Beauty

Clearly it’s not okay to age in society and that doesn’t fit in with the social norms of today’s society. With anti-aging serums, botox, make-up, anti wrinkle cream, retouching, and all the products sold on the mass market to promote staying young, and pretty, we can never be the perfect image or body that society creates.

The depiction between being accepted and looking pretty in society run close together because often enough you can’t have both. We have to stay young in society, because that is everything the popular culture promotes and sells.

Society and popular culture create this dynamic of staying pretty in the way in which woman are seen and promoted in the media world. The negative aspects of how women are displayed in ads, commercials, and movies displays a stereotype that society then takes in and creates in their own mind with what is the ideal woman, and how can I be that ideal woman.

Not being over weight, having white teeth, nice healthy hair, big breasts, dressing sexy with little or no clothing, and appealing to look at are just a few things that woman have to do to be accepted or feel pretty in society.


And as women age this cycle becomes even more impossible. Everywhere you look you see marketed ads saying what you’re supposed to do to improve your physical features to become more appealing and accepted. Buy more and do more to attain this lifestyle of being pretty and young. This impossible image that society creates dominates the lives of many women so that they feel wanted, and accepted in the world.

Social class

Social class in America is everything. Everyone is constantly trying to get higher up in the status ladder. Some people are born into wealthy families, middle class families and into poor families. It seems that the lower your social status is, the harder it is to attain a higher career path.

The U.S. Census Bureau counted that in 2009 there were 37.3 million poor people living in America. With the poor economy, there is an increase in less fortunate families living in America. The divide between the middle class and poor is closer than it has been since the Great Depression.

Tammy tells her story about how she struggles each day to put food on her table for her and her two children, and what she does to make her life a little easier. Tammy is a single woman living in Ohio, and walks 10 miles to work in rain or snow. With the little money she makes from her job at Burger King, she hope to save up money and buy a car.

Many people in America struggle day-to-day like Tammy. It’s important for her story to be heard, and for people to come together from all different social statuses.

But We Never DID Anything - The Dangers of Emotional Affairs

We often define an affair as sexual relations with someone outside of the relationship. We look for rendezvous in hotels, lipstick on collars and misspoken names during peaks of intimacy. However, while physical affairs are certainly detrimental to relationships, emotional affairs are just as destructive.

Emotional affairs are connections with others outside of the relationship that should only be with our spouse or partner. Emotional affairs are intimate conversations, anticipations, levels of trust and expectations of satisfaction that should only be with and for our special someones. True, it is not sex, but too many moments of bearing your soul with that cute coworker or too many heart-to-heart conversations about your hopes and dreams can lead to feelings shifting from your current partner. Emotional affairs start harmless by "just talking" and often find their roots in difficult moments in your present relationship. Soon enough however, just talking can lead to lunches, drinks, dinners and possibly even physical contact.

Be careful in your emotional connections. When you feel that your partner is distant, talk about how connected you both still are. Resume talking like you once did when the courtship phase was in effect and save those special anticipations, levels of trust and expectations of satisfaction for the one you're with.

Tea Party Protesters

Around 2,000 people attended this year's tax day Tea Party rally at the Daley Center in Chicago to protest "big government" and to support lower taxes. Not only were their rallies in Illinois, but they were nationwide in every major city across the U.S.

These rallies were not only a success the cities themselves, but they sparked a voice that went across to politicians and to Congress. Joe Walsh a candidate for Congress spoke at the rally in Chicago, reminding the Tea Party activists to be like President Reagans attitude for Tea Party Protesters "Lets be happy Warriors."

People need to voice their opinion, and send a message to Congress about what we think they're doing wrong that is having a negative effect on our lives. It's "We the people not we the politicians."

For many people, we have to deal with the strains of the economy, whether it be the issue with cap and trade, healthcare, fewer jobs, foreclosure, immigration reform and many other issues.

How can we be happy protesters when our lives our stricken by the poor economy and by the poor choices made by Congress and state government? Our voices and our opinions need to be said, and what better day than to make a stand on tax day.

Hate Groups on the Rise

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center Web site there are 932 known hate groups in the United States, with 28 of those being in Illinois. The state with the most hate groups is Texas, having 66.

We live in a day and age where technology is easily accessed, and so are hate websites. There are more religious hate websites than there are religious websites. This disturbs me not only because of who is getting on the hate websites, but a majority of young children have access to computers, and who says what may happen when they may come across these websites? We need to be aware of the fact that there are not only numerous hate groups out there, but there are a number of hate websites as well. Below is the number of hate groups in each state.

With hate websites and hate groups on the rise, what does this say about the future of our country? According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website, hate groups have increased by 50 percent since the year 2000.

The three main reasons that the percentages of hate groups have increased so much is because of the downturn of the economy, the election of the first African American president, Barack Obama, along with immigration issues that the United States has faced over the last five to ten years. This is an extreme problem to our country and to the issues our country must face in the future.

Fighting Temptations

There’s an old saying that the best way to fight a temptation is to give in to it! While obviously a humorous take on dealing with the moral struggles, there is a serious weight to these love life dangers. We all know what being tempted can lead to. Anyone remember a certain apple in a garden?

Temptations come in all shapes and sizes and could be former addictions (drinking, pornography), former lovers (ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends), bad habits or even potential new lovers (that cute, flirty girl at the coffee shop.) Whatever the struggle, there are several steps to dealing with temptations and how to fight them.


Identify the temptation(s) – Knowing where your weak spots are will help you protect them. Know if you’re longing for attention or if you’re in need of physical satisfaction. Being aware of your weak points will let you know if you should avoid that shoulder-to-cry-on cutie or miss hands-on-your-sore-shoulders.

Avoid them if possible – Temptations can always put a little doubt into your relationship focus but they can only do so much if you steer clear of them. If it’s someone other than your sweetheart who makes you feel the warm and fuzzies, stay away from them. If it’s someone other than your spouse who flirts with you and interests you, stay clear of this person as they can work those weak spots.

Strengthen your relationship – Weak spots and temptations can lead to love life damage if the relationship is weak itself. Do your best to strengthen your relationship emotionally and physically through communication, quality time together and a healthy sexual connection. As long as both of you are invested sincerely and strongly in your life together, temptations can try but they’ll fail.

Death Threats Over Health Care - Old Habits New Motive?

I'm not going to delve into the legal details of this situation since it is under FBI investigation - thankfully. I'm merely going to ask a question - the first question that popped into my mind when I learned of this. It is that serious? Is this worth the lives of innocents?

We know that Gregory Lee Guisti was arrested Wednesday in San Francisco for his brazen and unveiled death threats to House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. The ridiculous phone calls were motivated by her support of the health care bill, and in one instance, Guisti stated Pelosi's home address and cautioned that if she wanted to see it again, she would not support the bill.

Coupled with that were the death threats made by Charles Alan Wilson to Democratic Senator Patty Murray, also fueled by his anger towards her support of the fiercely-debated health care bill. According to seattlepi.com, court documents reveal that Wilson made it clear in one of his expletive-laden phone calls, "I want to ... kill you." In another, he charges, "I hope somebody puts a ... bullet between your ... eyes."

Is it that serious? Is this what we've come to? This is not the wild, wild west people. We can't go around threatening to kill people simply because we don't like decisions that are being made. Well, at least that's what I thought. And please, do tell, what is it about the health bill that's warranting the death of government officials who support it? I want to know.

Funny. If Bush's policies on the "War on Terror," and his search for "weapons of mass destruction" were enough to incite some mad man into degenerating into death threats against government officials who supported them, you know what we'd call him, right. A TERRORIST! Plain and simple.

Well, when the speaker of the house receives blatant death threats because of her support of a bill; when a senator is violently threatened because of her stand on a bill proposed by the President of the United States of America, guess what people? Those are acts of domestic terrorism and those people should be prosecuted as such.

It's okay to disagree; it's fine to get upset; it's acceptable to have an opinion completely different from that of the Commander in Chief - that's why this land is called the United States of America. But it is NOT okay to handle it this way. I thought we were past the days of ignorant bigotry that dictated that any person or persons standing in the way of what WE feel is American democracy could be disposed of in the name of "love of country." I thought so ... but I guess old habits die hard.

Restoring trust in a broken relationship

Maybe it's mistrust from lies. Maybe it's hurt from deception. Maybe it's hiding money, too many nights out at the club or something as bad as cheating. Whatever the reason, once trust is lost in a relationship, restoring it is extremely difficult. When hearts hurt and relationships are broken, how can we go back to allowing ourselves to be vulnerable?

Own your feelings - You're going to be hurt. You're going to be angry. There will be disappointment and doubt. While most people may run from these emotions, you cannot bottle them up. Realizing that there are valid negative feelings will help begin the healing process within one another. Otherwise, you'll be play acting and rebuilding on a false foundation.

Both of you must be sincere - The one who screwed up must be genuinely sorry and the one who accepts the apology must genuinely accept it. Too often people accept "I'm sorry" only to secretly wait to get back at the offender with their own lying or affair. Being sincere means letting go of the past and establishing a sense of vulnerability again that the relationship will need.

Forgiveness is key - Forgiving the person who screwed up as well as they forgiving themselves is a neccessity. Holding onto resentment and harboring thoughts of revenge will deteriorate your relationship before it truly gets started. Whether it be through counseling, prayer, talking it out with friends or all of the above, forgiving one another and yourselves is a great step towards healing a broken relationship.

Old habits cannot be repeated - Nothing damages an already wounded relationship like wounding it all over again. Lying, stealing, hiding or cheating will open up wounds barely closing on the surface, much less deeper still. When trust has been broken, whatever acts that broke it cannot be repeated at all. New habits need to form which promote the relationship, not damage it.

A new relationship has to start - Many times, a wounded relationship cannot be restarted. A new one must take its place. Take the time to explore one another, date one another and discover yourselves as you move into a fresh start, leaving behind some of the pain and difficulty that lurked in the past. Don't turn a blind eye to what happen but realize that you may have been two people who need a new beginning with each other.

No boardroom, No bedroom? Keeping Sex Alive After the Layoff

Unemployment is a blow to the finances, but it's also a shot to self-esteem and romance as well. Losing one's job can also cause a loss of sex drive that can damage a strained relationship even more.

Understand sexual desires can be threatened - The suddenly unemployed can feel a loss of sexual prowess. The other partner can also feel a shift in romantic feelings as they can become secretly resentful. Understanding that sexual desires can be threatened and tested can help prepare you both. Renew the passion for each both physically and emotionally. Keep words of both encouragement and lust coming.

Communicate about your sex life - Talk, talk and talk. The more communication, the more you'll both stay on each other's mind and in each other's mental bedroom.

Explore new sexiness - Job loss often means time gained. Use it for self-discovery and sexual discovery. Use this time for exercise and health while gaining new levels of energy and sexuality. Consider new fantasies or old fantasies never fulfilled. Think about role playing or wearing sexy clothing (or no clothing) when the working spouse comes through the door!

Keep having sex - Often when unemployed, one's focus can completely turn to job-hunting. While that is a good thing, focusing on getting work is only healthy if its balanced out with the good things in life: like sex. Don't forget the nurture the relationship, including the sexual part of it. Date like the old days or date low-key because of money. Flirt, touch and keep up the physical parts of your relationship.

Renew You: Recycling Together

Relationships mean a lot of things done together. We live together. We grow together. We love together. As we, as a planet, are ever trying to move more towards a greener society, being in a relationship can also mean we recycle together. Reusing, renewing and recycling as a couple not only works on those bonds between us but helps us do our part for the environment. When we're recycling, we should review if we're really getting all the items that could be reused.

Consider recycling the following items when going green: * Used spaghetti sauce bottles * Plastic enclosures for pop cans * Cardboard bottoms for pop cans * Plastic containers for deli bought cookies and muffins * Used shampoo bottles * Used coffee cans * Aluminum foil rolls * Used spray bottles * Empty beer bottles * Used wine coolers * Empty cleaning containers (plastics, metal and glass)

Recycling is a constant effort that not only strengthens our environment but, when done as a couple, can strengthen our relationship. Give each other that gold star when one of you makes that extra effort to recycle. Flirt and be sexy as you gather up your bins of cans and plastic! Work together as you two both strive to help make the world a better place for your children and yourselves.

Zeta Tau Alpha Won Fair And Square

I am SO disappointed in the reaction that has erupted since the ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha: Epsilon chapter won the Sprite Step-Off Challenge - the largest national step competition in the history. This competition is a big deal!! Step competitions like this are usually battled out by the black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities that many have grown to love. Well, this time around, a white sorority from the University of Arkansas stomped their competition on the way to victory, and some people aren't happy. Check these girls out!!




They won fair and square! But I'm hearing rebuttals like, "Those steps weren't original," "They don't know the history of steppin'", and the best one yet, "Black organizations were formed because the white ones wanted to keep us out, and now they want to take this from us too!" Good heavens!


On one hand we want the world to accept and embrace our culture, and on the other we want to isolate those who are different from us. I watched that step show three times and NEVER got bored with the Zeta's routine! If a black sorority came out and executed that EXACT routine and won, there wouldn't be a problem. The fact that these girls are white should not negate the amazing work they put out there. If you have a problem with it, then step up your own game for next time.


This is so hypocritical!The largest stepping competition in the nation's history gave this sorority a chance to embrace a culture that is traditionally black; the art is sweeping the nation; a white sorority claimed first prize for the girls, and instead of celebrating diversity; instead of being proud that something dominated by blacks has now spread to other ethnicities; instead of being happy that we have led the way; instead of welcoming these girls, we rather get racial.


This is sad. Can you imagine if a black skier were to win gold in a Winter Olympic event and whites raised a ruckus about it because he was black? I could hear it now: "His color shouldn't matter;" "He won fair and square;" "They're just mad because we took their sport and did it better than them;" "Just because he's black doesn't mean he can't ski..." Man, blacks would be pissed! Jesse Jackson would come out in full swing demanding an apology. There would be hell to pay because the statements were RACIST.

We have a similar situation here. So WHAT if the winners were white? SO WHAT? Those girls were the underdogs and still came out to prove that they could do this. If anything we should be celebrating that! After all, we know what it's like to be that underdog and to want to be accepted. You can't have it both ways guys. Racist statements are racist statements ... period.

Finally, if this was such an issue, why were they allowed to compete? That was okay until they won. Well, in the words of the MC at the end of Zeta Tau Alpha's step routine, "Steppin' is for everybody. If you can step ... you can step."

Looks like Zeta Tau Alpha can step. Get over it!

Sonia Salon Did My Henna

I've only had a vague awareness of what henna was. I was born and raised in Trinidad where young Indian women adorned their bodies with henna for social and holiday celebrations, but that was the only understanding I had. Traditionally, brides have the most intricate and beautiful henna as seen below, and the application of the reddish-brown dye was even a part of the celebration. The brides adorned their bodies not just for beauty but also for joy and good luck on their special day.

Recently, henna has moved beyond the sphere of just the traditional uses. Using it for body art is quite common. To do this, the henna leaf is dried then ground into a powder which is then mixed with an acidic liquid like lemon juice or even strong tea into a paste. This smooth paste allows the body art to be as intricate,

or as simple

as you would like.

Here in Chicago, I found a wonderful salon and spa that among other services, does amazing henna tattoos, and since I'm so pleased, I HAVE to share them with you. Sonia Salon does eyebrow threading, facials and full body waxing, and I am yet to be disappointed in any service I've enjoyed. Henna is one of those services. I just recently got my arms done with a simple yet beautiful design. It took less than half and hour to do each arm, and then I left the paste on for several hours so it could dry and give me a nice deep stain. Here is my final result!

The henna design will last between two to three weeks, maybe more. I highly recommend Sonia Salon for their henna work. They do not only decorative henna like the ones I got above, but they also do beautiful bridal henna and henna dye for hair. Owner, Sonia Dua, has created an a salon that gives you a warm and friendly experience mixed with high service standards and true professionalism.

Sonia Salon is located in Andersonville on the north side of Chicago, at 5055 N. Clark Street, Suite 1S. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can call 773-293-3110 to schedule an appointment. Enjoy!

Olbermann Calls Out A Racist America

This is a very VERY touchy and sensitive topic, but I would be remiss to act as if it weren't an issue that was critically important. I have always believed that racism has played a factor in SOME of the opposition that President Barack Obama has faced since taking office last year. I said SOME; not all. SOME.



Truth be told, SOME whites are afraid of this country being run by a black man. There, I said it. But it's masked, hiding behind all sorts of other excuses. "I don't like his policies;" "I think his health-care policies will kill old people;" "He's a socialist!" Do you even KNOW what a socialist is? "I want my country back!" say the people at town hall meetings. I ask, "Back from ... whom?" It suggests the current "owner" has stolen America from her rightful owners.




Then at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville, former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo told a crowd of 600 delegates that the ONLY reason that Obama won was because there is no literacy test before voting. In other words, people who were not properly educated or informed on American issues voted an undeserving man into office. I suppose that if the true representation of America had voted (because of course they didn't right?) McCain would be president?



Is Tancredo aware that literacy tests were used to prevent blacks in this country from voting? So now he wants to implement the same initiative because he doesn't like who the president is? Because he wants "certain" class and racial groups to vote "certain" types of presidents in? What is he afraid of? Tancredo went even further. He stated, "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote in this country" all because America "put a committed socialist idealogue in the White House ... Barack Hussein Obama." Take a listen and notice the ovation he receives after suggesting literacy tests.



Yeah, emphasizing his middle name really drives the point home, right? Oh, he's a Muslim! Let me see his birth certificate! Well, maybe he's not American! He's from Kenya!!! Anything will do, as long as we don't accept this black man as the President of the United States of America. Sorry guys, he IS 100% American; his middle name IS just that - a name; and his birth certificate IS valid - the man is an American.



Keith Olbermann of MSNBC is fed up, as I am. He does what so many can't - he bravely faces the REAL issue many want to pretend don't exist - RACISM. He made this special comment on his show, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" on Monday, February 15. Listen. Don't just hear it. LISTEN!


via videosift.com

At least during the civil rights era we knew what the motivation behind hate, violence, lies and manipulation was. In some ways that was less dangerous. When a dog charges at you, you know what to expect; you know what to defend yourself against.



But disguising that charging dog as a political leader standing behind a podium, speaking into the lens of a news camera, or rallying a town hall meeting into frenzied "patriotism", is dangerous because you don't expect it to bite. And when it does ... God help us all.

A Real Woman - America Ferrera

Many know her as goofy fashionably-challenged braces-wearing Betty Suarez on ABC's "Ugly Betty." Sadly, the show is in its last season due to falling ratings. But that's not what I want to discuss here. I remember Ferrera from the first film she ever starred in, "Real Women Have Curves." Ferrera played a Mexican- American teen struggling to find a balance between her dream to go to college and the traditional values of her parents. The starlet won an acting award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002 for her part and the film put Ferrera on the map. She was cast for "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and its sequel, and then landed the lead role in "Ugly Betty." She shot to stardom. I wish that I could say that Ferrera's ethnicity has never been a roadblock in her career but sadly, I cannot.

Ferrera is an American citizen, born to Honduran parents, raised in San Fernando Valley, California, and has the beautiful curves of a Latina. It was this last attribute that garnered rejection at hundreds of commercial auditions. Directors also had issue with her Latin looks, and American accent and carriage: It was as though they couldn't reconcile the two elements: Latina talking and acting ... American!? In some instances, she even was asked to sound more Latina!




In "Real Women," it is clear that she fits her character Ana - an 18-year-old high school student - very well. Ferrera yet and still, before her successes, didn't fit the mold of an actress. Latin actresses usually get type cast into Latina roles, whereas a wafer-thin blonde could fit any role possible. And that is the reason I loved the film so much. Ferrera was real - very real.



In one scene, she is in the family's factory ironing dresses. It bothers Ana that none of the dresses were larger than size seven, despite the fact that all the women working there were heavier set, curvy latin women! While ironing the dresses, Ana becomes too hot for comfort and takes off her shirt revealing her round frame. The other women follow suite, freeing themselves from the shame of being "fat." That scene drew tears in my eyes; I will never forget how I felt seeing Ferrera dancing around in bra and panties, and the thought that came to mind was, "Wow, she loves who she is."

It bugs me when the typical stars are glamorized. Words like, "perfect," "gorgeous," "flawless," "sexy," are thrown around the usual skinny, Caucasian models and actresses. I'm not at all saying that they aren't beautiful, but our outlook on what beauty is needs to change. America Ferrera prancing around in her undies is beautiful! Not many of us love ourselves enough to not care about what others say about our size, hair, skin, lips, breasts and legs. "Perfection" holds celebrities slave to the knife of their plastice surgeons. Heidi Montag had 10 procedures done in one day!

If I'm only going to be happy "when I lose weight," "when I have a six-pack" "when I'm a size two," "when I can fit that little black dress," what emotional state am I going to be in the interim? Am I to be dissatisfied, miserable and disappointed till then? I'm sorry; life is too short. It's okay to have goals and to move towards those goals, but I'd also like to enjoy the journey, and to do that, I must be content and secure with what I have and with who I am ...right now. That is my challenge to myself and to you.




America Ferrera taught me a lot 8 years ago. Sometimes I just need to be reminded.

Surviving Layoff Day with your Spouse

In today's economy, it is not impossible that the dreaded pink slip could hit your household. If your spouse or partner has just tasted the axe, be prepared for a drastic blow to your loved one and your love life. With some guidance, you can help your special someone through a very tough time.

• Listen - Your spouse or partner has just lost their job on their layoff day. They are in great pain and need you to open up your ears. Listen, listen and listen to them as they express their feelings. This will allow them to feel their importance which is something that their job just took away.

• Get the Details - Knowing what's happened on your spouse's layoff day is important to what happens next. Gently ask questions such as "Is there anything you need to get?" "Is there any paperwork that you need to sign?" "Did they give you details on insurance?" Ask to see the paperwork so you can answer your own questions without making them feel grilled.

• Reassure - They need to feel that tomorrow will be okay. If they're worried about the car note or frightened about the mortgage, reassure them that everything will be fine. Even if you don't know how, reassure them that life continues on.

• Get physical - In this moment, they are unemployed and unsure. They need to feel safe, loved and grounded. Give a hug, kiss a forehead, hold a hand. Your spouse needs to know that you stand with them.

• Comfort the creature - Whether it's a nice lunch or dinner, a rented movie (because they don't want to cry in public) or some sudden intimacy, go for the creature comfort. This is a quick band-aid on a wound but it can help them with the sudden shock.

• Circle the wagons - Call in support on your spouse's layoff day if needed. Their siblings or good friends can help shore up against the negativity they feel closing in. Be highly selective as the wrong person can do considerable damage. Also invite people your spouse has already told so that you don't break the news for them.

Surviving your spouse's layoff day is a traumatic moment that can hit anyone. Choosing to listen, get the details, reassure, get physical, comfort the creature and circle the wagons can be the difference between coming together or falling apart.

Old Love...Leave me Alone! Are you Loving in the Past?

Are you stuck loving in the past? Your Romeo’s or Juliet’s of the past may be good in hindsight but is it, was it, real or are rose-tinted glasses changing your view? All too often we find ourselves at the crossroads of our current relationship. Maybe they’re tough times, maybe it’s disappointment but whatever the case, do you find yourself thinking of a past love? Do you find yourself thinking “I was happier then…” Or have you found that a part of you is still angry at someone for something they did to you? A boyfriend who cheated or a girl who just up and disappeared? If you’re still waiting for closure or holding on to old hurts, guess what? You’re still in love. You’re still tied to this person and using rose-tinted glasses to allow you to think they’re worth current thoughts and feelings.

The past is the past for a reason: it’s gone. It’s great to have fond memories, but the present has its own priority, regardless of its difficulties. Being stuck in yesterday handicaps you today and definitely tomorrow. While an old love can have a special place, there’s a reason why they’re a former flame. Remember the real times as you remember the good times too.

Johnny Depp Lives On

Yes, Johnny Depp is alive and well. Not that he was ever in danger of being dead and sick. (Okay that made no sense at all.) It's just that there was a rumor, fabrication, senseless lie, that he died ... in France ... in a car crash. Another version states that he was found dead in his home in France. The online hoax lured users to a fake CNN website: one riddled with bugs and malware. See how destructive gossip can be?

The truth is that Depp is preparing for a new movie, "The Tourist," with Angelina Jolie. The ridiculously famous pair will arrive in Venice next month to start shooting, and hope to keep a "low profile." Producer Graham King told UK newspaper the Daily Mail that having "two of the world's biggest stars making a film together" will make it difficult. Gross understatement.

So ladies, breathe easy. Johnny is still around for you to fawn and dream over. Hey, with his new lease on life, maybe we can get an "Edward Scissorhands 2" out of him! Ya think? Nah.

A Miracle In Haiti - Salvation of the Heart

Authorities state that it is rare, if not impossible, for a person to survive without water for more than 72 hours. Authorities have not met the people of Haiti.

Fifteen days after a magnitude-7 earthquake brought Port-Au-Prince to a pile of rubble, 17-year-old Darlene Etienne was pulled from a wreckage of cement and metal where she lay buried ALIVE since January 12.

Can you imagine the contrast? By then hope was gone and rescue efforts were officially halted in Haiti. But French rescue teams refused to stop. Now, with Darlene's rescue, they might return with radar equipment to search for other probable survivors.

The nation of Haiti has taught us a lesson or two about courage and hope. Countless rescues revealed a man, woman or child being pulled out of what seemed like the earth itself after days of being trapped, with grateful smiles; with proclamations that they were "not afraid, because they knew that God would not let them die; shouting thanks; and even singing praises.

I watch those video clips over and over again, and I wonder if I'd have the heart to survive being buried for several days in total darkness, scorching heat, possible injury and isolation from those I loved and needed. "What would keep me alive?" "What would matter?" But even more importantly, "What wouldn't matter?"

Yes, Haiti and Darlene Etienne's situation is extreme; but I'm compelled to re-evaluate my own life. What do I complain about? What are my discomforts; my pet peeves? What holds me back from being the best I can possibly be? What are my excuses? Am I obsessed with losing weight, how I look, or bad hair days?

I would hope that in dire situations my courage and hope would kick in, but am I even in possession of those attributes anyway? If I'm not feeding my mind and my soul the ingredients needed to produce such strength under pressure, chances are, it won't come out when I need it the most. And if I'm not feeding myself the necessary substances, then what am I ingesting?

The people of Haiti have taught me a lot about myself; looking in on their catastrophe, survival and triumph, I've learned that I have quite a journey of growing ahead of me. I can only hope that one day when those around me (or even myself) need ME the most, that I can become their miracle.

Are you really sexy and single?

So you think your sexy and single? That's great but do you really think you're single and sexy? Do you really believe it or are you perpetrating, frontin' and basically lying to yourself and everyone else? And are you really sexy and are you truly single?

Sexy is defined as attractive, stimulating, appealing and interesting. Another key element of sexiness is confidence. So, while you may think sexy is tight clothes and revealing necklines, are you really sexy or are you playing sexy? How is your confidence level? Get comfortable with yourself and your body. Be fully aware of the balance between your shortcomings and your strong attributes. Sexiness is about evolving and growing through your life. Sexiness is ultimately about energy and you need to know how much you honestly have in order to use the "s" word!

Being single is more than just not being with someone. Are you truly available and ready for a new relationship? Ask yourself if you've let go of that old flame and lingering "ex." If you're still holding on to closure that's never coming, then you're not single. You're just alone. Are you making yourself truly available by going places where single people go or are you tagging along with your old aunt Getrude to her bingo meetings every night? In order to be honestly available, you need to do things that available people do. Allow yourself to be "out there" for people to meet you and discover the greatness you have to offer.

Size Matters at the Golden Globes

Did everyone watch the Golden Globes this past Sunday? For fashion lovers, it was definitely an extravaganza! Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive, Sandra Bullock wearing Bottega Veneta and Anna Paquin in Stella McCartney.

One of my favorites was Mad Men's Christina Hendricks wearing a Christian Siriano strapless peach organza gown. The gown was custom-made for the curvy, Hendricks, displayed adorable ruffles and I thought it complimented Hendrick's curves quite well.

So imagine my dismay when I read a brief write-up by the New York Times' Cathryn Horne in which she quotes a stylist that remarked, "You don’t put a big girl in a big dress. That’s rule number one.” Okay, I know Ms. Hendricks is not the Hollywood size 2, and I readily accept that. I don't take issue with whether or not the dress was right for Hendricks--perhaps the color didn't compliment her fiery red hair well or the ruffles were just too much overall. I take issue with using Hendrick's size--which is not a Hollywood norm--to say whether it the right dress for her or not. The dress fit her perfectly; and she has said commented that she was happy with the results. So what's the problem?

I also take issue with the clearly doctored photo (which has since been removed from the NY Times website, which distorted Hendrick's size to (perhaps?) make their point a bit more clear?