Upgrade it All

6 Plants That Will Grow (Almost) Anywhere

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:09:00 +0000

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/six-plants-to-grow-anywhere-44072308

I've tried to grow peppers, rosemary, and other greenery in my small New York City one-bedroom apartment, and each has died a quick death.

Is it me? Or is it what I've chosen to grow on my microwave-oven-like window ledge?

In hopes of helping others like me - inexperienced but eager planters who don't live in ideal conditions for growing green - I turned to Leslie Land, blogger for The Daily Green, and lead author of The New York Times 1000 Gardening Questions and Answers.

Land warned me that nothing is completely trouble-free (you still have to water these, guys), and you're still going to need a safe outdoor spot (no fire escapes, people). She added that these choices wouldn't exactly impress a seasoned gardener. But that's ok; they would deliver on what I was looking for - they'd grow almost anywhere.

1. Herbs - While many herbs need sun, Land suggests growing parsley, which tolerates partial shade, and mint, which likes things a bit shadier. Land adds that in addition to being a wonderful fresh herb (don't forget to use those sweet stems!), giant flat leaf parsley also makes an excellent filler for flower arrangements.

2. Cherry Tomatoes - If you have a sunny spot, enough space for a whiskey barrel-sized container, and a 5-foot support, try planting an "indeterminate" cherry tomato plant. This plant will keep getting bigger all summer. Land points out you'll get a lot more yield for your space compared to a regular tomato plant.

3. Dwarf Evergreens - Who wouldn't want a little evergreen forest next to her humble home? Land says you'll have to go to a specialty nursery to find these little treasures, but that they are far less labor intensive than bonsai trees. Dwarf evergreens need to be in a sheltered location and not in direct sun.

4. Coreopsis - This long blooming perennial does very well in window boxes, according to Land. It's a sun-loving flower plant. Sign me up.

5. Coral Bells - Land says these are beautiful even when they're not flowering. They're a great decorative option and they do best in partial shade. Land emphasized these would grow anywhere. "Even Alaska?," I asked. "Well," she answered, "parts of it."

6. Sedum - There are many different types of sedum in all different sizes. Almost all are drought-resistant, and seldom bothered by insects or disease, which is about as trouble-free as it gets.

Cool the Earth, Save the Economy

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:04:00 +0000

The EASY Plan & Policy

The goal is to reduce current annual US carbon emissions by 75% by the year 2030. The 4 components of the EASY plan, in a nutshell, are:

E -- energy efficiency in appliances, buildings, and industry
A -- automotive efficiency in design and fuel consumption for all types of transport
S -- solar and wind energy based electricity
Y -- you are part of the answer, through your individual actions, and most importantly, through your VOTE, because who you elect has a great influence on the other components.

The EASY Policy is based on one main concept:

Have government treat the solar and wind tech industries as if they are oil and coal: shift subsidies, windfall profit tax breaks, and other market incentives from oil and coal to clean renewable energy industries. Then let the market pick the winners.

10 Steps to a More Effective Complaint Letter - SavingAdvice.com Blog

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:30:00 +0000

I should do this instead of running to the BBB website after sending a quick e-mail. But BBB gets results. FAST.
www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/08/24/102260_10-...

No matter how careful you are about your spending, there is still a chance
the product or service you receive will not live up to your expectations.
However, having your problem resolved is not always as simple as contacting
customer service, a salesperson or even a manager. These people are not always
authorized to give you what you are asking for, whether it is a replacement,
refund or discount.

If your initial attempts to have your problem resolved fail, take it to
another level. Your tool – The Complaint Letter. Getting your complaint in
writing creates a record of your communication and can be a clear and effective
way to state your problem.

I recently disputed charges billed to me by my doctor, but I was denied
a discount. Since I felt my complaints were valid, I wasn’t taking no for an
answer. I found the name of the clinic’s CEO on the website, searched for her
email address online, and sent her a complaint letter. The result was a 50%
discount.

Not all complaint letters are created equal – implement these elements
into your letter to get results.
Determine who your complaint should
be directed
It is best to address it to a specific person that is in
a position to make decisions. Start by visiting the company’s website and look
for a corporate or contact page. They may have a specific department to handle
complaints. With local or regional companies, upper management and owners will
be more accessible. However, these contacts are not always listed. You can try
calling and asking specifically who the owner, president or CEO of a company is.
If you get lucky, ask how to spell their name and the best physical address or
email address to reach them. Also, remember that Chris is not always a man and
Robin is not always a woman. I prefer email. It is faster, and I believe more
reliable.
You can also search online for contact names and information.
Searching for “company name” and “president” may turn up a LinkedIn account or
news article. Business directory sites, such as www.hoovers.com, will provide some company
information for free. If you get a name, try to track down the company email
structure, such as jdoe@companywebsite.com or john.doe@companywebsite.com,
etc.
I sent my letter to the CEO, but she forwarded it to the medical
director. I figured the CEO wouldn’t be the one to actually address my
complaint, but I assumed she would get me in touch with the right
person.
Before you begin, remember to remain polite
Don’t
write an angry letter or threaten the person that has the potential to help you.
Don’t badmouth the company, it’s employees or products. If you were treated
badly or were given a defective product, they will want to know about it and
rectify the situation. Threats and name-calling are not incentives to help
you.
Briefly state the intent of the letter
Be sure to
provide any relevant information, such as the model and serial number of the
product in question, date and location the service was provided and customer
account number, if applicable.
Detail the problem and why you are not
satisfied
Tell them how their service or product failed to live up to your
expectations. In my case, I had additional expenses, lost time and physical
scarring. I felt that more could have been done on their part to prevent
this.
Give a brief history of who you have spoken to
With
this history, include why your early attempts to resolve the problem, if any,
were not adequate. If you have gotten to this point, you have probably already
spoken with someone. Do you recall who you spoke with and on what date? Describe
how they did or did not help you, but don’t vilify them.
State
specifically what you would like done
Do you want your money back or
the product replaced? If a service was performed, would you like it done over?
If you are asking for a discount, it may be better to have them come up with a
number first. They may offer more than you were expecting, which is what
happened to me.
Give them a deadline for responding
Give
a deadline, but be reasonable. At least one week, but no more than two. Let them
know what further action you will take if they fail to respond, such as
contacting the Better Business Bureau. Thank them for taking the time to help
you.
Give them ways to reach you
Provide your phone
number, mailing address and email.
Include
documentation
Be sure to include copies or scanned attachments of
any documentation, receipts or pictures. Make sure they are copies and not the
originals.
CC any other relevant parties
If you are able
to get more than one contact, send it to all of them, but make sure they know
this is happening. Be careful not to go over someone’s head that would rather
solve your problem than have their supervisor find out about it.
If you get
to the right person and follow these steps, they will likely be open to meeting
your request. In the event that this doesn’t work, additional steps can be taken
on your part. Contact state or local consumer, regulatory or licensing agencies.
The Better Business Bureau and even the media can help you. Small claims court
may be a potential last resort.

Suze Orman's Free Money Book

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:24:00 +0000

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

Do Children Really Cause Financial Burdens?

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:20:00 +0000

source:

www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/01/06/do-children-...

I was recently browsing a comment thread on Lifehacker when one particular comment stood out to me:
Having kids is one of the most expensive poverty-inducing things you can do right now. - kalibar
I understand completely where kalibar is coming from with this comment. Many estimates with regards to the cost of raising a child put that figure at $200,000-$250,000 per child over their lifetime - and that’s a serious chunk of change.
When I read these estimates, however, and I look at our own spending, something doesn’t quite add up. To put it simply, we’re not spending that much, even during these expensive years of the child’s life.
Let’s break down what we’re spending right now on our children.
For 2008, our biggest expense by far for our children was child care while we were working. Combined, we spent about $11,000 on child care for the two children this year. After that, costs went down quickly - we estimate that all other expenses combined (food, health care, toys, clothing, and so on) were roughly $7,000 for both children combined. Add onto that $1,200 per child put away for their college education (and I’ll ignore the tax benefits of this, as we don’t have to pay state taxes on contributions) and you have a total of $20,400 spent on both children this year - or $10,200 per child.
So, if those costs continued as they are over the next eighteen years, we would spend $183,600 per child during their childhood - not too far from those estimates.
But that $183,600 total is extremely naive.
Let’s look at several elements that will save us money during our children’s lives.
First, $6,000 of that $10,200 is tax deductible. It’s our child care tax credit, and it knocks roughly $1,800 (assuming a 30% overall tax rate) off of our total tax bill - or $900 per child. So, boom, we’re quickly down to $9,300 per child.
Second, we now have two more deductions on our tax returns. At $3,750 a pop, our two children shave $7,500 off of our taxable income. Assuming that same 30% tax rate, we quickly shave $2,250 off of our tax bill, so we’re down to $7,050 per child.
Third, the mere presence of the children changes our entertainment structure. Instead of going out to the golf course with the guys, I’m much more content to toss the whiffle ball around in the back yard with my son. Instead of going out to the movies three times a week with my wife (as was once the case), we stay home, watch movies in the family room, and play with our kids while doing it. Instead of eating out all the time, we put our daughter in a high chair, cook a meal at home, and serve her some of that delicious home-cooked food.
In short, both our entertainment and food budgets went way down upon the birth of our children. We knew this change would happen - it was part of our decision-making process when it came to deciding whether to have children. We knew that many of the trivial aspects of our life would change. We chose to give up most of our social opportunities and entertainment opportunities in exchange for being able to raise children in an enriching environment.
How much did this actually save us? This is something that’s very difficult for me to estimate, as I didn’t actually do any sort of budgeting or number-crunching during the year prior to our having children. However, based on what I can estimate from that year, we cut our entertainment and food spending (from 2004 to 2008) by $6,500 a year. That’s a drop of $3,250 per child, bringing our per-child expenses down to $3,800 per child.
So, let’s use that for the first five years of the child’s life - $3,800 per kid. After that, we lose almost all of the child care costs - but we also lose our $900 tax deduction - a total reduction in cost of $4,200. What’s that? During the sixth year, our total child cost is actually a gain of $400!
Obviously, as the child grows, we’ll begin to accrue more non-child-care expenses for them: education costs, growing entertainment costs, and so on. I’ll actually increase our expense per child at $500 per year after age six.
So, for the first five years, we spend $3,800 a year. At year six, we actually gain $400. Each year after that, we spend $500 more per child than the year before, culminating with an overall after-tax and after-savings cost of $5,600 during their eighteenth year.
What does that total up to? $52,800.
Now, you might quibble with my “back of the envelope” calculations described above and inflate some of the costs. You might even be able to double my estimated expenses by skewing the numbers around.
That doesn’t change the underlying point, however. Children aren’t the enormous expense that they’re made out to be. I’m not claiming that they’re not expensive - not at all. Instead, I’m saying that the quoted expenses bandied about - $200,000 to $250,000 over the child’s lifetime - looks only at expenses. It does not look at some of the savings that will come your way naturally during the child-rearing process, nor does it take into account the tax benefits of children.
What’s the take-home lesson here? Don’t be scared into not having children - or delaying having children for years - by the huge costs bandied about. Those costs only look at the “expense” part of the equation and don’t include the many ways that you actually save money once a child enters your life. For example, a single child, merely by existing, will save you thousands and thousands of dollars on your tax bill over their life.
So, do children cause financial burdens? Yes, they do - you’re going to be spending money on them. However, that expense is not as large as one might think at first glance, and when you consider the advantages of having children when you’re younger rather than when you’re older (if nothing else, you have much more energy to share with them), you shouldn’t choose to delay children without looking at the larger picture.

5 Ways to Take Advantage of the Financial Crisis

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:16:00 +0000

www.marieclaire.com/life/career/successful/fina...

By Hannah Geller

Karin Catt
1. Budget Wisely"Live within your means," says senior financial adviser James E. Law of Law, Chemtob, and Associates. "Why carry around credit card debt from a dinner you had four years ago that you can't even remember?" Let the current atmosphere of fear and frugality inspire you to get your finances in order. Set a budget for yourself and stick to it. Some tips for doing so? To begin with, make sure you have a cash reserve, health, and life insurance. Once that's taken care of, "pay yourself first," says Law. Meaning, when you divide up your paycheck, treat the funds you set aside for a long-term goal like another bill you have to pay each month. Once you have some money saved up, be it $100 or $100,000, there are all kinds of smart ways to spend it now.

2. Take Stock"Now is a great time to invest," says Law. "Although the market's not going to go up right away," buying stocks or mutual funds now, when they are less expensive, is like "buying a dress from Banana Republic for $50 instead of $100" — the less you spend initially, the less risk is involved, and the greater returns could be. If, and only if, you have extra cash, consider putting your money into stocks, bonds, or even your office's 401(k). Get advice from a professional financial planner like Law, or check out Websites like Yahoo's Motley Fool to start learning about the market.

3. Deals on Wheels "Automakers are hurting," says Joanne Helperin, senior features editor of the auto information site Edmunds.com. "They are desperate to make a sale and will do anything to get you financed." It's harder to get a loan now than it was six months ago, but if you figure out how to pay, it's easy to get an excellent bargain.The first step to getting financed, says Helperin, is to be prepared. Check how much the car's selling for on edmunds.com, autotrader.com, or kbb.com. That way, you'll know if the price you're being offered is fair or negotiable. You should also learn your credit score, which is free and easy to check at experian.com. The number's not set in stone: Pay off bills and consolidate debt to improve your score before you visit the dealer.Next, head to the bank or credit union to get preapproved for financing. At this point you're the equivalent of a cash buyer, and car dealers will be falling all over themselves to get your business. A recent New York Times article mentioned $15,000 discounts on GMC Yukons, $14,000 off 2008 Ford pickups, and $12,000 off Jeeps this month. Additionally, several automakers, like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and BMW, are offering historically low interest rates. These companies will scramble to beat your preapproved finance rates. When selecting a car, look out for gas guzzlers, warns Helperin. Although gas prices are low today, who knows what they'll be tomorrow, given the volatility of the market. Check out Edmunds's "true cost to own" feature, which calculates how expensive a car really is, taking into account fuel costs, maintenance, insurance premiums, and loan interest.

4. Get Real (Estate) National housing prices fell 2.1 percent in September alone, according to Integrated Assets Management. And for the first time in years, the number of Manhattan apartments up for sale is steadily increasing, while the number of buyers is steadily decreasing. Getting a loan may not be easy, but if you have the money, it's a smart time to spend it on real estate.Prudential Douglas Elliman real estate agent Vickey Barron thinks the current market presents good opportunities for buyers, and not just because of the bargains. The whole experience of buying an apartment is suddenly more pleasant and less cutthroat. Because the market is less competitive, "people have time to digest and take a deep breath," says Barron. "They don't have to act as quickly, and have more time to figure out" what they're looking for. "Buyers are real buyers, and sellers are real sellers," observes Barron. "An open house may no longer draw 35 people, but you know that the five or six people there are really interested. And no one's putting their house on the market just to test the waters" — they're really looking for a purchaser.

5. Vacate"Hotels that never would have entertained the idea of offering a discount last year are offering incredible bargains," said Michelle Finkelstein, VP of sales at high-end travel planner Our Personal Guest. Many people have been canceling their travel plans due to the economy, which means last-minute vacancies and great buys for the people who fill them (you). "Hotels, even at the superluxury level, are offering deals — complimentary upgrades, amenities such as spa treatments or dinners, and, more commonly, extra nights for free." At ultra-luxe resort Ile de France on St. Barts island, you can stay five nights for the price of three, or seven nights for the price of four. And Royal Hideaway Playacar in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, will refund $500 of your plane fare.

The 4 Worst Energy Zappers in Your Life

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:15:00 +0000

From:
http://www.thechangeblog.com/energy-zappers/

When I was 20 I caught the Epstein Barr virus which eventually resulted in debilitating chronic fatigue. At the height of my war with chronic fatigue it was like my life was over. I slept 17 hours a day and barely left my room during the rest of the time. It took a long time and a lot off effort and fantastic support for me to finally become well again.
I only tell you this because I want you to know that I have extensive personal experience with the phenomena of fatigue in terms of experimenting and listening to my body. My practical experience has taught me what makes fatigue worse and what helps overcome fatigue. Today I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned so that you can avoid certain key energy zappers and, I hope, improve the quality of your life.
1. Processed Foods
If you’re eating processed foods you’re contributing to the toxicity of your body. Consider why we have certain physiological detoxification processes maintained by organs such as the liver. When our physiology was formed there were none of the man-made additives and chemicals in food that our ancestral humans consumed.Up until about one hundred years ago the liver only had to deal with organic substances. Today, if you’re eating processed foods your liver is being overwhelmed by synthetic and organic chemicals it must process. According to the book Food Allergies and Food Intolerance, if you’re eating what passes for the average diet and drinking unfiltered tap water you are exposing yourself to at least 200 synthetic chemicals and chemical cocktails every single day.
All the extra work your liver and kidneys are doing requires a lot of energy.
2. Caffeine
If you’re anything like most people in the western world you consume some form of caffeine. Caffeine is something we reach for when we feel we need more “energy”. Unfortunately caffeine does NOT give you energy. What caffeine does do is stimulate your nervous system. Stimulation is a very different animal to energy.
By using caffeine as a stimulant you’re actually wearing your body out. When you consume caffeine your body releases a hormone called Cortisol. What you should know about Cortisol is that it is a stress hormone. Think fight or flight.
It is the Cortisol in your blood that keeps you awake and pepped up after consuming caffeine. Cortisol suppresses white blood cells, natural killer cells, and other features of the body’s immune system as well as increasing blood pressure. If you’re already stressed and you’re consuming things like caffeine you’re probably well on your way to adrenal fatigue.
3. Sugar
Here sugar includes refined and processed simple carbohydrates. That means white bread, white rice, pasta, and so forth. This sort of food spikes your blood sugar as effectively as sugar itself does. As always after a big spike in blood sugar levels comes a big crash.
When the body’s blood sugar level crashes below a healthy equilibrium you feel tired and fatigued. You’ll also feel highly unmotivated, become irritated and snap at your loved ones, all because you ate something high in sugar or a highly refined carbohydrate. For your reference the different names sugar parades under include lactose, sucrose, glucose, maltodextrose, maltose, dextrose, fructose, corn syrup, honey and maple syrup.
We all know (at least I hope so!) that refined sugar is bad for us. What you may not be aware of is that sugar is actually an anti-nutrient. What that means is when you consume refined sugar and carbohydrates there are no vitamins and minerals in that food. So in order to digest and process these things your body is required to draw from its own vitamin and mineral stores. That is never going to be good for your energy levels, nor your long-term health and wellbeing.
4. Toxic People
We’ve covered a lot of ground that has focused on the things we consume that are energy zappers. So I thought we’d finish with something a little different. Toxic people are people who are always negative, down on themselves and easily disturbed by any minor event that doesn’t go their way. You know who they are. They’re the complainers. The people who always criticize but never back that up with helpful solutions, the ultimate pessimists.
If you’re around such people for very long you’ll start to entrain to their energy level. You’ll enter into their headspace and essentially get dragged down, both emotionally and in terms of energy. To counteract this you will want to limit the amount of time you spend in the company of this type of person.
Sometimes, such as in a work environment, it is impossible to be free of toxic people. So in that case you will want to guard against spending your valuable energy complaining about these people to others and even to yourself. Once you leave work make sure you don’t bring it home with you.
Conclusion
Please give us your thoughts on the energy zappers presented here by leaving a comment. Also feel free to tell us about other top energy zappers that you have experienced, and what you were able to do about it.

Life Lessons#1: Develop Multiple Income Streams

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:12:00 +0000

This is a guest post by Beverly Davis, Founder of SundayCosmetics.com
I’m a home-based entrepreneur with a clear vision of stable, multiple income streams. It sounds savvy, but the truth is, I learned from sudden unemployment. I’ll never again rely on one employer (or client) as my only source of income. It is my mission to share my personal revelation with anyone who wants to succeed financially.
I’ve always heard “live beneath your means, don’t spend all you make, don’t use credit cards. Pay your tithes, give offerings” Good advice. Teachings should also include suggestions for increasing income with examples of people who did. It opens up creative thinking. Times have changed. Today, most companies are quick to downsize, cut pay and lay off employees. It’s ruthless.
After two consecutive jobs working in a toxic work environment, I couldn’t take it anymore. I reached my limit. I had spent a almost 25 years working hard to succeed with no financial security to show for it. It was a disguised blessing.
In October 2007, with a small savings and a new mortgage, I launched out to work for myself. Friends, family and colleagues laughed. They expected me to fail and some were bold enough to tell me. I immediately let them go. I cleaned my life of all negative people and kept my faith in God. I struggled intensely, but I made it.
In this economic recession, there are people surviving and thriving because they had a Plan B. When their company cut their pay or laid them off, they were able to still take care of themselves and their families. They didn’t end up starving or living in a homeless shelter.
The only way to recession proof our income is to have more than one source.

Source:

Life Lessons#1: Develop Multiple Income Streams

What the...?

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:22:00 +0000

Movie Reviews

Cut your commute expenses by 40%

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:31:00 +0000

From I WILL TEACH YOU TO BE RICH

This is Tip #24 of of the Save $1,000 in 30 Days Challenge. (See past tips.)

Today’s tip is to cut your commute expenses by 40% using two techniques: Carpooling and working from home.

Tip #1: Carpool
Carpooling is a sacred cow for Americans, which is exactly the kind of expense I love to cut. We spend incredible amounts of money and time commuting. As Gallup reports, the average American spends 46 minutes commuting to/from work each day. But any advice that suggests you sell your car and exchange it for a bike is totally irrelevant for the vast majority of people. Instead, I propose something much more modest.

Forget carpooling 5 days per week. Try carpooling 1 day per week. That’s hardly inconvenient, yet you save about 50 days of carpooling per year. At the peak of gas prices, I spent about $65/week on gas. If I carpooled just 1 day per week, that would equal about $465 in savings over 1 year. (Note: Here’s how I save more money on gas.)

The key: Start small. Don’t try to turn into Al Gore on day #1. Set a smaller goal so it’s sustainable: Try 1 day per week. That’s it.

First start, then optimize
Yes, technically you have to factor in the costs of driving your carpool buddies once every few weeks, but for the sake of simplicity, we’ll just exclude that. In fact, forget all barriers. As usual, it’s easier to ramp up once you’ve started:

“During this past summer I spent as much as $300 per month on fuel not to mention wear and tear on my vehicle. I am currently paying $45.00 per month to ride the Van Pool. An instant savings of $255.00 per month on fuel. Take that OPEC!”
–Marcos Martinez, Katy, TX

Use these sites to start:

Craigslist Rideshare (link takes you to SF Bay Area)
Carpoolworld

* * *

Tip #2: Work from home
Consider asking your boss to work from home. In The 4 Hour Workweek (see my book review here), Tim Ferriss outlines how to ask your boss to work from home.

Sherwood: Hi, Bill. Do you have a quick second?
Bill: Sure. What’s up?
Sherwood: I just wanted to bounce an idea off of you that’s been on my mind. Two minutes should be plenty.
Bill: OK. Shoot.
Sherwood: Last week, as you know, I was sick. Long story short, I decided to work at home despite feeling terrible. So here’s the funny part. I thought I would get nothing done, but ended up finishing three more designs than usual on both days. Plus, I put in three more billable hours than usual without the commute, office noise, distractions, etc. OK, so here’s where I’m going. Just as a trial, I’d like to propose working from home Mondays and Tuesdays for just two weeks. You can veto it whenever you want, and I’ll come in if we need to do meetings, but I’d like to try it for just two weeks and review the results. I’m 100% confident that I’ll get twice as much done. Does that seem reasonable?
Bill: Hmm…What if we need to share client designs?
Sherwood: There’s a program called GoToMyPC that I used to access the office computer when I was sick. I can view everything remotely, and I’ll have my cell phone on me 24/7. Sooooo…What do you think? Test it out starting next Monday and see how much more I get done?
Bill: Ummm…OK, fine. But it’s just a test. I have a meeting in five and have to run, but let’s talk soon.
Sherwood: Great. Thanks for the time. I’ll keep you posted on it all. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Read more of Tim’s script in the section called “Disappearing Act: How to Escape the Office” of The 4-Hour Workweek.

The point is, during times when we’re all supposed to be doing more with less, if you can be more productive while working from home, your boss may seriously consider it. Most people never ask, so they never have the chance to trial a work-from-home strategy…even one day per week. (At PBwiki, the company I co-founded, we actively encourage people to work from home once a week.) What’s the worst he could say — no?

Just remember, your boss doesn’t care about you — he cares about how much you can (1) help the company and (2) make him look good. Frame your request accordingly.

Total savings: $100 to $300 per month if you apply both these tips (i.e., you’d be saving on your commute 2 days per week, or 40% of your commute).

* * *

Last thing to do
1. See other tips in the Save $1,000 in 30 Days Challenge
2. Leave a comment on this post describing how much you’re saving with this tip and any unusual techniques you use to make this tip work.
3. Want to submit your own savings tip? Submit a money tip here. Most of the tips you guys submit are absolutely horrible, so if I use your tip, I’ll send you something cool.

Happiness and watching TV

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:22:00 +0000

If you’re looking for happiness in life, you might want to turn off the TV. A new study which included 34 years of data and 45,000 participants displayed one striking conclusion — unhappy people watch 20 percent more TV than their happy counterparts.

The average American watches an average of three hours of television a day. It’s easy, it’s mindless, and according to the new study, it’s depressing.
So how do happy people spend their time?

The University of Maryland’s Dr. John P. Robinson, who co-authored the study, found while unhappy people watch more television, happy people spend more time reading or socializing. “What happens in general is that people sit down to watch a bit of television and gradually that tends to be their evening, and the more they watch the lousier they feel,” he said.

Beltsville resident Diondre Lewis said she understands the link between turning off the TV and personal fulfillment. “Interacting with other people, engaging your imagination with a book — it makes perfect sense,” she said.

The study also found TV viewing could increase significantly as the economy gets worse. Kristen Ruffin, who is currently unemployed, can believe it. “Searching around on the Internet, looking through the paper — what’s left to do — watch TV,” she said.

The study doesn’t answer the question, are people unhappy because they’re watching television, or are they watching television because they are unhappy? The study’s author says either way, the pursuit of happiness will not end here.

“You have your own script in life,” Robinson said. “Live it out.”

The study finds people hard-hit by the economy may find that television provides a good escape, but it also says that the short-term pleasure doesn’t outweigh television’s less positive effects in the long run.

Original source - http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1108/571018.html

http://www.thehappinessinstitute.com/weblog/index.php/2008/11/20/happiness-and-watching-tv/

Online Calculator Calculates How Much It Costs To Drive

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:07:00 +0000

from No Credit Needed - Oct 04 2008

Posted by NCN under Resources |

I just stumbled upon this very useful site - Cost To Drive. What does it do? Simply enter where you are going and what you are driving, and it will tell you (approximately) how much the trip will cost (in terms of gasoline). Sometimes, I love the Internet.

Before posting this article, I did a bit of searching. It looks like there are a few sites that offer tools that help you calculate how much gasoline you will use on a trip.

Gas Addict - Uses a map-based tool. It takes a minute or two to figure out, but it works pretty well. You can enter multiple points along your trip.

Triple A - Has a very basic calculator. There’s not much to it, to be honest.

MSNBC - This is very simple. Just enter how far you are going, the cost of gas, and your gas mileage.

All of these calculators will get the job done, but I really like the one from Cost to Drive. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Hidden Sugars Are Killing Us! (from Wow, You're Really Lucky)

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Did you know?
•Americans consumes about 41.5 pounds of high fructose corn syrup per year!*
•Sugar is more than 15% of an average adult’s calories. *
•Sugar is more than 20% of teen calories. *
•Americans consume about 20 teaspoons of sugar a day. * (usually in the form of hidden sugars)
•Chemically-created sugars are addictive.

High Sugar Diets Cause Health Problems

There are many health issues caused by excessive sugar intake are: increased risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney stones, increased blood pressure, and more.

We Are Addicted To Sugar

Totally eliminating sugar from your diet all at once can cause cravings and emotional withdrawal symptoms. Start by making small choices daily to watch for processed sugars in your convenience foods, you can gradually cut back on your families man-made sugar consumption. I am sure that your cupboards are full of sugary foods. Start to read your ingredients lists and avoid buying manufactured products with hidden sugars. Hidden sugars include: dextrose, maltose, rice syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, fructose and more. Generally if it ends in a –ose, then it is sugar. You can take small steps to reduce hidden sugars in your whole families meal plan. Everyone will be healthier and you will have fewer sugar cravings.

Say NO! To Hidden Sugars

When you say NO! to high fructose corn syrup and other hidden sugars, then manufacturers will stop using them. Money talks–Buy products without hidden sugars so that manufacturers get the message.
* United States Dept. of Agriculture Statistics

source

Reset Your State of Mind

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:02:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A&feature=related

From School to Work with Mental Illness or Behavioral Disorder

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:20:00 +0000

College and even grad school are relatively easy for those suffering from mental illnesses. Most universities have mental health care professionals readily available and a support system if you ask the right people. Great example: instead of leaving for a semester (and kissing good bye to $16K), I was put on the disability list which means professors discuss ways to make one's life easier. Though I barely attended class, I did all my work. I was kicked out of one class within the first few weeks as the demon of a professor required attendance. In my 7 semesters of college, I can honestly say that for 2, possibly 3 semesters, it was an auto-didactic deal during my 10 hours of being awake each day.

The same concessions weren't made for me in grad school because it wasn't necessary.

Here's the problem: eventually, you/we have to enter the working world that isn't nearly as kind or accommodating.

Here are my tips:
1) Stay insured! Make sure you have comprehensive mental health care coverage and sign up for a prescription plan.
2) Plan ahead and set goals to ensure that your illnesses is under control by graduation time. This is a particularly stressful time, especially in this economy. If you're sleeping 14 hours a day, you need to aggressively pursue a treatment that will get you to cut that down to at most 10. That could mean changing your mental health care provider, the type of therapy you're receiving or your medications.
3) Stay on those meds!
4) Know thyself. There are many jobs and companies we're not cut out for.
5) Do not tell potential employers about your condition. TMI and you probably won't get hired. If you didn't do well for a semester or had to take medical leave, and you have to justify this to an interviewer, simply state that you were ill. If they ask what condition you had, politely state that you'd rather keep that private. According to my friend who just finished law school, it is illegal for them to ask anyway.
6) Get references. This requires building relationships with professors and other professionals.
7) Utilize your career center. Do mock interviews so you're aware of the areas you need to work on. If your energy is low, you look book, you interrupt your interviewer, etc., you won't get the job.

Gotta Love: Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie Spano)

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:22:00 +0000

Elizabeth Berkley played Jessie Spano on "Saved by the Bell." After the hot mess that was "Showgirls," she's made a comeback, hosting her own reality dance show and co-starring on "CSI: Miami." Get it, girl! Gotta love a comeback kid.

She's also married to Greg Lauren. I don't know what the hell he does but he's Ralph Lauren's nephew and I'm not totally jealous because he's hot (kinda); damn her and her RL access. Actually, fuck that. I'm jealous of his daughter Dylan. Now I'm going to go fantasize about being a great designer's daughter....

Classic Jessie Spano that did not stop me from abusing caffeine pills and ephedra in college

Links

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:49:00 +0000

Exercise motivation [MSNBC]

Cosmetic surgery goes into and out of the closet [MSNBC]

De-dimple your derriere [MSNBC] [ARA Lifestyle]

BYE, BUMPS!
Adopt this daily five-minute routine to amp up the dedimpling effects of your anticellulite cream.

1. Slough off dead skin cells. Creams won't do their job if they can't make it past dead skin, so exfoliation is key to getting the most penetration. Massage your scrub on dry skin. Rinse and dry.

2. Do a mini-massage. “Fat doesn't have a lot of blood flow, so kneading the skin helps increase circulation and lessen the appearance of lumps,” Dr. Tanzi says. Massage with your knuckles, moving up the fronts of your thighs, across your rear, then up the back of your thighs. Repeat three times.

3. Double up. Try rubbing in your anticellulite cream two times per day. Because your morning application starts to wear off after a few hours, a second dose midday will help make the tightening effects last longer. Bottoms up!
DREAM CREAMS?
SELF sent the 10 latest fat blasters to 31 readers, who tested the creams for about a month, then rated the effectiveness of each on a 1-to-5 scale. Before you shop for a slimming fix, read about the top five.
Soap & Glory Slimwear Puff-Draining Peptide Balm
$13

The claim: The balm depends on depuffing peptides, which are known for calming tired eyes, to reduce the puckering and dimpling in cellulite-prone areas.

One reader's take: “I lost half an inch on my butt and my thighs, and I was surprised to see that my dimples lessened after only two weeks. Where can I buy it?”
Average score: 3.8

sephora.com
Bliss Fat Girl Sleep
$38

The claim: Packed with lotus extract (which works in a similar way to caffeine) and algae, this rich cream aims to help reduce the look of dents by encouraging fluid drainage.

One reader's take: “It definitely made my thighs feel smoother, and I think the directions to rub it in for 30 seconds helped. It improves circulation, which must be good!”

Average score: 3.5

Mike Cook / bootsus.bri-global.com
Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Body Serum
$25

The claim: While peptides work to improve skin's elasticity, reducing the appearance of orange-peel skin, argan oil and glycerin work together to soften skin.

One reader's take: “I lost half an inch on my derriere. Whether or not that was due to the cream, its rich texture made my skin feel so smooth. That alone was worth it!”

Average score: 3.5

chanel.com
Chanel Body Excellence Firming and Refining Serum
$120

The claim: Relying on an Indonesian plant (purple bengle) to firm skin by stimulating collagen, this serum also has glycolic acid to exfoliate so skin feels smoother.

One reader's take: “I noticed that the bigger dents under my butt were less visible. When I skipped two days, though, my butt was on its way back to its original state.”

Average score: 3.3

Korres Garcinia and Guarana Toning Cream-Gel
$38

The claim: This light gel contains guarana, a plant extract packed with caffeine, which removes the moisture in your skin to tighten and firm dimply areas.

One reader's take: “I was skeptical, but I did lose an inch on my thighs. Even though it wasn't a total miracle worker, my thighs felt tighter the morning after each use.”

Average score: 2.3
SMOOTH OPERATORS
What procedures work to battle cottage cheese thighs? We surveyed 13 top dermatologists to find out.
The treatment docs recommend most

Thermage CL
The M.D.s say this brand-new method is the most promising for long-term cellulite reduction. The device, a handle that transmits radio frequency heat, can go deeper than lasers (without burning) to zap collagen. The collagen dissolves in response, and the body replaces damaged cells with new connective tissue. The treatment is expensive (about $4,000), but it produces noticeable results after only one session; other options take multiple visits.
The cheapest option

Spa wraps
Derms recommend wraps for those who want a quick fix because they're relatively inexpensive ($80 to $200). The wrap squeezes out any excess fluids for an immediate tightening effect, but it's a short-term solution. “You could lose inches, but they'll come right back in a week,” Dr. Johnson says.
The treatment on dermatologists' radar

Ultrashape
Docs are curious about this device, which uses ultrasound waves to destroy fat (not simply targeting collagen). The fat is then carried to the liver, which breaks it down as energy. The company is currently seeking FDA approval, which could happen in the near future.
— Eleanor Langston, SELF magazine
BYE, BUMPS!
Adopt this daily five-minute routine to amp up the dedimpling effects of your anticellulite cream.

1. Slough off dead skin cells. Creams won't do their job if they can't make it past dead skin, so exfoliation is key to getting the most penetration. Massage your scrub on dry skin. Rinse and dry.

2. Do a mini-massage. “Fat doesn't have a lot of blood flow, so kneading the skin helps increase circulation and lessen the appearance of lumps,” Dr. Tanzi says. Massage with your knuckles, moving up the fronts of your thighs, across your rear, then up the back of your thighs. Repeat three times.

3. Double up. Try rubbing in your anticellulite cream two times per day. Because your morning application starts to wear off after a few hours, a second dose midday will help make the tightening effects last longer. Bottoms up!
DREAM CREAMS?
SELF sent the 10 latest fat blasters to 31 readers, who tested the creams for about a month, then rated the effectiveness of each on a 1-to-5 scale. Before you shop for a slimming fix, read about the top five.
Soap & Glory Slimwear Puff-Draining Peptide Balm
$13

The claim: The balm depends on depuffing peptides, which are known for calming tired eyes, to reduce the puckering and dimpling in cellulite-prone areas.

One reader's take: “I lost half an inch on my butt and my thighs, and I was surprised to see that my dimples lessened after only two weeks. Where can I buy it?”
Average score: 3.8

sephora.com
Bliss Fat Girl Sleep
$38

The claim: Packed with lotus extract (which works in a similar way to caffeine) and algae, this rich cream aims to help reduce the look of dents by encouraging fluid drainage.

One reader's take: “It definitely made my thighs feel smoother, and I think the directions to rub it in for 30 seconds helped. It improves circulation, which must be good!”

Average score: 3.5

Mike Cook / bootsus.bri-global.com
Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Body Serum
$25

The claim: While peptides work to improve skin's elasticity, reducing the appearance of orange-peel skin, argan oil and glycerin work together to soften skin.

One reader's take: “I lost half an inch on my derriere. Whether or not that was due to the cream, its rich texture made my skin feel so smooth. That alone was worth it!”

Average score: 3.5

chanel.com
Chanel Body Excellence Firming and Refining Serum
$120

The claim: Relying on an Indonesian plant (purple bengle) to firm skin by stimulating collagen, this serum also has glycolic acid to exfoliate so skin feels smoother.

One reader's take: “I noticed that the bigger dents under my butt were less visible. When I skipped two days, though, my butt was on its way back to its original state.”

Average score: 3.3

Korres Garcinia and Guarana Toning Cream-Gel
$38

The claim: This light gel contains guarana, a plant extract packed with caffeine, which removes the moisture in your skin to tighten and firm dimply areas.

One reader's take: “I was skeptical, but I did lose an inch on my thighs. Even though it wasn't a total miracle worker, my thighs felt tighter the morning after each use.”

Average score: 2.3
SMOOTH OPERATORS
What procedures work to battle cottage cheese thighs? We surveyed 13 top dermatologists to find out.
The treatment docs recommend most

Thermage CL
The M.D.s say this brand-new method is the most promising for long-term cellulite reduction. The device, a handle that transmits radio frequency heat, can go deeper than lasers (without burning) to zap collagen. The collagen dissolves in response, and the body replaces damaged cells with new connective tissue. The treatment is expensive (about $4,000), but it produces noticeable results after only one session; other options take multiple visits.
The cheapest option

Spa wraps
Derms recommend wraps for those who want a quick fix because they're relatively inexpensive ($80 to $200). The wrap squeezes out any excess fluids for an immediate tightening effect, but it's a short-term solution. “You could lose inches, but they'll come right back in a week,” Dr. Johnson says.
The treatment on dermatologists' radar

Ultrashape
Docs are curious about this device, which uses ultrasound waves to destroy fat (not simply targeting collagen). The fat is then carried to the liver, which breaks it down as energy. The company is currently seeking FDA approval, which could happen in the near future.
— Eleanor Langston, SELF magazine

Be Optimistic: The Wit and Wisdom of Shirley Temple

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:54:00 +0000

Shirley Temple's works have been heavily advertised during my TV time.   Between eye rolls, I caught a bit of "Be Optimistic" from her 1938 film "Little Miss Broadway."



Be optimistic
Don't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile
Smile and be happy

Your trouble can't be
As bad as all that
When you're sad as all that
No one loves you*

Be optimistic
Don't you be a mourner
Brighten up that corner
And smile, smile, smile

Don't wear a long face
It's never in style
Be optimistic
And smile

Be optimistic
Don't you be a grumpy
When the road gets bumpy
Just smile
Your trouble can't be
As bad as all that
When you're sad as all that
No one loves you*

Be optimistic
Don't you be a mourner
Brighten up that corner
And smile, smile, smile


*damn! when you put it that way...

The Wit and Wisdom of Audrey Hepburn

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:17:00 +0000

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

In Defense of Jessica Biel's Body

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:11:00 +0000

I'm annoyed that Jessica Biel is repeatedly said to have a mannish body. Rubbish I say! It's especially offensive as I personally think she has the best body ever and if I could trade figures with anyone, it'd definitely be her. I'll be damned if people are saying that I'd like to look like a man. More important than her figure is her extra active lifestyle that I wish to emulate.

Exhibit 1: She's toned, not butch or excessively bulky

Exhibit 2: This isn't what I'd want my man to look like from the back.
Exhibit 3: What's even remotely masculine about this? Except the watch.

Exhibit 4: Looks nice in a bikini
Exhibit 5-8: feminine figure

The guy at dlisted refers to her as She-Ra.

That's a compliment.

I rest my case.

Terms of Endearment: A Guide

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:36:00 +0000

If you want people’s faces to brighten up upon hearing your voice, use terms of endearment superfluously but not disingenuously.

Term	Appropriate for...
My love	Spouse, fiancé, fiancée, your child, close child
Love	All of the above, best friend, very close friend, sibling
Baby	Spouse, fiancé, your child, close child, committed partner
Babe	Familiar person
Boo	Familiar person
Honey	Familiar person
Sugar	Familiar person
Sweetie	Familiar person
Bro, Sis	Not technically a term of endearment. One’s siblings or close relatives or friends who are like siblings, alternatively for one’s own Greek siblings
Brotha, Brother, Sistah, Sister	Not technically a term of endearment. Use bro/sis if indeed sibling; use otherwise if both you and recipient have some sense of brotherhood/sisterhood, i.e. fraternity/sorority membership, common ancestry, religious affiliation. Otherwise, it comes across as culturally incompetent at best and disingenuous at worst
Girlfriend	Not technically a term of endearment. Use only if recipient is indeed a female friend. If she doesn’t know your favorite food, family background and several secrets, she probably is not your friend. Otherwise, it comes across as disingenuous.
Girl, boy, shortie, chica	Not technically a term of endearment.
Gorgeous	One who is gorgeous, avoid in workplace or if signals could be misinterpreted as sexual interest.
Handsome/Beautiful	One who is handsome/beautiful, avoid in workplace or if signals could be misinterpreted as sexual interest. For example, do not say “how are you, handsome?” to your friend’s husband. If both parties are present, say “how’s the beautiful couple?”
Buddy	A young boy
Dear	Any friendly party
Dude	A male casual friend if both parties are under the age of 25
Papi/mami	Father or mother. Otherwise, use only if culturally appropriate as it is otherwise a little creepy.
Sweetie pie, honey love, baby love	Sparingly. This is an overdose of sweetness
Bitch, slut, nigga, fag	Never!
Whitey	Never! This is a term used by an acquaintance to describe her stepmother. Said stepmother is named Blanche which means white. If you have to explain yourself to others around you, just pick another term.

I frequently use the following: love, gorgeous, handsome, beautiful, babe, hun (honey)

I love to receive the following: love, gorgeous, beautiful, baby, sugar.

Gotta Love: Women Who Age Like Fine Wine

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Gotta Love: Yummy Mummies

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 07:01:00 +0000

the middle two

Terms of Endearment: A Quick and Dirty Guide

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:01:00 +0000

If you want people’s faces to brighten up upon hearing your voice, use terms of endearment superfluously but not disingenuously.

Term	Appropriateness
My love	Spouse, fiancé, fiancée, your child, close child
Love	All of the above, best friend, very close friend, sibling
Baby	Spouse, fiancé, your child, close child, committed partner
Babe	Familiar person
Boo	Familiar person
Honey	Familiar person
Sugar	Familiar person
Sweetie	Familiar person
Bro, Sis	Not technically a term of endearment. One’s siblings or close relatives or friends who are like siblings, alternatively for one’s own Greek siblings
Brotha, Brother, Sistah, Sister	Not technically a term of endearment. Use bro/sis if indeed sibling; use otherwise if both you and recipient have some sense of brotherhood/sisterhood, i.e. fraternity/sorority membership, common ancestry, religious affiliation. Otherwise, it comes across as culturally incompetent at best and disingenuous at worst
Girlfriend	Not technically a term of endearment. Use only if recipient is indeed a female friend. If she doesn’t know your favorite food, family background and several secrets, she probably is not your friend. Otherwise, it comes across as disingenuous.
Girl, boy, shortie, chica	Not technically a term of endearment.
Gorgeous	One who is gorgeous, avoid in workplace or if signals could be misinterpreted as sexual interest.
Handsome/Beautiful	One who is handsome/beautiful, avoid in workplace or if signals could be misinterpreted as sexual interest. For example, do not say “how are you, handsome?” to your friend’s husband. If both parties are present, say “how’s the beautiful couple?”
Buddy	A young boy
Dear	Any friendly party
Dude	A male casual friend if both parties are under the age of 25
Papi/mami	Father or mother. Otherwise, use only if culturally appropriate as it is otherwise a little creepy.
Sweetie pie, honey love, baby love	Sparingly. This is an overdose of sweetness
Bitch, slut, nigga, fag	Never!
Whitey	Never! This is a term used by an acquaintance to describe her stepmother. Said stepmother is named Blanche which means white. If you have to explain yourself to others around you, just pick another term.

My favorites

to give: love (particularly "allo, love"), gorgeous, handsome, beautiful, babe, hun (honey)

to receive: love, gorgeous, beautiful, baby, sugar

Health and Body Image: The Alternative to Anorexia is not Gluttony

gorgeousblackwomen@gmail.com (Gorgeous Black Women) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:09:00 +0000

There is so much emphasis put on body image these days. How much does it really matter? Feminist sensibility tells us that we ought not judge ourselves by our bodies but rather value ourselves for our minds. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that argument but it seems like the alternative to starving is full-on gluttony as if having that big slice of cheesecake is a success for all womanhood.

Instead of focusing on body image, focus on health. Healthy body image will likely follow. Being healthy which entails being active and eating nutritious meals, high quality fuel, teaches us to respect our bodies if we don't do so already. I’ve never met a woman who respected her body and aspired to look like a twig or placed their self-worth in their looks. Instead, they value their bodies for its ability to complete anything from 5K races to triathlons, for its ability to bear children, for overcoming illness, for the boost it gives them to fulfill their purpose.

If we were all to purge our bodies of all the fake shit (aspartame, sorbitol, xylitol, energy drinks), drugs (coffee, nicotine) and miscellaneous crap (many frozen dinners and fast food, vending machine garbage, corn syrup, breast milk of other animals, questionable meat products, white flour, etc.), not only would we be a lot healthier, but we’d probably be thinner as well. Instead of fueling our vehicles with high quality genuine food, we pollute it with crap, abuse it with yo-yo dieting and starve it of the exercise it needs to work at its best. In my view, there’s no garbage that you can’t find a nutritious substitute for. Whether it’s pizza, brownies or chips, there’s always a much sounder choice and it does not come in a package stamped “lite.”

Let’s change the conversation about this. I do think that a health-based approach is best in combating obesity AND promoting positive body image. It’s no guarantee that you’ll end up looking like a bikini model. It is a guarantee that you’ll look more like the person God intended. Being a bikini model isn’t the end goal. Having a healthier body and respecting said body is the goal with the wonderful side effect of boosting your body image. No time? Make some. Lean already? Great! Tackle the health component.

Now for a controversial tip: I know “thinspiration” is common in the pro-ana movement. I’ll take a page from their book: get healthinspiration. Mine are Vanessa A Williams (vegan, clean-eating, clean-living, very active lifestyle, working mom) and Jessica Biel (young woman, very active lifestyle), women with the sort of lifestyle I want: active and clean-living. Some others I can think of are:

· Halle Berry - diabetic, no drinking-smoking-drugs, clean living, seldom on any lifestyle band wagons

· Condoleeza Rice - very busy woman, of a certain age yet manages to make fitness and health a priority

· Kerry Washington - slave to fashion who maintains a healthy, lean physique with physical activity

· Amanda Peet - natural and whole foods lover, busy working mom

· Kylie Minogue – very active, healthy lifestyle, over 40, cancer survivor

· Melanie Brown – very active, working mom

· Christina Ricci – healthy body, recovered from past eating disorder

We adore them, but these should not be your healthinspiration:

Gwen Stefani – chronic dieter
Victoria Beckham – at best, disorderly eating and artificially underweight
Janet Jackson – chronic dieter, extremes in scale
Oprah – disorderly eating
Courtney Love – underweight, chronic dieter, smoker
Beyonce – using Master Cleanser for weight loss
Amy Winehouse – drugs as diet aids