Home!

I recieved an email that you will not see on the front page of the NY Times, nor on the lead story of the major news networks.

The protestors at Montebello High School took the American flag off the school's flag pole and hung it upside down while putting up the Mexican flag over it.

Is there any doubt about what the outcome should be regarding any guest-worker/amnesty plan on the table in Washington? As history teaches, it is full of nations/empires that disappeared when its citizens no longer held their core beliefs and values. If this doesn't tick you off, it should.







If it does... say something about it!

Idris...oh Idris... Where for art thou my Idris

This Hackney, East London native is best known as "Stringer Bell", the drug dealer who aspired to become a high powered businessman, in HBO's The Wire. Elba is also a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis / Big Driis the Londoner, and a hip-hop soul recording artist.
Idris Akuna Elba melts the ladies heart with his British accent and the ability to speak that hood slang like any other B-Boy from the USA.
Look for him in this years upcoming Blockbuster hit, Obsessed, with the lovely Beyonce Knowles.