Healthier, Happier, You!!!!

A Spoonful of Paolo ~ with Gayle King!

2012-01-23T04:19:00.002-06:00

I missed Paolo when he visited Chicago and my friend Jackie at "Kilwin's Chicago" but I still adore, and support him!

CHECK his latest episode with Gale King!

A-tisket, a-tasket, Back to the Blogging Basket!

2012-01-22T06:50:00.002-06:00

This time of year is my least favorite. I know you know this! BLAH BLAH BLAH!

It has not been AS dreary as it usually is here in Chicago, but I just become so ARGH this time of year, typically associating it with the death of my beloved Granma - a major loss for me.

Nope, have not written anything substantial in weeks, I know, although there's TONS going on in the world. From SOPA to the loss of legend Etta James ... a plethora of issues and things to talk about.

I must also share that over the holiday, AFTER our #CadillacRock "Season's Best Event" for General Motors I delved into the Apple world!

Just beginning an intimate relationship with my Mac Air and then I was able to get my hands on a IPAD! Holy moly! Seriously, a lot of my free time has been figuring out how amazing these tools are for Social Media work!

Today I felt compelled to reach out, put my fingers to the task and WRITE!

Chicago is under 8 inches of the wretched white, fluffy stuff so I guess I better grab the old girl (pooch) and the shovel and head out to clear a path....

What does today hold for you? Whatever be the case, make it GRAND!

IT'S THE JUDY OF SCHAUMBURG SHOW!

2012-01-21T08:43:00.000-06:00

with my beloved Jon-David (AKA Mafiahairdresser @Mafiahairdreser) AS Judy!!!

He is amazing! He can cut ya, make this Calamity Jane look like a kitten, and then transform into hot and hilarious JUDY!

ENJOY!

How Long? Not Long

2012-01-16T00:56:00.002-06:00

Where or where can my warm weather be?

2012-01-14T10:13:00.000-06:00

I had what I asked for these past few months.

WARM WEATHER!

As I write this, I'm sniffling from being outside walking my dog in these now frigid temperatures.

I HATE CHICAGO WINTER WEATHER.

That is no secret. I want to move but have too many things keeping me here, so I stay - this year I have not been very disgruntled. HAPPILY walking the pooch through gorgeous scenery like this:

I am longing for next week and its promise of 50 degree days!

Weather really impacts my soul! What about you?

Operation Family Secrets was GREAT!!!

2012-01-07T02:59:00.001-06:00

Dwana Presents "Operation Family Secrets" an evening with Frank Calabrese Jr., Mafiahairdresser, & Anthony Serritella from Lightswitch Vidops on Vimeo.

Bitter Jester Touch Cuba 2012

2012-01-06T14:09:00.000-06:00

#CadillacRock "Season's Best Event" ~ what a SOCIALREVUP!!

2011-12-22T12:36:00.009-06:00

SocialRevUp.com is the brainchild of my mentor MJ Tam. Our goal is to bring the successes we have had with brands to our network of bloggers. Well, that was our initial goal. Since its inception, we have experienced so much love and joy that we've included that component of LOVE & JOY into all of our packages!

This amazing venture morphed recently and ultimately resulted in a lovely workshop for one of our favorites sponsors General Motors/Connie Burke and Cadillac!

My partners MJ Tam and MelisaWells share my love of spewing ideas at lightening speed and then making it all happen!! LADIES, it is a total pleasure, and hoot, working with you! AND CADILLAC made it SO easy!!!

photo courtesy of Fabie de Silva

Sleek designs, premier, luxurious features, ROCKSTAR ride - seriously - the 2012 Cadillac is a dream.

I was privileged to drive the 2012 Cadillac SRX, AWD, Premium Collection in Mocha Steel Metallic with Shale interior! OH WHAT A DREAM!!!!

16 city miles to the gallon (my experience was much more like 20+), a 3.6L V-6 6T Hydra-Matic driving experience like no other! THIS vehicle was amazing to operate!

New friends, lots of learning, food & fun made for a #CadillacRock Event I will never forget!

Many thanks to our venue; Reza's 432 W. Ontario! Muhammed and his amazing staff were great hosts.

BLEEDING HEART, MRS. PRINDABLES - THANK YOU!!!!!

AND TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED - Amy, Stephanie, Johanna, Maureen, Toni, LIGHTSWITCH.com, Fabio - I feel like I'm giving an Oscar-winning acceptance speech ... wait... LOL!

photo of Connie Burke courtesy of ME

photo of me courtesy of Fabie de Silva

photo courtesy of Fabie de Silva

Here our attendees displayed some of the MANY books we collected as donations to one of our fav charitable pals OPEN BOOKS!

UH, can I add that delivering the books in a CADILLAC SRX made it ALL the MORE enjoyable!!!

THANKS EVERYONE FOR BEING AMAZING!

Read between the lines! An evening with Chicago Authors

2011-12-17T17:19:00.002-06:00

I love to read.

Many who know me recall that I went to Columbia College Chicago to write. And although that best-selling novel has eluded me, I have fallen into some of the best reads this past year than in 2 decades for sure!!

My friend Jon-David wrote "Mafiahairdresser" and its sequel "The Glowstick Gods". Such an entertaining read because JD has quite the voice.

I also happened upon honoring an establishment's request in helping support Frank Calabrese Jr.'s New York Times Best selling book, "Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster's Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago's Murderous Crime Family".

We mingled with friends, family, mafia enthusiasts, and the authors at Bella Luna Cafe where I've been the Social Media Director for the past 3 months.

If you joined us, THANK YOU! If you missed it ... stay tuned ... there will be video!

In the meantime ... check out our pictures!

Jon-David aka @Mafiahairdreser Mafiahairdresser

Elliott of Lightswitch.com interviewing Frank Calabrese Jr.

Me with Frank Jr.

Frank Jr.,"Tony" Serritella, Jon-David & Louise Edwards

We Just Want Obama to...

2011-12-08T06:03:00.005-06:00

I knew it...Patriotic my arce ....

The Tiny Life!!!

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000-06:00

My friend Honor has been singing since before I can remember. She was "TINY" with a "BIG" voice ...

Ever known someone who just had to because?

Driving The Midwest

2011-12-06T09:36:00.002-06:00

Social Media is fun.

No, REALLY.

My day job is really starting to suck.

Crime versus Cadillac?

Court Calls versus Change on the fly

Hmmmm, I think I'd take times like last night's hockey game over any incidence of criminal activity!

Driving The Midwest is General Motors brainchild, and it is all things good.

In my line of work, it is a rare day that I see heroes. There are the Police Officers I work with who see, and deal, with things I won't even describe. THEY are heroes, but I have come to expect their sort of heroism. AFTERALL, they saved my beloved pooch as a puppy. At 8 months, she was the bait for a Pitt Bull fight. Chicago Police responded and rescued her ... LOOK AT THAT FACE!

These are the stories that warm the heart, are good to share over coffee or tea...these are the tales that move the community from what I see everyday to a world more tolerant and full of blessings ... and THAT is what last night was about!

Chicagonista.com & SocialRevUp.com were invited to participate in a shin-dig at The BlackHawks Game (GO HAWKS) THE UNITED CENTER to honor "Our Town, Our Heroes" This is a unique, FUN program where local HEROES can be nominated by their peers for the good work that they do. Every two weeks a winner is selected and their charitable cause or positive input gets featured!

SEE:

Often good deeds go unnoticed, while bad ones get all the attention. Let's make a move to turn that around!!

Nominate someone today!

Spreading my good cheer!

2011-12-03T12:58:00.000-06:00

I have been busy!!

Social Media is so much fun!

By now many of you have read that I am producing an event with Chicago authors Frank Calabrese Jr., Jon-David and Anthony Serritella. These talented writers have all had harrowing experiences with the mafia.

Everyone has, at the very least, been minimally intrigued with mob-life. My family gathered around the 82 inch at my sister's to watch The God-Father on AMC during Thanksgiving. We knew each scene by heart ... I can even recite entire monologues! "I know it was you, Fredo. YOU broke my heart, YOU BROKE MY HEART." ~ Michael Corleone

Family. Honor. Loyalty. Violence. Revenge. Mayhem. These are just SOME of the characteristics one can find when reading a good outfit story!

I hope everyone in Chicagoland will come out, meet the authors, pick up their books and enjoy a warm atmosphere with good food. REGISTER TODAY! Use the discount code MAFIA!!!

After all, books make GREAT stocking stuffers! Or bringing someone you care about to an intimate evening to meet great talent is ALWAYS fun!

THAT said, my partnership with SocialRevUp.com, Chicagonista.com and TheChicagoMoms.com has truly filled my days with so much good stuff! Great energy and relationships.

Please let me know about your good news! I would love to see if I can somehow assist the wonderful talents whose good stuff should be impacting our world!

This new side-bar of engaging authors has blossomed. For instance, Chicagonista's "Evening with Jane Devin: Elephant Girl" was such an emotional and amazing evening.

Stay tuned for an event to promote author Demika Caldwell "Manners Stink!"

MEET CHICAGO MOB AUTHORS ~ DEC. 16th

2011-11-22T06:11:00.009-06:00

Online event registration for OPERATION FAMILY SECRETS

My Chicago ~ My Mayor Rahm Emanuel

2011-11-21T22:03:00.000-06:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ovarian Cancer Dance Benefit

2011-11-13T10:33:00.000-06:00

"Wake me up before you Go-Go" is STILL going on in my head two days later.

Attending Dance Out Loud took me way BACK to my fun days!

Back in those days ... 1980's ovarian cancer was unheard of. If anyone had "female" problems, it was all very hush hush.

Longtime readers of "Healthier, Happier, You!" will recall my Michelle Whitlock interview and my pledge to remain vocal .

That was two years ago. So, when Stacy Bennet and Jen Knoedl brought the campaign to Twitter... well let's just say we tried to dance the night away!

Keep this campaign alive!

Love comes in many shapes and sizes! Rae Lewis Thornton

2011-11-09T06:39:00.001-06:00

Rae Lewis-Thornton has produced the best work of her life.

Her Trunk Show October 27th at the Comfort Suites Chicago 320 N. Michigan, displayed her most fabulous collection to date.

Fall/Winter 2011, Cruise 2012, Day to Evening, Pearls and my New Diva AIDS Awareness Bracelet.

Just fabulous!!!!

I am so honored having a Rae in my life and so happy to see her passion flowing in her designs!!

You can find every item HERE ON RAE'S WEBSITE

The Overweight Lover Heavy D

2011-11-08T21:37:00.002-06:00

I don't know about anyone else, but I am an '80's child. Losing Michael Jackson gutted me for so many reasons and now Heavy D.

Watching your life flash in video and song really causes introspection. Ready or not, my tween and teens years have come to the surface. I'm that little girl running home to watch the videos on Channel 50....

Heavy, thank you for all the memories. Rest well ~

I LOVE IT When I Dream Of Rome

2011-11-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

Theodora is set in the years after Christ. It opens when Theodora is "five, as old as the new century... in the city of Constantine...". (Theordora p. 3)

I am a lover of Rome.

ALL things ancient Rome, I should say.

The sexuality, crassness, politics and sheer brilliance of that entire era fascinates me ...

I suppose that entire historical period, probably up to World War II will always be something of interest.

Theodora:Actress, Empress, Whore by Stella Duffy captured and delivered.

I was completely taken in on page 48 when Theodora and her sisters, Comito and Anastasia as we are driven deeper into the intricacies of the tale.

Immediately during my read, I was flipping back and forth learning what was really documented during that time involving Theodora and what Duffy wrote about.

It helped me to build a epic vision that sailed quite smoothly page after gritty, descriptive page.

Theodora tolerated abuse but as history tells us, much of that was normal for those times ... luck could go either way. We know that love, friendship, making a living, was all tempered by hardship and intrigue.

Luckily for us, Duffy displayed with such incredible craft, the streets, the smells and the dialogue of ancient Mediterranean so that we too were privy to what goes on in the lurid underworld of ancient entertainment and survival.

The actions so primitive yet so sophisticated and regal.

Duffy did a great job of taking us from one stage to the next....from the theatre to the theatre of life and beyond.

Dealing With Negative People

2011-10-26T12:36:00.005-05:00

How do you deal with negative people in your life?

Blogher always has interesting, introspective campaigns running!

"How Do You Deal With The Negative People In Your Life?"

In my particular case, this post has meaning beyond the intended meaning!

With 25 years under my belt in various positions within the Criminal Justice arena, here in Cook County, I have had my share of negativity.

Irate pompous judges, flamboyant ego maniac attorneys, cranky clerks, venomous moms, screaming babies, gang bangers, killers, baby killers (yes, they have their own category) AND the mentally challenged have categorized the negative influences I've typically encountered.

Navigating has become a formula that I cherish. RIsing above the frailties of man-kind without scarring ... well, okay, I have some mental scars, but I have maintained a wonderful outlook.

IT IS HARD, but I breathe. I encourage accountability. Many people vent their inadequacies expecting you to absorb the fall-out. UH ... NO! That is your crap, so claim it!!

We would all love to eliminate the negative people in our lives, but that is not realistic. We can't change people and we can't off them all, so we must be responsible for ourselves. We must NOT allow the sourness to breach our sweet. Hang tight, hang tough and be joyous!!!

For myself, I allow what I love, like my son, to sustain me... read more and enter the sweepstakes for $250 Sweepstakes!!!! THAT should bring a smile!

Getting To The Good Stuff In You

2011-10-12T05:45:00.002-05:00

After 20 plus years of watching Oprah here in Chicago ... I admit, I had become a tad bit immune. Once an avid AM Chicago watcher, I hung in with Oprah well into her 2006 season before giving up and tiring. By the time O had shut down Michigan Avenue, I was simply annoyed. I kept saying to my mom after each "last this, and last that", "Is it over yet?????!!!!"

Enter Oprah's Life Class.

As a blogger, it is my pleasure to expose my incredible readership to things that encourage healthier living, and trust me, signing up will do just that.

I worked through some very difficult times using Iyanla Vanzant's In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want

Oprah has exposed us, once again, to growth and progression. I am so excited!

This clip is from today, which is Day 2, Letting Go Of Anger. Today's class was just as moving as yesterday's The False Power Of Ego... so tune in, sign up, get working on you right now!!

Watch live streaming video from oprahslifeclass at livestream.com

POOCH LOVE!

2011-10-05T08:07:00.001-05:00

YUP, OCTOBER IS "Adopt A Shelter Dog Month"!

Cousin Gabs with PAWS

My beautiful pooch pooch was ALMOST a shelter dog, thankfully Chicago's Finest will go to any lengths to save a life ... even four-legged lives. My angel was bait in a pit-bull fight. Someone phoned 911 and CPD (Chicago's Police Department) went in, rescued her and placed her in a cell. My co-workers rallied me over to see her and she jumped right into my arms!

DO YOU have a POOCH???

If not, go save a life today!

Also, if you are in Chicago, support PAWS . Their Fur Ball this year is 11-11-11 and is a black-tie event for you and the four-legged loved one in your life. Take fuzz out on the town!!!

Beauty Before The Storm

2011-10-04T08:20:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, one of the loveliest things I forgot about FALL! ... COLDS!

Day two of the kid being totally down and out, hacking and lethargic with a season-change COLD!

Arghh!!!

Many of you know I am a health nut. That boy gets 100% healthy 99.9 % of the time ~ BUT that downspout during his Friday night football game, coupled with Paintball all day Saturday wiped the dude out.

For 15 years the boy has never had antibiotics, so I am pretty secure that home remedies work...but time off from school, wear and tear, poor kiddo...

and to think it all began with this beautiful picture!!

HOW DO WE SAVE THE KIDS!!

2011-09-23T10:45:00.001-05:00

I have quite a NICE blogroll if I do say so myself!

Today I was reading Tom Valenti over at "Just Appease Me" and was very impressed to see he, as counsel and an officer of the court like me, had Conflict Resolution covered!!

I sat for hours watching the other linked videos that handled the subject and was happy that people are recognizing alternatives to violence.

I also noticed how Black culture, and the hip/hop culture, has tremendously influenced today's youth ... I suppose that is a whole 'nutha topic we must explore ... MANY of these messages were raps!

As a result of recent altercations and events around the globe, I began to ponder ...

In the U.S., is today's aggression result of:

* the Black communities continued struggles

* today's youth emulating what they appreciate about Black culture i.e. gestures, language, clothing

* trying to be tough, cool, relevant

* classism

* juvenile behavior

* influx of cartel cultures in urban communities

* economic disparities

* failure to properly educate students in preschool and middle-school before issues arise

* failure to hold parents accountable

* inability to reach populations that are most at risk because many of them are not even in the school system

* failure to teach accountability for actions

* glorifying violence

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I don't know ... these are simply thoughts off the top of my head ... whatever the case, my recommendation is that we all put our heads together AND FIGURE THIS OUT!!!

What are we teaching our children re: Troy Davis?

2011-09-22T11:07:00.002-05:00

Everyday I tell my son, watch who you are with, what you say and how you react to other people.

It is not a fool-proof method, but it is my hope and prayer that the constant reminder will one day save his life.

He is a moving target.

A man of color is not safe in this world. Period. For reasons that are current, and reasons that date back 200 + years. Society is trecherous for us all in one way or another, which is why I always press for some sort of personal responsibility when it pertains to your life choices.

I have been with my son when women of non-color have moved away from him on the train.

My heart bleeds every time I consider the statistics. Other teens. Urban Terrorists. Police.

It is a recipe for death.

So what exactly are we telling our teens to ensure that they are not wrongly convicted of killing someone? Mass protests to change laws is always a good thing...

But where is the emphasis on conflict resolution? Where is the media's reminders that our youth simply can NOT be out carrying weapons while consuming alcohol? Someone yells obscenities so you shoot them? Is it okay to hang with someone possessing a weapon or causing conflicts?

I fully understand someone's "right" to be out late, party, and possess a firearm.

BUT, again, it is always a recipe for death.

Don't confuse our youth.

It is a sad day when anyone is executed. I'm not sure how I feel about the death penalty, our legal system is definitely flawed. But make no mistake ... I sit and listen to the felonious and liars ALL DAY LONG.

90% of the time, I am the first person who has entered their lives who says, "Could you have done anything differently?" 100% of the time they say "YES."