Honey BEE Billi

I See the BEE in Greece

2013-09-12T16:09:00.001-05:00

Greecian beaches have been set afire this week by our Brand Ambassador, and my dear friend, Mihaela. She has been traveling throughout Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece and representing Honey Bee Swim.

Here are some of the photos that she shared from her travels abroad.

Follow the Bikini Blog @ www.honeybeeswim.blogspot.com and go online to www.shophoneybee.com and follow the BEE.

Olivia Snapgs Top 10 Spot on iTunes After Recording Erica Mena's Track

2013-03-14T12:41:00.000-05:00

Just goes to show if you won't sign the contract... someone else will.

Reposted from NecoleBitchie

What is going on here? Erica Mena has to be somewhere fuming!

Just over a month ago, Love and Hip Hop’s Erica Mena dropped a heavily auto-tuned single titled, “Where Do I Go From Here,” which received a pretty decent reception, however, things got real interesting when Olivia (who has the same manager) decided she wanted the track for herself. If you missed it, on Monday night’s episode of L&HH, Olivia recorded the same song and now that the full version has been released, it’s grabbed a Top 10 spot on the R&B/Soul charts on iTunes.

This happens in music all of the time. Years ago, there was a little controversy after Christina Milian and Teairra Mari recorded the same track, “Diamonds” and just recently Leona Lewis revealed that she had recorded “We Found Love” way before Rihanna’s version was released.
Cold World.

Listen to Olivia’s version of “Where Do I Go From Here” below:

Just in case you missed it, take a listen to Erica’s version below:

Miami Heat Harlem Shake

2013-03-01T09:50:00.002-06:00

I gotta repost this one from the Miami Heat! It's hilarious!

Watch below:

The Harlem Shake Is The New Planking…

2013-02-24T00:49:00.001-06:00

This is the funniest thing ever!

Reposted from Necole Bitchie

What.In.The.World?

Remember that one year (circa 2011) that planking became such a huge internet craze? People would pick the strangest places to lie face down, with their arms to their side, and upload the photos to the internet for approval from their followers and friends. Well now, there’s this new craze, called the “Harlem Shake” which has taken over YouTube, with over 4000 fan-made videos uploaded a day and over 175 million views since February 2. The videos feature regular folks as well as celebs like Ryan Seacrest, The Dallas Mavericks and more trying their hand at the dance. The crazy thing about it is that no one’s really doing the Harlem Shake. Or at least the Harlem Shake we remember from Diddy and G Dep’s “Special Delivery” video back in the day. As a matter of fact, everyone looks more like they are on E if anything.

The actual song, “Harlem Shake” was released by 23-year-old Brooklyn producer Baauer last May, and the song never really made noise, however, earlier this month, a video blogger uploaded a video of himself dancing to the song on YouTube and it somehow became a phenom overnight. How crazy is that?
Since Azealia Banks is from Harlem, it was only right that she tried her hand at a remix to the song (even if the original producer disapproved).

You can catch that and a few folks doing the new form of the “Harlem Shake” below:
Azealia Banks – Harlem Shake (Remix)

The original “Harlem Shake” video that started the internet dance craze

Ryan Seacrest – Harlem Shake

Harlem Shake ( Barack Obama Edition)

The Dallas Mavericks do the Harlem Shake

Jeff Gordon Harlem Shake

This is the best one.... my puppy Sasha's friends

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Sparks Controversy. Offensive or Overreaction?

2013-02-13T16:44:00.003-06:00

By Elise Solé, Shine Staff | Healthy Living

It's been a big week for Sports Illustrated. First, a blogger leaked the swimsuit issue's much-anticipated cover, upstaging David Letterman's big reveal on Monday. Now website Jezebel is calling out the men's magazine for using minorities as "props" in photos featuring models in bikinis posing in seven different continents.

Sports Illustrated coverJezebel argues that the magazine is perpetuating racial stereotypes by drawing power and class lines between the Westernized models and the "primitive locals" and points to a long history of media using minorities as "extras", citing Nylonmagazine, the Free People catalog, British Vogue, and J-Crew.

Depending on where you look, the reaction has been mixed, even among the men who are supposed to be titillated. On Jezebel's website, one male commenter wrote, "Pics of woman with local natives is NOT hot, it's exploitative, so the mission is fail right there. Oh and exploitative. I do not know what they were thinking….fail all around." While another guy wrote, "Some of the examples are ›‹reaching a bit…the one with the boat….why pick that for China? Especially when everything I read about China is how they're an industrial powerhouse." And one helpful reader on Sports Illustrated's Facebook page pointed out, "Technically speaking they were not shot in all seven continents. While Easter Island may belong to Chile, it's a Polynesian island, and not part of the South American continent." Oy.

Shine reached out to Sports Illustrated and Scott Novak, SVP, Communications & Brand responded with "No comment" but added that the man who appears in the Namibia photos "may have done other editorial work before."

In Spain, a model leans on a Matador. (photo by Sports Illutrated)

"These photos depict people of color as exotic backdrops," David Leonard, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies at Washington State University, tells Yahoo! Shine. "As with beautiful oceans, picturesque trees, people of color are imagined as exotic, as novel, as foreign, as uncivilized and as a point of comparison for the civilized white beauties scantily clad in bathing suits. Beyond functioning as props, as scenery to authenticate their third world adventures, people of color are imagined as servants, as the loyal helpers, as existing for white western pleasure, amusement, and enjoyment."

In Africa, a black man is positioned next to a model carrying a spear. (photo by Sports Illustrated)

"As Jezebel writes, where are the images and pictures of bustling cities, skyscrapers — the pictures reify dominant narrative about the uncivilized and primitive third world. They define people of different races as 'other' and the sexual white female body as desirable, as they're to be watched, consumed, and enjoyed by men in lounge chairs," he adds.

Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Professor of History and Ethnic Studies, Director, Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America (CSREA) at Brown University tells Yahoo! Shine: "It's understandable why some would find these photos disturbing. The juxtaposition of scantily-clad white, modern, cosmopolitan and western woman against natives, animals, exotic scenery, primitives (African native), traditionals (Chinese fisherman; ethnic minority girls in China); The exception is the photo of the Spanish bullfighters, in which case the model is suggestive of the bull. The white models are tourists and colonials."

In China, a a blond model reclines on a raft while a local man steers. (photo by Sports Illustrated)

Fashion magazines and advertising are guilty of depicting racial stereotypes, too. In August 2011, Vogue Italia's website featured an accessory they called "Slave Earrings" with the tagline, "A classic always in evolution." After the inevitable backlash, they changed the title to "Ethnic Earrings" and posted a statement that it wasn't their intention to insult anyone. That same year, the skin lotion company Nivea issued an apology on their Facebook page for their "Look Like You Give a Damn Campaign" in which a clean-cut black man held the head of a caveman lookalike with dark skin and an Afro.

To be fair, not everyone's outraged. Most likely, the people buying the magazine aren't exactly reading too much into the photos. The Swimsuit Issue's Facebook page has 200,000 likes. As one commenter puts it: "I'll be buying my issue this weekend. I sure hope they don't sell out...."

You'd Be Surprised at What's Tax Deductible

2013-02-11T13:10:00.005-06:00

By Rachel Louise Ensign | The Wall Street Journal

What's a more valuable tax deduction, a deadbeat boyfriend or a vicious guard dog? It depends on how big a deadbeat the boyfriend is.

No, this isn't a bad joke.

It's among the things taxpayers ask each year as they try to squeeze out whatever deductions they can.

And tax experts say they've heard it all.

Among the zaniest: How do I value a taxidermy I donated to charity? (It can involve estimating stuffing and mounting costs.) I'm putting a swimming pool in this year, I'm going to use it for exercise, can I deduct it as a medical expense? (Likely not.) What if my neighbor gives me a cow in exchange for help building a barn? (You must report the fair market value of that cow as ordinary income.)

Some people "are very creative and want to see if they can outsmart the tax code," says S. Miguel Reyna, a certified public accountant in Dallas.

Of course, many of the queries aren't so offbeat. Here's a sampling of questions that tax experts are often asked.

1. Can I deduct my pet?

Fido may feel like your child, but that doesn't mean he'll land you a tax break.

That said, there are rare circumstances where a pet may qualify for a tax deduction if you itemize. If your pet is a service animal for a disability that you have, the cost of buying, training and maintaining the animal may qualify as a medical expense. This typically includes vet visits, grooming and food, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

A big caveat: You can only deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income in 2012. (The threshold is 10% for 2013 for most people).

What's more, you may be able to deduct costs related to a guard dog employed by your business for protection, depending on the circumstances, according to G. Scott Haislet, a CPA and tax attorney in Lafayette, Calif.

2. Can I claim my girlfriend or boyfriend as a dependent?

"Boy, that one comes up so often," Bob Meighan, vice president at Intuit's INTU -0.34% TurboTax, says of this question. "The answer is yes, in some cases."

Claiming a dependent reduces your taxable income. Dependents can be family members and individuals who aren't family members, but meet criteria.

To claim a nonrelative as a dependent, he or she had to live in your home for the full tax year and make less than $3,800 in gross income during that time. You also generally must provide more than half of the person's financial support, and he or she can't be claimed as a dependent by anyone else, among other criteria, says Mr. Meighan.

3. l left a bag of clothes at Goodwill. What's stopping me from saying it's worth $10,000 and deducting that amount?

If you itemize your deductions, you may be able take the charitable deduction for donating clothes that are in good condition to thrift shops. But gauging the value of that out-of-style blouse requires help, especially since some charities leave it up to you to determine how much you've given.

The Salvation Army has a guide to help calculate the value of clothing, furniture and household goods at satruck.org/donation-value-guide. TurboTax also offers free estimates atItsDeductible.com.

What's stopping you from writing off more than the true value? The IRS has documentation rules for these kinds of donations that vary depending on their value. If an item or group of similar items donated is worth more than $5,000, you typically have to obtain, among other things, a qualified written appraisal of the item or items donated.

4. My doctor said that I need to lose weight. Can I deduct my gym membership?

In theory, some weight-loss-related expenses are deductible. In practice, deducting them is tough, say tax experts.

You only qualify if you need to lose weight because of a specific, doctor-diagnosed disease, says Gil Charney, principal tax research analyst at the Tax Institute at H&R Block HRB +0.08% .

The only costs that would then qualify as medical expenses would have to be specific to your weight-loss regimen. So a so-called general-use item, such as a gym membership, wouldn't pass muster, but a specific weight-loss program would, he says.

Again, you can only deduct medical expenses once they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for 2012.

5. I bought a tricked-out new computer, which I partially use for my studies. Is it covered under education tax breaks?

The Lifetime Learning Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit allow students and parents to subtract a certain percentage of educational expenses from their tax bill. But whether a computer qualifies depends on where you go to school.

You can put a laptop's cost toward these credits only if the device is formally required by a school or degree program, says Mr. Charney. You'll want a receipt for the purchase and documentation of the school's requirement.

The Lifetime Learning Credit is a credit of as much as $2,000 for qualifying educational expenses, available to joint filers with less than $122,000 in modified adjusted gross income and single filers with less than $61,000. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a credit of as much as $2,500 per student and has a slightly higher income threshold: $180,000 for joint filers and $90,000 for single filers. You usually can't claim both.

Toni Braxton Promotes New Film ‘Twist Of Faith’

2013-02-02T00:54:00.002-06:00

Toni Braxton was out promoting her new film "Twist of Faith" in a black belted dress and pink peep toe pumps. She looked flawless to say the least and I am loving those pumps.

She plays the role of Nina, a single mom and choir singer who falls in love with a songwriter names Jacob. Jacob though is an Orthodox Jew who moved from New York to Alabama after witnessing the murder of his wife and three children. Jacob is embraced by Nina and their gospel community and music brings them together as they try to make some sense of his past and their possible future.

The premier of the movie will be on Lifetime, February 9th @ 9pm.

Check Toni Braxton out below and also where to get a pair of these pumps!

(Images from here)

Find these pumps at the ShoeBox New York for $695!

Small Spaces - Great Design Ideas

2013-01-28T17:39:00.003-06:00

Little Lofty

The problem: how does one transform a small, 800 square foot apartment into an warm and open lofty space? The solution: exposed wood beams, poured concrete floors, vintage Eames chairs, a floating antique Chinese console, hand stitched pillows, a Beni Ourain rug, and interior designer Jessica Helgerson‘s impeccable taste.

(via here and posted by Erica at HonestlyWTF )

It's Cheaper to Keep Her

2013-01-15T18:09:00.001-06:00

Kobe Bryant’s Divorce Would Have Cost Him $1.36 Mil A Month

Kobe Bryant has been keeping a smile on his wife Vanessa’s face ever since she decided to shake him up a bit and file for divorce last year. The couple were spotted looking super rich and very happy as they made their exit from the Warner Brothers and InStyle magazine Golden Globes after party this past Sunday in LA.

It seems as though Kobe found out real fast that it is definitely cheaper to keep her. According to California attorney Andrew L. Botros, if the couple had went forward with their divorce, per California law, Kobe would have had to cough up child support for his two daughters as well as spousal support INDEFINITELY as well as a split of all of his properties.

A 10-year marriage is considered a long-term marriage and a California judge can award spousal support indefinitely. Vanessa and Kobe crossed that 10-year threshold a few months before Vanessa initiated divorce proceedings, meaning Kobe might have had to pay spousal support for the rest of Vanessa’s life (ouch).

So what are we looking at in terms of child and spousal support?

According to Forbes, Kobe’s annual income is somewhere in the neighborhood of $53.2 million dollars. Assuming that he has 50/50 custody of his two daughters, Kobe would have to pay somewhere near $365,000 in child support under the California Guideline. He also would probably have to pay somewhere around $1,000,000 in spousal support.

These are not annual figures. These are monthly estimates.

I didn’t mention property division. Kobe and Vanessa were married on April 18, 2001. Under California law, every penny Kobe earned from basketball or endorsements from the date of marriage to the date of separation is considered community property. It’s half Kobe’s and half Vanessa’s. That also applies to every mansion, car, yacht, or private jet that the either party purchased with community money.

Well dayum! That is enough motivation for any man to be on his best behavior and fight to keep his marriage together. That’s some serious business right there.

Repost from NecoleBitchie

Kim Kardashian Looks Comfortable Pregnant

2013-01-08T14:44:00.001-06:00

A baby bump isn’t going to stop the Kim K show.

Now that the pregnancy has been announced and the weather’s getting colder, she’s been serving up some fashionable ensembles that remind us of her style before Kanye touched her closet. Yesterday, she was spotted in Miami wearing a stylish blazer and trouser combination complete with Givenchy heels as she caught dinner with her publicist Jonathan Cheban. And of course she was looking fierce in that high bun.

Although she is elated and looking forward to the birth of her baby, she recently revealed to E! Online that being pregnant hasn’t been as easy or as fun as some people make it look:

When people say that pregnancy is fun and they love it I would have to disagree. Even my sister [Kourtney Kardashian] has made it look easy, but it’s not as easy as people think.
It’s a little painful, there’s a lot of growing pains. I heard it’s all worth it so I’m looking forward to that.

Meanwhile, her boo Kanye is making sure she’s as comfortable as possible after the couple just purchased a 10,000 square foot, 11 million dollar home together. According to reports, they plan to remodel the home so that it includes a gym, movie theater, full hair and makeup salon, bowling alley, basketball court, and indoor and outdoor pool. You can just imagine what baby Kimye’s nursery is gonna look like. Sheesh!

Here's a look at the home from an ariel view!

via NecoleBitchie and The Life Files

Bad Weather = Emergencies

2012-12-27T15:04:00.001-06:00

What to keep in your glove box

Re-Posted from Robby DeGraff | Cars.com

The glove box can be a useful treasure chest in cars, housing everything from important papers and receipts to tire gauges and extra fuses. It's a safe, easy-to-access place for crucial items, and almost every car has one. Even the best of us are sometimes guilty of littering our glove boxes with unnecessary items like CDs or cosmetics.

Don't let yourself go down that path. Rather, be prepared and consider the following things to keep on hand.

License and registration: Keep all important documents like proof of insurance, automotive registration and a copy of your driver's license in a plastic bag or held together by a paper clip.

ICE: Experts at AAA recommend keeping an ICE — in case of emergency — card with important information about you and your passengers. On that card you should list emergency contacts, physicians, any medications used or allergies for you and your passengers. Download an ICE card here.

Put your owner's manual on a diet: We'd all like to keep our car's owner's manual in the glove box, but have you seen the size of these things lately? If your car came with a combo pack of a manual plus other materials like stereo or navigation instructions, optional warranties and more, put the less vital guides elsewhere. Keep just the main manual — with important info on engine care, wiper blade sizes and more — in the glove box.

Tire pressure gauge: Unless you have a new Nissan Altima with its Easy Fill Tire Alert system, a tire pressure gauge is one of the most essential items to have in your glove box. Thankfully, it's also small.

Flashlight: There are dozens of small — sometimes even flat — LED flashlights on the market that take up only a little space but emit a lot of light. A flashlight will come in handy when trying to change a tire in the dark.

Fuses: Stock your glove box with a few backup fuses, which can be picked up at a hardware store for a few dollars. If your car's taillights or power windows stop working, replacing a blown fuse takes just seconds. Fuses are ideal for the glove box because they're tiny.

Wheel-lock key: Wheel locks help to ensure that someone won't walk off with your car's pricey wheels, but you won't be able to change a flat tire without the wheel-lock key. If your car has wheel locks, keep the key in the glove box next to the tire pressure gauge.

First-aid kit: If your car is short on storage space, find a small pouch or container and make a basic first-aid kit for the glove box. It should contain adhesive bandages, tissues or cotton balls, a pain reliever like aspirin and backup prescription medicine. You could put the ICE card in there, too. Some retailers carry first-aid kits for glove boxes such as the LifeLine, which costs less than $10.

Phone charger: If you have a smartphone you know how quickly the battery can run out of power, especially if you're using Bluetooth. Luckily, most chargers are small. A cellphone is one of the most important items you should have with you in a car in case of an emergency; don't let it run out of juice.

Paper map: Put a printed — yes, printed — fold-out map in your glove box. In this day and age where portable GPS units and cellphones with navigation software dominate, having an up-to-date paper map as a backup is just plain smart.

Birthday Freebies

2012-12-25T22:49:00.004-06:00

Now that the holidays are over and we are looking at our bank accounts wondering where all our money went! Santa charges a pretty hefty fee these days and if your kids list is anywhere as long or as expensive as my daughters list then you understand where I'm coming from.

Going into the new year let's at least take advantage of a free meal on our birthdays.

Everyone loves birthdays and everyone loves free stuff. Luckily for us, there are a ton of places out there that offer birthday freebies! I’ve compiled a list of some of the best birthday freebies out there. Remember that some places will want you to show proof, so be honest!

Abbot’s Frozen Custard – Join the Abbott’s Frozen Custard Fun Club to a get a free frozen custard on your birthday. The site says there will also be freebies throughout the year for their members.

Alfy’s Pizza – Get a free mini pizza on your birthday.

Applebee’s – Free dessert and song on your birthday.

Austin Grill – Register for their eClub and get a free meal on your birthday.

Bakers Square – Get a free peice of pie on your birthday at Bakers Square.

Bandido’s – Get $10 off your favorite entree when you celebrate your birthday at Bandido’s in Ohio and Indiana.

Baskin Robbins – Baskin Robbins will send you a coupon for a free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream on your birthday plus other special promotions when you join the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.

BD’s Mongolian BBQ – Receive a free stifry on your birthday when you join Club Mongo.

Ben & Jerry’s – Get a free ice cream treat on your birthday when you become a ChunkSpelunker with Ben & Jerry’s.

Benihana - Join “The Chef’s Table” and receive a Benihana Birthday Dinner certificate worth $30 to use during the month of your birthday.

Bennigan’s – Get a buy 1 entree, get 1 entrée free and a free brownie ice cream dessert coupon on your birthday.

Black Angus Steakhouse – Get a free steak dinner on your birthday when you join the BA Prime Club. You also get a complimentary dessert for signing up for the club.

Blue Bell – Members of the Blue Bell Country Club will receive a gift certificate for a free half gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream during the month of their birthday.

Bob’s Big Boy – Get a free hot fudge ice cream on your birthday.

Bob Evans – Sign up your child for their birthday club and they’ll get a free kids’ meal on their birthday at Bob Evans.

Boston Market – Kids 12 and under will receive a birthday coupon good for a free kid’s meal, drink, and dessert at Boston Market.

Buffalo Wild Wings – Get a coupon for a free dessert to celebrate your birthday at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Burger King – Sign up your child to be a member of Club BK so they can get a free kid’s meal on their birthday.

California Pizza Kitchen – Sign up your child (10 and under) for CPKids and they will receive a free CPKids meal during the month of their birthday.

Captain D’s – Kids get a free kids meal and birthday greeting on their birthday at Captain D’s. Adult’s can join the D’s Club and get a coupon for a free birthday meal.

Caribou Coffee – Create an account and be sure to update it with your birthday. They will send you a coupon for a free coffee drink on your birthday.

Carrows – Join the Carrows E-Club to get a free dessert on your birthday as well as one for joining.

Cattlemen’s – Join the Cattlemen’s E-Club and get a free dessert when you come in on your birthday.

Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse – Get a free gift on your birthday as a member of the Charlie Brown’s Handshake Club as well as gift vouchers and special members-only events.

Chevys – Join Chevys Compadres Club and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Claim Jumper Restaurant – Join the CJ E-Club and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Cold Stone Creamery – Cold Stone Creamery will send you an email with a coupon for a free ice cream creation to enjoy on your birthday. All ages are welcome!

Country Buffet – Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Cracker Barrel – You can come into Cracker Barrel on your birthday and you will get a free dessert and song.

Crazy Buffet – Bring a friend and your ID into Crazy Buffet on your birthday and get a free dinner buffet.

Dairy Queen – Join the Dairy Queen Blizzard Fan Club and get a free ice cream cone on your birthday as well as a coupon for a blizzard when you join.

Dave & Buster’s – Get a free $5 game card credit on your birthday.

Denny’s – Come in and get a free Grand Slam on your birthday.

Desparados Mexican Restaraunt – Come in and get a free meal at Desparados on your birthday.

Discovery Cruise Line – You get a free one-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas. You do have to make the trip with another fare-paying adult and will have to shell out the $20 for the Bahama departure and harbor fee.

Dockside Restaurants – Get a free meal on your birthday.

Duke’s ChowderHouse – Get a coupon for a free lunch or dinner entree on your birthday when you sign up on Duke’s website.

Dutch Bros. Coffee – Stop in on your birthday and get a free coffee as your birthday freebie.

Famous Daves BBQ – Free food coupon via email on your birthday when you join the Famous Dave’s P.I.G. Club (could be free cake, an appetizer, or some ribs!).

Firehouse Subs – Jon the Firehouse Subs Birthday Club and enjoy a free sub on your birthday.

First Watch – Join the suneclub and receive a coupon for a free entree at First Watch.

Friendly’s – Sign up for Friendly’s E-News and get free ice cream for your birthday. This is now for kids and adults!

Fuddruckers – Join the Fudds Club and gett a free burger on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

Garozzo’s Ristorante – Bring in your driver’s license to get a free spedini meal at this Kansas City eatery.

Grimaldi’s – Sign up for the birthday club at Grimaldi’s and get a free pizza.

Hana Japan – Get a free birthday lunch or dinner when you bring in 4 or more people on your birthday.

Hard Rock Cafe – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Helzberg Diamonds – Sign up for free email updates at Helzberg Diamonds and receive a coupon for free pearl earrings for your birthday.

Hollywood Video – Get a free rental at Hollywood Video on your birthday with card membership. In fact, anyone on your account can get a free rental on their birthday.

Hometown Buffet – Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Houlihan’s - Join Houlihan’s email club and you’ll get a coupon for a free entree on your birthday. Or if you’re not a member you can still stop in a get a free dessert.

IHOP – Come on into IHOP and get a free meal (a sundae at some locations) on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

Joe’s BBQ – Visit Joe’s BBQ (AZ) on your birthday and receive a free meal.

Joe’s Crab Shack – Go to Joe’s Crab Shack on your birthday and get a free piece of cake.

Lone Star Steakhouse – Sign up for the Lone Star Steakhouse e-club and you’ll receive a coupon for a free entree (up to $15 value) to help you celebrate your birthday. **No longer valid.**

Lowry Park Zoo – If you’re a Florida resident and go to Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, FL) on your birthday, you’ll get free admission.

Luby’s - Free kid’s birthday meal (ages 9 and younger) on their birthday as a member of the Luby’s birthday club.

Macaroni Grill – Come on into Macaroni Grill on your birthday and get a free dessert plus a song.

Maggiano’s – Join the Maggiano’s Birthday Club and get a coupon for $10 off your meal purchase.

Marie Callender’s – Join Marie Callender’s E-Club and get a coupon for $5 off your meal and piece of pie when you visit during the month of your birthday.

McDonald’s - Free Happy Meal for your child on their birthday. This offer is only good at participating McDonald’s in Colorado, Greater Las Vegas Area, Western Nebraska and Wyoming.

Memphis Barbecue – Receive a coupon good for a free rack of ribs and a dessert when you join the free eClub.

Moe’s Southwest Grill – Get a coupon for a free Moe’s entree (excludes fajitas) on your birthday when you choose to “stay in the moe.”

Noodles & Company – Join the Noodleville Noodlegram to get a coupon for a free dish on your birthday.

Olan Mills Portrait Studios – Get a free Olan Mills portrait package that includes (1) 8X10, (2) 5X7 and (8) wallets when you join the birthday club.

Old Country Buffet – Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Old Spaghetti Warehouse – Join the Warehouse Club and get a coupon for a free meal on your birthday.

On the Border – Get a free appetizer on your birthday when you join On the Border’s Club Cantina. When you initially join you will get an instant coupon for a free bowl of queso or empanadas.

Outback – Get a free dessert and a song when you go to Outback on your birthday.

P.F. Changs – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Pancho’s – Join Pancho’s Birthday Club to get $10 off the bill for adults or $5 off the bill for kids.

Perkins – Receive an email for a free kid’s meal and birthday greeting on their birthday when you sign them up for the Bakery Buddies Kid’s Birthday Club. Adults can get an email coupon for a free piece of pie.

Provino’s – Come on into Provino’s on your birthday and show your ID to get a free pasta speciality dinner (which includes salad, garlic rolls and a birthday dessert!).

Red Lobster – Join the Overboard Club and they will email you a suprise for your birthday.

Red Robin – Join the Red Robin eClub and get a coupon for a fee burger on your birthday. This is for all ages!

Rock Bottom – Join the Mug Club and get a free appetizer on your birthday.

Round Table – Get a free personal pizza when you visit on your birthday.

Ruby Tuesday – Ruby Tuesday now has a birthday freebie. Join the So Connected club and you’ll get an email for a free burger on your birthday.

Ru Sans – Visit Ru Sans to sign up for their birthday card to get free food on your birthday.

Ryan’s – Join the eClub at Ryan’s and get a coupon for a free adult buffet with the purchase of another adult buffet during the month of your birthday.

Sephora – Sign up as a Beauty Insider and get a free gift from Sephora on your birthday.

Shoney’s – Get your child (10 and under) a free kid’s meal on their birthday when you sign them up for the the Kids Club.

Sonic – Members of the Wacky Pack Kid’s Birthday Club will receive a coupon for a free Wacky Pack during the week of their birthday.

Taco Time – Taco Time send kids ages 12 or younger a coupon for a free kid’s meal on their next birthday.

Texas Roadhouse – Become a Texas Roadie and you’ll get a coupon for a free dessert or appetizer on your birthday.

TGI Friday’s – Receive a coupon for a free appetizer to use on your birthday when you sign up for Friday’s E-Club. You also get a coupon for a free appetizer just for signing up! You must be over 21 to get this birthday freebie.

Tony Roma’s – Get a free dinner on your birthday from Tony Roma’s.

Toys ‘R’ Us – Children ages 2 – 10 will receive a birthday card and surprise gift from Geoffrey when you sign them up for Geoffrey’s Birthday Club.

The Transformation Studio – The Transformation Studio (TX) will give you a free makeover or express facial for your birthday! Be sure to mention the birthday special when you book your makeover or express facial and bring in your ID.

Walt Disney World – Free admission on your birthday when you register in advance and bring the confirmation along with an ID.

Zio’s Italian – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday at Zio’s.

Please leave a comment below if you find any of these birthday freebies to be invalid.

Thanks for helping FrugalLiving.TV keep this list updated!

Smooth Magazine Jamaica

2012-12-15T17:40:00.002-06:00

Honey BEE Swim

I'm really proud to say that my 1st swim sample has made it in the new issue of Smooth Magazine. It's their Jamaica shoot that I believe they do every year. Thanks to my girl, Bo and her team, Honey BEE Swim has now been published nationally.

I'm super excited and I hope that everyone can go out and grab a copy when the magazine releases on Dec. 18th. Also check out the model who was wearing my suit, Syndeerellz. I feel like this is just another stepping stone for Honey BEE Swim and and hopefully of more moments like this in the future.

Thanks everyone for your support.

Here's my girl Mica wearing the suit in Hawaii

How Brave Are You?

2012-12-12T17:56:00.000-06:00

Snow and ice make China's Mount Hua pilgrimage especially dangerous

By: Shannon Dybvig

The five peaks of Mount Hua have been vertical sanctuaries for monks, hermits, and spiritual seekers, especially Taoists, for centuries, but to get to them pilgrims must cross treacherous trails, such as those made from links of chain and wooden planks joined by iron staples. And now with winter approaching, it's the most dangerous time of year to attempt what could be the most dangerous hike in the world. All five peaks are joined by steep, narrow trails, stairs, and ladders, and dotted with temples and lookout points. Though some peaks involve riskier ascents than others, all hikes require slow and steady climbing along the trails, or you'll risk a speedy decent. Numerous visitors have embarked on the hike and never returned, although the Chinese government isn't saying how many. Check out this skyscraping trek below.

If you miss a step here, it's a mile to the ground. Image by Aaron D. Feen

With a surge in Western tourism, and following numerous deaths, some of the more dangerous routes have been retooled or closed off altogether. The harrowing ladder above was apparently safe enough. Image by Clint Koehler

It's a centuries-long tradition, still followed by many Chinese today, to climb Mount Hua at night. Many report it's actually easier to tackle in the dark since you can't look down and get scared. Image by Aaron D. Feen

The Plank Walk, the most famous, and dangerous, trek on Mount Hua, joins the north and south peaks. A more benign, alternative trail has been opened but many continue to test their courage and luck by hugging the sheer rock. Image by Aaron D. Feen

It's not all vertiginous tightrope walking. Most of the trails are wide enough that you need not turn sideways, at least as long as no one's coming the other way. Image by Ian Armstrong

It's no wonder hermits climbed these peaks to get away from it all. Even with the handy stairs in place, it's a hike that would put most off. Image by Kevin Felt

Mount Hua greets visitors year-round. Ice and snow don't scare the ambitious, or foolhardy, away. Image by China Off Season

The always dangerous trails are doubly so in winter, as ice makes the steep climb slippery. Image by China Off Season

Padlocks left by couples line many of the chain handrails along the trails of Mount Hua. The tradition is to secure the lock and throw the key off the mountain to symbolize eternal love and commitment. Image by Simon

Of course, with a view like this to greet you at the top, all that dangerous climbing seems worthwhile. Image by Dave Morrow

Extra Baggage

2012-12-06T13:50:00.001-06:00

Unnecessarily large but oh so necessary.

(Patkas over-sized Giant Tote Bag $220 via Honestly WTF)

Amber Rose Pregnancy Update

2012-12-04T19:37:00.002-06:00

If you are wondering what Amber Rose and Wiz's baby may look like you can get an idea here from her baby pic. Amber Rose was giving her signature pouty lip even as a newborn. We will know shortly what their child will look like because the dancer-turned-model is 28 weeks pregnant. It won't be long until she gives birth to her 1st child.

I'm loving her new hair! What do you think of it?

DIY Chandelier Crystal Clutch

2012-12-03T14:41:00.000-06:00

Looking for a great holiday or New Year's clutch?

Re-Posted from Erica at Honestly WTF

I deeply regret missing out on scoring Mawi‘s new glitter clutches on Moda Operandi last month . . . honestly, DOH! Any of the sparkly numbers would have been the perfect compliment to many holiday ensembles. Determined to recreate it, I found some brilliantly colored chandelier crystals that would do just the trick. Add some glitter, Mod Podge, a zip pouch and voila, you’re ready to celebrate 2012 in your new glitter clutch!

You’ll need:

a small zip clutch (I used Magenta)

9 chandelier crystals (I used 3.25″ blue prism crystals)

a handful of preset rhinestones

glitter (I used Martha Stewart Amethyst)

Mod Podge

E6000

painter’s tape

a plastic container

a toothpick

Start by pouring Mod Podge into a plastic container. Then pour about the same amount of glitter into the same container. I like to use a 1:1 ratio. Mixing glitter with Mod Podge prevents the glitter from flaking and falling off.

Mix the glitter mixture. If you want to keep the backside plain, use painter’s tape to tape off one side of the clutch. Be sure to get the tape into all the nooks and crannies.

Apply a generous layer of glitter to the front side. Allow to dry completely before adding a second layer.

Wait until the Mod Podge dries completely clear before applying the crystals. Squeeze a dollop of glue either directly along the backside of the chandelier crystals or use a toothpick for a better application.

Arrange the crystals in a row, fanning them out from the center. Apply the larger pre-set crystals above the pattern.

Add any additional accoutrements to the clutch and allow to dry for at least 24 hours.

Small enough for the essentials and just big enough for substantial bling!

(all images by HonestlyWTF, J.Crew Felted Wool Skirt)

Pet Project

2012-11-04T01:47:00.003-06:00

Reposted from HonestlyWTF blog

Free People‘s Pet Project, a collection of eco-conscious collars, leashes, beds, and tags for cats and dogs, launches this Sunday in support of Philadelphia’s largest no-kill shelter and foster care network PAWS. The lookbook features rescued and adopted animals sporting bohemian must-haves for your furry friends. And 100% of proceeds from the Vintage Flag Bed, made from recycled and reused materials, will be donated to the non-profit. I, for one, can’t wait to get the beaded collar and the BFF tag for my bulldog!

Check out my friend in Oklahoma City's FB page Happy Paws Okc. She just started a dog sitting/walking service, in case you are in need and hate to put your pup in a kennel. FYI I would never put my dog in a kennel while I'm out of town.

Click the link HERE!

(images courtesy of Free People)

Etsy Shop

2012-10-17T17:37:00.001-05:00

I just reduced all the prices in my shop. Check it out here!

Gwyneth Paltrow & Cameron Diaz Name Drops 50 Cent in A Freestyle

2012-10-14T22:55:00.002-05:00

Gwyneth Paltrow has been hanging out with Jay-z and Beyonce way too long…

And it looks as though it’s paying off as she’s learned how to spit a few bars. This week, in celebration of Chelsea Handler’s move to a new studio, Gwyneth and her bestie Cameron Diaz sent in a funny video where they beat boxed while rapping about Chelsea’s personal life.
After being introduced as MC Gwyneth Paltrow and DJ Jazzy Cameron Diaz, the girls rapped lines like:

Yo Chelsea We heard that you got a brand new studio, but we know you got on TV by being a ho
You like black guys, white guys, whomevers around, your bedroom looks like a lost and found
We kinda like you ’cause you’re blonde like us, but we can’t hang with you in public ’cause you drink too much.
We hope this rap is enough, and by the way, 50 Cent says you like it rough

Earlier in the week, Gwyneth, Cameron and Beyonce were spotted out in New York as they celebrated Gwyneth’s 40th Birthday.

Check the girls spitting some rhymes below:

I had to repost this because I think it's hilarious and I love Chelsea Handler!
*reposted from Necole Bitchie

| Necole Bitchie.com

[Video] Michelle Obama Blows Crowd Away At the DNC

2012-09-05T13:25:00.003-05:00

‘Being President doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are’

Last night was the first night of the Democratic National Convention and the highlight of the evening was the First Lady Michelle Obama who rocked the house with a passionate, moving speech about President Obama. Dressed in a Tracy Reese dress and J Crew shoes, Michelle showered the audience with personal stories about their family life, their history together and their love for the country they serve.

The self-title “mom-in-chief” touched on everything from President Obama picking her up in a rusted out hooptie when they were dating to their personal experience with high student loan bills that were higher than their mortgages. ‘We were so young, so in love and so in debt’. She also sang his praises, calling him a man of character who measures his success, not by the money he made but how he helps changes the lives of others.

The President wasn’t in attendance for Michelle’s speech because he stayed back in DC to send Sasha off for her first day of high school, however, he looked like a proud husband as he watched the speech with his two daughters from the White House.

Check out a few highlights from Michelle’s DNC speech below, plus video below:

On Life Before the White House
“Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys. Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma’s house and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn’t stay awake for both. And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls and I deeply loved the man I had built that life with and I didn’t want that to change if he became president. I loved Barack just the way he was.”
“You see, even though back then Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me, he was still the guy who’d picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by in a hole in the passenger side door. He was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he’d found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.”
On If The White House Has Changed Them
“So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.”
“Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are. No, it reveals who you are.”
“For Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the differences you make in people’s lives.”
On Student Loans and health care
When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president. He didn’t care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that’s not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.
He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine . our kids should be able to see a doctor when they’re sick . and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness. And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care . that’s what my husband stands for.
When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could’ve attended college without financial aid. And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage. We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.
That’s why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.
On her love
I didn’t think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago. Even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.
I love that he’s never forgotten how he started.
I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he’s going to do, even when it’s hard – especially when it’s hard.

Now, that’s a woman with style, grace and class. According to CNN, ‘If Barack Obama is re-elected on November 6, he will owe more to his first lady than any president ever to win a second term.’ Michelle’s constant use of the word love, paired with her personal stories helped connect the First Family to the lives of millions of American’s looking for hope and in return, could help them win the election.

Reposted from NecoleBitchie.com

DIY Utility Rope Necklace

2012-07-29T14:04:00.001-05:00

I love this DIY by Honestly WTF so I have to share it with you. I def will try to make this one myself. Keep you posted with what I come up with.

Enjoy!

Posted by Erica from the blog Honestly WTF

A couple summers ago, we stocked up on brass washers to make friendship necklaces. A year later, hex nuts became short in supply thanks to the hex nut bracelet. Today we’re all about compression sleeves, which are conventionally used in plumbing but also make for the perfect component for these statement necklaces. Striking, colorful, and fun, this tutorial won’t be able to keep you too far away from your local hardware store!

You’ll need:

25 feet of 3mm utility rope

12 – 14 pieces of 3/8″ brass compression sleeves

3-5 yards of 0.8-1mm chinese knotting cord

2 12mm x 16mm cord end caps

2-3 jump rings

1 lobster clasp

gel super glue

scissors

pliers

Start by cutting the utility rope into 8 32 inch pieces. Gather them together and slide the compression sleeves on, one at a time.

Keeping the compression sleeves together keep the ropes evenly bound and make sliding them on easier. After 12-14 sleeves are on the ropes, spread them out accordingly.

Decide which sections to wrap and start at the center of the necklace. Run the end of the knotting cord upwards along one section and towards the edge of a brass sleeve. Then wrap around the ropes, working downwards in the opposite direction. This helps secures the cord.

Continue to wrap the entire section. Before reaching the end of the section, place a bead of glue along the starter cord and finish wrapping.

Allow to dry before trimming any excess cord. Continue wrapping different sections of the necklace.

When all the sections have been wrapped, trim end ends. Squeeze a generous amount of glue into the cap and insert the end of the necklace into it. It may require some rotating to get the end of the necklace into the cap. Repeat the step on the other end.

Using pliers, attach a larger jump ring to one end and a clasp to the other.

And that’s it, your necklace is finished!

Make a couple more and layer them on top of each other.

(all images by HonestlyWTF)

Wearing An Optical Illusion Can Make You Appear Thinner

2012-07-19T19:42:00.001-05:00

Wear Optical Illusions, Get Thin!

By Vurdlak

Kim Kardashian wearing Alexander McQueen's "Optical Illusion dress"

We all know that women prefer clothes which makes them look thin, emphasize their curves and enhance their figure. Spanx pantyhose, Wonderbras… You name it! But come on, no dress is really gonna take ten inches off your waist, or make you look twenty pounds lighter than you really are… Would it? Well, no ORDINARY dress would be able to do that!

But when designers discover fabulous world of optical illusions, and then start playing with such concepts, you’d be amazed what they could do to the female figure… only sky is the limit!

Take the dress on the right for example – simply by adding a well-known optical illusion pattern to the waist, the designer Alexander McQueensuddenly makes any woman wearing his dress appear much thinner in waist than she really is. Not to mention how he successfully reversed the effect in the breasts region, accomplishing curvaceous, hourglass appearance!

Really?! Who Else Does This?

The next dress by Stella McCartney is another extreme example of what optical illusions can do to a woman’s body… Sure, it’s an easy task to emphasize Kim Kardashian’s curves, but what if you’re not as curvaceous?

Using a similar concept that slimmed down Kim in the first image, McCartney’s dress takes the illusion even further – By using a slightly off-white color fabric on the bust, the “shadow effect” makes woman’s breasts appear much larger, immediately putting them in the spotlight (something I’m sure most gentlemen wouldn’t be eager to complain about). But that’s not the only enhancement here!

Kate Winslet premiered Stella McCartney’s dress at the Venice Film Festival, and it was so noticeably figure-altering that it was quickly dubbed “The Optical Illusion Dress” by the press. You can immediately recognize the black-fabric-on-the-sides trick, one that made Kate look like a corset model from the 18th century. An hourglass figure so slim, that when compared to her mortal anatomy, it’s actually shocking…

So remember, optical illusions aren’t just theoretical creations used by artists. No, they are also quite practical when applied to real world settings by fashion designers who want to please their clientele by giving them an entirely new figure. Here are few more celebs wearing Stella McCartney’s dresses. Has it worked for all of them? You be the judge!

From St. Tropez to Manhattan Beach

2012-07-19T19:13:00.002-05:00

À la Plage

Posted by Lauren from HonestlyWTF

I had to repost this because I love these photos! Would like to have these on canvas in my house one day!

From St. Tropez to Manhattan Beach, photographer Gray Malin has shot a series of stunning beach scenes from a doorless helicopter. Can you guess which beach is which simply based on the color of the water and umbrellas?

(top to bottom: Pampelonne Beach St. Tropez, Manhattan Beach California, Secret Beach St. Tropez, Caribbean Sea Central America, Nude Beach San Francisco, Pampelonne Beach St. Tropez, Coogee Beach Australia, Malibu California, Cascais Portugal, Miami Beach Florida, Pampelonne Beach St. Tropez, Caribbean Sea Central America, Malibu California, Costa de Caprica Portugal, Pampelonne Beach St. Tropez, Venice Beach California)

Top Knots

2012-07-15T22:08:00.001-05:00

Top Knots from Honestly WTF

Loving top knots as the perfect, unfussy solution for unruly summer hair. Find out out how to tie it all together here and here.

(images from here, here, here, here, and here)