Monthly Archives: December 2011
Ready, Set, Next!
by Lindsay Kriger
Dating can feel like the longest marathon ever run. You think you see the finish line. Then nope — that’s not it. And OMG – some runner’s cut in front of you. Or you’ve been disqualified because you had too many Red Bulls. Or you’re the wrong nationality. So, there you are again. Starting over!
I am here to tell you not to get discouraged. Seriously: DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED!
I know it’s tough when you’ve been on a gazillion and one bad dates. Or worse, a gazillion and one bad dates after you’ve just broken up with the guy you thought was #theone. It might feel like there is a scarcity of great men. However, this just isn’t so.
You are probably wondering: Well, why can’t I find any of them?
I have a couple theories, one or all of which may be true for you!
1. You think, therefore you get. Have you ever noticed that when you look for red cars, you see red cars? Everywhere! Same goes for what you think about men. If you think there are no quality men, sure enough, only Red Toyota Men will show up on your radar. You’d probably even mistake a Red Ferrari Man for a Red Toyota Man.
2. There is a sorting problem. Let’s say you’ve found a Red Ferrari Man. Instead of being yourself, you’re trying to be who you think you need to be to drive this Red Ferrari Man into your arms. The problem? You don’t drive stick shift. Meaning? You won’t be able to keep it up for long. (Um…pardon the sexual entrendres. I usually try to keep it to romantic entendres!) Before long, either you’ll get tired and sort him out, or he’ll end up sorting you out because he’ll realize you’re not a Mrs. Red Ferrari Driver. No worries! You are not going to be compatible with everyone. You must accept that this dating thing is a sorting process. You might as well make it easier for everyone and be who you really are. Let the sorting process happen early on. The dudes who like you will come back for more. The ones who don’t, and who let you know that, have saved everyone time. Also, please don’t hesitate to sort yourself out for other people – saving them time!
3. Stop being discouraged! If you’re discouraged, you’re wearing Desperation Perfume – which is not a pretty smell to guys. (And not endorsed by If Only I Knew.) Remember, your belief system creates your aura. You need to show up giving off a heaven-scented aura of confidence and happiness. Solution: Swap that Desperation Perfume for Radiance Perfume. Feel genuinely self-assured, enthusiastic and whole, and you will be the most beautiful and attractive version of yourself.
The main thing is to keep on living your life. Believe me; I know what you’re going through. Once upon a time I thought that I had found #theone. Turns out, he was #theone who broke my heart. In my experience, I had a devastating breakup with a man – or to keep with my analogy, I personally crashed what I thought was a Red Ferrari man into a tree – and then, when I was recovering from the crash, I began to think I was seeing only Red Toyota Men everywhere. Soon I became convinced I would never meet a Red Ferrari man ever again. I thought great men were Ford Edsels – something they stopped producing in my grandparents’ generation. But as I became more open to the idea that great men do exist, and that I deserve one – then more great men started to appear in my life.
I want to leave you with a helpful analogy from best-selling author Karen Salmansohn. She explains that when Christopher Columbus was looking for America, he knew he was going in the right direction as he sailed because he kept seeing twigs, signifying the presence of trees somewhere out there. These twig sightings kept Chris motivated to keep pursuing his goal. Sure enough, ol’ Chris eventually hit land. Similarly, I now see that each man I’ve dated since Josh – though they might not have been #theone – they’ve each been a twig, letting me know I’m getting closer and closer to land.
I’m sorry, guys, for comparing you to twigs. Please excuse.
Relationshipologist Lindsay Kriger is a girl on a mission: to help us make peace with the opposite sex, and prevent future heartache. The If Only I Knew will be a fun, honest look at the world of dating, love, and sex – Lindsay offers advice and stories on a huge variety of topics and types of guys. She gives steady encouragement to her readers – in fact, “Don’t get discouraged!” is one of her main rules. She’ll help her generation navigate the minefield that is dealing with dating.
Shobha Review; A SPAtacular Venture of an Elite SPAlista
Ola Darlings,
So, I woke up thinking “Today’s the day.” I can’t begin to explain the flood of emotions that rushed me, before even making to breakfast! While brushing my teeth, I looked at my reflection and thought, “Goodness Goddess, toughen up, it’s not that bad.” “Positive thinking,” I thought. But as the clock ticked closer to my appointment time, I realized I needed some more positive reinforcement. I mean, I am no rooky to Brazilian waxing (in this case, sugaring) and I’ve been through three vaginal deliveries, but let’s face it, I admit it…when it comes to pain, I am not a fan!
So I arrived by taking the downtown 6 train to Bleeker Street (front of train) and exit at Houston & Broadway (by the B & D line) and in less than a block (left on Broadway @ E. Houston Street), I was in front of 594 Broadway (4 buildings in). I arrived at suite 403 and was immediately greeted by 3 lovely females from behind the reception area. They took my name and verified my appointment time. As I took a seat, I took in the ambiance of the suite. It had a warm and cozy feel to it! The décor was reminiscent of India!
Despite my comfort, I was peaking with anxiety, as my emotions continued to play peek-a-boo at random. I was finally distracted by Shobha’s collection of natural beauty products, especially Momma Mia, for expecting moms and super moms (like me). As Media Maven, the Elite Socialista, you have to understand that I am always prowling for great finds for my fellow lifestylistas (Momma Mia review coming soon)!
Approximately 7 minutes passes by and I am greeted by Frances, a cute, petite & exceptional friendly diva, who happened to be my specialist. I am escorted into “the room” which is quaint and private, equipped with a bed (think doctor’s office), a chair and a table set with products needed to complete sugaring & waxing services. Frances instructed me to de-robe from the waist down and to get onto the bed. My feet are to be placed together, with knees apart – to give full workable access to my sacred place. Now ladies, I am again going to re-inform you, that I am no stranger to sugaring and in fact, Shobha was my first experience with sugaring, thanks to my bff Maxy – but in all honesty, besides my doctor and my beau, no one has ever had an authority to have any access (complete full frontal view) to this zone. But I managed to maintain my composure. Frances continues to make me feel at ease as we engaged in realistic conversation. We discussed parenting (we both have 15 year olds) as she trimmed me down to workable length (Shobha prefers customers to come hairy).
I will admit, there is some discomfort but the pain is bearable. This is a fine example where the fear is greater than the act.
As Frances continued to remove the hair with firmness in various sectional moves, I continued to feel at ease with her courteous professionalism. As my experience with Frances was a training session, Aisha – Frances’ trainer – was there to oversee and guide the process. Her appearance wasn’t at all intimidating at all and it seemed to blend and compliment Shobha’s friendly aura. The remaining stragglers (hair) was then threaded away, bring me “completely bare to perfection.”
When we finished (let’s just say that this is as close to a threesome as I plan to get), I was slightly sore, but Frances removed the excess residue (from the sugaring), helped me to clean up (for extra comfort) and applied hydrocortisone for the redness. I left Shobha very pleased, hairless & satisfied with my experience, as well as myself, for facing my fear. I have a new sugaring (waxing) home and Frances is officially my go-to diva. I mean, we are practically linked since she’s seen me in ways not even my mom or bff has seen me 0_O.
All in all, the décor, ambiance and staff are exceptional. I highly recommend Shobha for all of your hair removing needs! This is definitely a SPAtacular Find! Go on, I dare you to embark on SPAtacular venture at Shobha and start creating your own “Hairy Tales” & “Happily (hairy free) Ever Afters.”
Visit Shobha at any of their three locations:
Soho: 594 Broadway, Suite 403 (Between Houston & Prince Streets) 212-931-8363
Midtown: 41 East 57th Street, Suite 1304 (On 57th Street between Madison Avenue & Park) 212-223-2872
Columbus Circle: 3 Columbus Circle, Suite 730 (On Broadway between 57th and 58th Streets) 212-977-7771
Media Maven Invites Readers To “Pimp My Cube” Contest
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hello Socialistas,
So, Pimp My Cube Contest is searching for the worst, most pathetic and messy cubicle or office! Does this sound like you? Do you have bad furniture, old technology, messy, unorganized, noisy, dirty, dark and/or any other non-stylistic attributes that makes your work space unworkable?
Then this feature is for you! When opportunity knocks, you have to answer and bring in the New Year in (pimped) style! Simply upload a video showing your cube/office/workspace explaining the details as to why your workspace is so horrible and why it is so important that Contest Factory come in and ‘Pimp’ your cube!
· Once your video is entered, don’t forget to invite your friends, family and coworkers to vote for your video (the more votes the merrier).
· ·You will earn sweepstakes entry points for registering, voting, commenting and inviting others to register for the contest. (This should be a breeze for the socially savvy diva).
· The grand prize of your cube being ‘pimped’ will be selected by CF judges based on various criteria including for the most votes, best (horrible) video and most compelling story. (So make those videos Oscar-nomination worthy)!
· The contest has a total grand prize value of approximately $1200. (Can you say CHA-CHING?)
· Winning prize will update your office/workspace/cube with one of three prize packages:
1. New high end computer system
2. New Desk, Chair and Decorations
3. New Entertainment Package with high end stereo, espresso machine etc.
FYI…as of right now, NO one has uploaded a video so the chances of winning are very good. So Media Maven is given you the first-hand exclusive! It’s pretty easy to upload your video to the site…in fact; you can even enter from your phone or webcam. Video should be fun and witty – anything goes!! The better the story, the funnier the video – better chances of winning!
But don’t worry, because there’s also a second sweepstakes prize; a $200 gift card will be awarded to the registered user chosen by random drawing at the end of the contest period.
Contest is from 12/5/11 at 12:00 PM to 1/31/12 at 12:00 PM. Let Media Maven know when you uploaded your video by commenting here and on our Facebook page! We would love to vote for you too!
Celebrity Baby Scoops Celebs Best & Worst Baby Names, Roselyn Sánchez Baby Shower, & More!
Ola Darlings,
It’s been another year of interesting baby names out of Hollywood!
From new names like Amaya, Arabella and Xander, to some tried-and-true favorites like Harper, Delilah and Bennett, to some questionable monikers such as Bingham, Press and Bear, Hollywood parents did not disappoint.
Look through our slideshow and read below. What are the best and worst Hollywood baby names of 2011?
- Eloise Joni Richards
- Rex Harrison Lamar
- Amaya Josephine Hermann
- Hattie Margaret McDermott
- Xander Dane Jones
- Delilah Genoveva Stewart Del Toro
- Haven Garner Warren
- Indiana Hawke
- Press Dahl Lamas-Richie
- Kez Sunday Udoka
- Arabella Rose Kushner
- Harper Seven Beckham
- Flynn Christopher Blanchard Copeland Bloom
- Willow Sage Hart
- Bennett Godley
- Skyler Morrison Berman
- Faith Margaret Kidman Urban
- Hudson Stone
- Arlo Knoxville
- Jordan Kay Federline
- Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John
- Weston Lee
- Ava Grace Strickland
- Declan George McBride
- Madison Belafonte
- Milo Thomas Bugliari
- Kennedy Faye Moore
- Sydney Conway
- Sadie Grace LeNoble
- Leo Bardem
- Spike Myers
- Arthur Saint Bleick
- Eloise Joni Richards
- Kahekili Kali
- Kase Townes Murray
- Bingham Hawn Bellamy
- Diesel Dean Daigle
- Aleph Portman-Millepied
- Agnes Lark Bettany
- Bear Blu Jarecki
- Mirabella Bunny Adams
- Moroccan and Monroe Cannon
- Hero Harper Quinn
- Ever Imre Morissette-Treadway
- Yardley Evans Brunt
- Theodore Hayes MacArthur
- Cree Taylor Hardrict
- Clover Elizabeth McDonough
- Boone McCoy Church
- Meredith Daniel Mohr
- Locklyn Kyla Vaughn
Be sure to vote in Celebrity Baby Scoop’s 4th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards for the best and worst baby names of 2011.
Roselyn Sánchez looked pretty in purple as she celebrated her upcoming arrival — her daughter due in early January — at a baby shower hosted by Johnson’s Naturals on November 5 in Pasadena, Calif. The Rush Hour actress, 38, and husband Eric Winter welcomed family and close friends – including Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria – to the outdoor garden party.
Roselyn opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about the intimate event, the “miracle” of pregnancy, her excitement about becoming a mother and her supportive husband who “cooks for [her] all the time.”
The couple wanted the baby shower to be an intimate event, with a touch of class, glamor and lots of flowers. And it was a kid-friendly event as well! There was an entire section for children called the Kid’s Corner. There was a lemonade stand, and brunch consisted of omelets and waffles. Guests later noshed on a delicious red velvet and vanilla cake.
Roselyn said the event was the perfect pre-baby gathering. The actress/model also talked about their daughter on-the-way and feeling “ready” for their upcoming arrival.
We’ve been wanting to be parents for awhile so we were completely ready for this new adventure and life changing experience,” Roselyn said. “It has brought us much closer together as a married couple, partners for life and best friends. We know the intense responsibility and can’t wait to start.”
The beautiful brunette – who recently bared her baby bump on Imagen‘s cover – said her Days of our Lives alum husband is sure to be an “amazing” father.
“Eric is going to be an amazing dad,” she gushed. “He’s already an amazing son that loves his parents. Seeing and knowing that let’s me know he’ll be an outstanding father.”
And it sounds like he’s no slouch in the husband department either! “He supports me, cooks for me all the time, goes with me to all the doctor’s appointments,” she added.
The mom-to-be said the “miracle” of pregnancy has them both so excited. Everything is exciting! Just knowing that I’m bringing life into this world is a miracle.”
It’s been another year of amazing photos, headlines and stories on Celebrity Baby Scoop! Over 11,000 votes have come in determining the best – and worst! – of 2011′s celebrity baby news in our 4th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
So far, we can’t get enough of Flynn Bloom, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Hugh Jackman and those loveable Garner-Afflecks! We feel strongly against naming your baby Press and we have celebrated Pink‘s transformation into motherhood. Continue reading our top picks of 2011. Have you voted yet?
- Harper Seven Beckham
- Flynn Bloom
- Willow Sage Hart
- Press Dahl Lamas-Richie
- Bear Blu Jarecki
- Moroccan & Monroe Cannon
Most transformed by motherhood:
- Pink
- Miranda Kerr
- Rachel Zoe
- Sarah Michele Gellar
- Jennifer Garner
- Alyson Hannigan
- Hugh Jackman
- David Beckham
- Ben Affleck
- The Garner-Afflecks
- The Jolie-Pitts
- The Beckhams
- Flynn Bloom
- Harper Seven Beckham
- Willow Sage Hart
- Seraphina Affleck
- Hank Baskett IV
- Honor Warren
- Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
- Violet Affleck
- Suri Cruise
- Ava Phillippe
- Bindi Irwin
- Cruz Beckham
We’re not done yet! There will be another week of voting for the best of 2011 (polls close December 23). Have you voted yet?
Holistic Maven Alice Inoue Feng Shui Series: Color Me Beautiful
By Alice Inoue
Imagine how you would feel walking into a stark white room versus the same room with walls painted with an enveloping comforting earth tone such as golden bisque. You would feel very different in each of those two rooms, wouldn’t you?
Color has the power to change the entire energy of an environment and is very important to consider when creating a space that feels good. Color can change a mood, activate your emotions, and affect your subconscious. The impact of color is greater than just what you see through your eyes; it also has a vibration that affects you both physiologically and psychologically.
In addition, your reaction to color is cultural and depends on your traditions and beliefs. For example, in America, people wear white at weddings, whereas in Taiwan, where I grew up, people wear white at funerals, so culturally speaking, white means something different depending on whether you are American or Chinese.
Color likes and dislikes are also very personal, so I always advise clients to stay away from using charts that list what colors are good for the various rooms in the home. I prefer to work with what feels good to them. Although every color has a meaning in feng shui, it doesn’t make sense for me to suggest that someone paint a room blue just because it’s a good feng shui color for that room if the person doesn’t even like the color blue.
Feng shui color systems
There are multiple color systems used in feng shui that can cause confusion at times: bagua, five elements, and rainbow spectrum, to name a few. The bagua color system uses green to represent new life and growth, purple to symbolize wealth and abundance, and pink to represent love and marriage. You can use these meanings as your intention when you choose colors.
The five elements color system, uses the colors green, red, yellow, white, and black, and assigns meanings to each of these colors. You can choose to use these colors to represent the elemental qualities that you desire to enhance such as red for action (fire), yellow for stability (earth), and green for growth (wood).
The rainbow spectrum color system is based on having all the colors of the rainbow in a space to create a positive feeling in a room or in a home.
©istockphoto.comaliceinoue
Psychological color attributes
Interestingly, the discipline of psychology also has a color attribute chart that provides information on the subconscious impact that colors have on people. Some of this is very similar to the feng shui color attribute chart and is useful when you want to find colors that evoke certain emotions. For example, the psychological chart I have says that yellow represents joy and happiness, grey pulls down energy, and red provides energy and stimulates the appetite.
Bring in the essence of nature
When it comes to color, if you are not a trained interior designer with experience in picking out colors, keeping it simple is safest. Color and color strips can be confusing if you are not an expert, but by following the guidance that nature has set forth for us, we can appear as though we are experts.
My advice is always, when in doubt, use colors you would find in nature. Look at your favorite landscape image, or go to the park. The colors you see in nature are the colors that you can bring into your home without making a mistake. We never tire of looking at nature, so by choosing shades of our favorite colors from nature, you can create an environment that is based on nature’s perfection.
©istockphoto.comaliceinoue
Alice Inoue is a life guide that uses the modalities of feng shui, astrology and spirituality in her work. Her offerings include award-winning, mind-body-spirit themed books, as well as a series of feng shui instructional DVD's. For more information visit www.aliceinspired.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive monthly articles on feng shui, astrology and life wisdom.
Take Your Love Life to Sweet New Heights
Chef Shares Secrets for Enjoying the Sensuality of Food
Thanks to the proliferation of outrageously popular TV food shows, Americans have grown to appreciate the aesthetics of a meal almost as much as its flavor. We’ve discovered our chefs are artists as well as cooks and bakers, and their colorful salads and abstract chocolate sculptures are works of art as well as good things to eat.
But there is yet another dimension to food to be explored, says Italian-born Chef Tiberio Simone, a James Beard Award winner and author of a provocative new coffee table book, La Figa: Visions of Food and Form (www.LaFigaProject.com). Shot by Matt Freedman, it features full-color, artistically rendered portraits of the naked human body decorated with fresh ingredients.
Incorporate food in your love life, he says, and you’ll discover the sublime.
• Choose fresh, natural, organic foods. Sexy food still has the taste nature gave it, and there’s no better choice than organic food because it’s grown with love. A farmer’s market is a great place to shop because you can touch and smell the produce.
• Watch out for food allergies – even if you don’t plan to eat the food. If you’re planning a sensual meal for your lover as a surprise, be aware of any food allergies or sensitivities he or she may have. Also, foods can cause irritation, burning or rashes when placed on the skin, if a person has a sensitivity. This can be especially true for certain delicate body parts.
• Bring your lover on your food-shopping excursion. View it as a bit of sensual foreplay. You can have a lot of fun caressing and gently squeezing the foods, and inhaling their aromas. The conversation should be entertaining, too.
• Taste the sensuality of the food while you and your partner eat. This sounds obvious, but it’s not. Seduce your senses by breathing in the aroma of the dish. Close your eyes and inhale slowly so you can analyze and take in the ingredients. Take a small bite, roll the food around your tongue and in your mouth and make small sounds of pleasure. You might feel ridiculous, but it’s fun, especially on a romantic date.
“Food and touch are truly the basic ingredients of life. If done properly, they will not only provide pleasure, but also engage and delight the senses,” says Simone.
Adds photographer Freedman: “Any food can be beautiful and sensual if it has qualities that appeal to what you and your lover find sexy and enticing.”
Take a peach, for example.
“Start by looking at its shape and colors,” Simone says. “Press it just hard enough to feel the firmness and the touch of velvety skin, just like when you touch the skin of another person. I believe that fruits and vegetables respond to touch by releasing beautiful aromas for us to breathe in.”
Simone says his Italian heritage and his culinary fluency heightened his awareness of the sensual similarities between fresh, organic foods and the human body. Like the human body, every food in its natural state has beauty in its lines, shape, color and texture. And like the human body, food gives us exquisite pleasure on a primal level.
“Spend a little time looking for the sensual aspects of food, and I guarantee you will become a pro at enjoying the sensual side of life,” he says.
About Tiberio Simone
Born in southern Italy, Tiberio Simone is a James Beard Award-winning chef. He has been cooking for as long as he can remember, beginning in his mother’s kitchen. Tiberio started his career at an Italian restaurant in Seattle. He eventually became the pastry chef at Seattle’s Four Seasons Olympic Hotel. He now runs his own company, La Figa Catering.
About Matt Freedman
Matt Freedman is a professional freelance photographer and technologist who combined his photography, writing and technical talents to produce the first iPhone app about the Burning Man festival. He is also the former staff photographer and director of technology for the bi-monthly magazine JUST CAUSE. His photographs have been published in “Trekking Nepal: A Traveler’s Guide” and the French book, “Artivisme: Art, Action Politique et Résistance Culturelle.”
Andrea Woroch On How to Manage Your Holiday Debt
Hello Darlings,
Before the holidays there was endless advice about setting a budget and sticking to a shopping list. Those who ignored the wisdom shared by experts will be in for a shock when credit card and bank statements arrive in the mail. 
According to a Consumer Reports poll, six percent of us are still paying off holiday debts from 2010. That means any new purchases racked up over the past holiday season will inflate those interest charges and make paying down the old and new balances more difficult and expensive.
If the bottom line on your bills is looking ugly, it’s time to get a financial-management makeover. Consider these tips for balancing your holiday debt:
1. Double and Triple Up
Multiply your credit card minimum payments two or three times to reduce the amount of interest you’ll end up paying. Merely meeting the minimum means you’ll never see bottom.
2. Now’s the Time to Negotiate
Talk to your credit card company about negotiating a better rate on interest, fees and other expenses. If your interest rate is above 15 percent and they won’t negotiate, it may be time to transfer much of the balance to a lower-cost card. Just make sure you pay off the debt before the interest rate climbs again.
3. Go On a No-spend Diet
Stick those credit cards in the freezer, if you have to, but do what it takes to avoid impulse shopping sprees. Better yet, give them to a trusted friend or family member for safekeeping.
4. Get Couponing
Using coupons for necessary purchases not only saves you money, but the practice helps you make more educated purchasing decisions. You can find online and printable coupons for thousands of stores on CouponSherpa.com, or download their mobile app for instant access to coupons while you shop.
5. Stick to Cash
There’s something about parting with greenbacks that makes us less likely to spend. Keep a budgeted amount on hand and stay away from the cards. Using the envelope system is expecially helpful in tracking your cash spending while working toward financial goals.
6. Cut Back on Luxuries
You’ve had your fun during the holidays; now it’s time to get serious. Cut out the restaurants, nail salon and triple shot mocha latte until the bills are under control. Of course, too strict of an economic diet is as easy to break as a weight-loss regimen. So figure in an occasional, small splurge to keep you going.
7. Set Small Goals
Don’t try to do everything at once. If paying off credit cards in three months means going hungry, you’re biting off more than you can chew. Set smaller, obtainable goals and you’ll appreciate the final results more. For those with multiple credit cards with high balances, try paying down one card at a time to feel that sense of accomplishment needed to push on to the next goal.
8. Meet With a Financial Planner
If you’re barely treading financial water, it’s time to get some assistance. A professional financial planner can help you establish a reasonable plan that won’t leave you paying off debts until next Christmas. You can find a qualified guide through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards website or you might check for non-profit assistance.
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Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert who has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. She is available for in-studio, satellite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles.
