What Women Want

Jennifer Hyland - Woman with a Story

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Pauleanna says: Jennifer Hyland is our next "Woman with a Story" feature. She currently works in brand management and has built a great reputation among many. After discovering her passion at a young age, she pushed through obstacles and never gave up until she was able to create the world that she had always desired. Now, she runs one of the city's leading Brand Management firms and has established an elite roster of clients. As you read her story, you will see that persistance pays off and taking risks is worth it!

How old are you? 20s/30s/40s?

30’s

What is your zodiac sign?

Aries

What is your educational background?

College

Where were you born? Raised? Live now?

Born in Oshawa, raised in Whitby, live in Toronto

Single or Taken?

Taken

First job ever?

Working in the cafeteria at The BAY at 16 to pay for my band trip.

First “real” job?

Casino Dealer at 19, BMG Records at 23

Your 5 “must haves” of the moment?

My ipad, my blackberry torch, my passport, Maybelline black liquid eyeliner, Stilla watermelon lip gloss

What are you currently listening to?

Mary J Blige “My Life II” Drake “Take Care”, DRU “On The Brink”, Keshia Chante “Night & Day”

Jennifer at a Urban/Pop songwriters camp in Los Angeles with a great group and Canadian and US writers. This picture was featured in Billboard Magazine with an article on the camp. She keeps this picture to remind her of the fact that you can have something that starts as an idea that can actually become reality.

So what do you do?

Artist & Brand Manager at tanjola Brands for Keshia Chante (Universal), DRU (Universal), Q-Benjamin (Warner), Jesse Jones/U-ology 101, and songwriters Rupert Gayle, Justin Forsley, Shiloh, and jacksoul.

TIFF 2010 Opening Party with Keshia Chanté

Take us along the path (personal & professional) that took you where you are today.

I always knew I loved music, but had no idea how that would turn into a career. I started interning at BeatFactory Records in 1999 and that turned into my first job at BMG Records in 2000 running the Lifestyle Marketing department nationally. A year later I was recruited by the VP of A&R at BMG to come work for him in A&R as well as in International Exploitation for all the domestic acts such as Rascalz, jacksoul, Keshia Chante, Shawn Desman, In Essence and Canadian Idol etc. I worked at BMG through the merger with SONY and left in 2006 to join ole publishing as Creative Manager primarily building their Urban music catalogue and developing songwriters & producers. In 2008 moved to Los Angeles to help open ole’s new US office where I worked with all the US major record labels and publishers doing song camps for their artist projects and continuing to develop urban & pop writers/producers. In 2010 I came back to Toronto to work with former colleagues of mine, Ivan Berry and Daniel Mekinda who were starting an Artist/Brand Management company called tanjola. We currently represent such artists, brands and songwriters as Keshia Chante (Universal), DRU (Universal), Q-Benjamin (Warner), Jesse Jones/U-ology 101, Shiloh, jacksoul, Rupert Gayle, Justin Forsley and Shy Sharity.

What’s the toughest thing you’ve been faced with thus far?

I think the toughest thing about this industry is staying motivated and preserving through the development or re-development stages. Success comes, but it’s not always instant, in fact it’s rarely instant. An artist’s career goes in cycles from my experience. There are up and downs. You have to keep yourself motivated during the down times and remember that success can literally be one day away.

Jennifer got this tattoo to remind herself that the bad moments pass so not to worry too much, but the good moments also pass, so you still need to enjoy the present moment more.

The font is based on John Lennon’s handwriting who she admires as a social activist and musician.

What did your parents want you to be?

My parents always told me they just wanted me to be happy and that I could do whatever I wanted.

What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given?

1. “It’s easier to apologize then to ask permission.” If you want to do or try something new in business sometimes you just have to trust your gut and do it rogue. Most people have a million reasons not to attempt something new and will often say NO, before they’ll say YES. If you can avoid asking for a YES first, you more often then not are able to take a risk and create new innovations and opportunities.

2. “Don’t drink at industry functions.” Nuff said!

What advice do you have for women who want to follow in your footsteps?

Take risks, trust your gut and just because no one has done it before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done! Always take care of your health first! I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.

Is it possible for a woman to successfully balance both love and career? Why or why not?

Anything can be done if you set your mind to doing so. Find someone who supports your career, rather than someone who envies it. Relationships need to be nurtured, just like a career. You have to make time for both in order for both to grow. It’s not always easy, but it can be done.

Jennifer and Keshia Chante in Kenya this past May with CANFAR (Cdn Foundation For Aids Research) to help out at the local schools and orphanages where majority of the children had HIV and whose parents died due to AIDS. "It was an eye opening experience that really changed my perspective on life."

What’s next for you?

What’s next? Only God knows that. I’ve made a lot of “plans” in my life and they rarely go as I expect. Right now I just live one day at a time and try to enjoy the journey rather than focus on a destination.

Projects I’m working on in 2012 include:

http://www.keepgoingofficial.com/

http://www.u-ology101.com/

http://www.qbenjamin.com/

http://www.keshiachante.com/

http://www.druofficial.com/

This pic was taken on Jennifer's last day in A&R at SONY BMG with KC and her dear friend Haydain Neale from jacksoul who passed away in 2009. He was one of the most talented and humble artists she has ever worked with

Where do you see yourself in 5 years... 10 years?

I’m sure I’ll be able to look back on this statement and laugh, but…I’ve already done so much in my career. I’ve travelled the world, lived abroad, gone to the best parties, worn those expensive heels and experienced some really cool things in my life. I think I see myself settling down in the next 5 – 10 years. I hope to get married, have a few kids and enjoy that journey of being a mom and a wife, which I think is one of the toughest but most fulfilling things in life.

I assume I will always have my hand in music, developing and creating something new. I hope to branch off into TV concept development also. I have a few things in the cooker as we speak.

And lastly, in your opinion, What do Women Want??

Women want to be happy!

7 Habits Women Should Steal From Men

2012-01-19T09:12:00.000-05:00

1. IGNORE YOUR PHONEHow often do you hear a woman complain that her man hasn’t called or texted her back for hours? Just walk through a bar and you’ll hear it a few times. But, fact is, women are more attached to their phones than men are. Men are better at being in the moment—at being in work mode all day, to the point where they don’t even check their phone on their lunch break, or at enjoying a four hour concert so much, that they don’t want to connect to the outside world. And that’s a good thing. Enjoy the moment. Stop checking your phone. Time will pass much quicker and you won’t even realize it took him four hours to get back to you

2. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE FUTUREWhen it comes to relationships, don’t worry too much about where things are going. You’ll only stress yourself out because men just don’t worry as much about it as women do. So, you can either fight a constantly uphill battle of trying to drop hints about making your relationships “official”, or even about marriage, or you can sit back and enjoy the ride, like he is. Look—relationships that are meant to go somewhere, go somewhere. So don’t push it.

3. PRIORITIZE FRIEND TIMEMan time is very important to men. They make a point of having at least one day a week when they go do something with just the guys. Women are more okay with bringing their man around to what should have been “girl time”, and sometimes they neglect to have girl time at all because they get caught up in their relationship. But it’s good for you and your relationship if you completely separate yourself from your guy sometimes.

4. STICK TO YOUR HOBBIESSame idea as prioritizing friend time, but more than just taking you away from your man for a while, sticking with your hobbies and your passions lets you remain the woman that he fell for. And, it helps you maintain a sense of individuality, as it is way too easy to suddenly wonder “who the hell am I?!” when you’ve been part of a couple for a long time.

5. ASK AT THE LAST MINUTE
It drives women nuts when guys do this—when he just texts at 7 asking “want to get dinner at 7:30?” Well, it drives us nuts if that is the only way he ever asks us out and he never actually plans. But, there is something to be said for spontaneity. If you want to see your guy right now, then ask him right now. Don’t feel like it’s too late, or fear you’ll feel rejected if he can’t. If he can’t, he’s just busy—that’s all. If he can, great—you don’t have to wait until your next official date.

(source: Madame Noir)

Phlicia Rashad's words...

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Name: Phylicia Rashad

Age: 63

Occupation: Actress/Singer

Zodiac: Gemini

She wrote... A letter is to her 21-year-old self:

Dear Phylicia,

Romantic involvement distracts you and can blind you to what's really in front of you. And what really is in front of you? You are. You don't even know yourself yet. You think you know and you want to assert that you do, now that you're a certain age, but you don't. What's in front of you is a whole world of experiences beyond your imagination. Put yourself, and your growth and development, first. There are long-term repercussions to what you're doing now. Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It's imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways—ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.

With high hopes for you,

Phylicia

Reel2Runway Reality Series x Renee Thompson

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Friends of What Women Want, Renee Thompson has been all over the map pursuing her goal to make it big as a supermodel. We first introduced her several months ago when she was featured in the documentary, "The Color of Beauty" - which is a tell all about highs and lows of colored models working in the fashion industry. Since then I've been following her progress on YouTube and most recently her discovered her website Reel2Runway. Currently, she has 16 episodes posted on the site and each one is a short film about her journey towards super stardom. WWW admires Renee because she works hard and is fighting for everything that she believes in. Once you watch her story, it will surely inspire you to not only follow your own dreams, but reignite a burning passion to be the best you possible. Peep the trailer below and visit her website for more footage.

I MISS MUSIC: Creep - TLC

2012-01-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

Remember this song "Creep" released back in '94? - "I miss music"

MUSIC VIDEO: Save Me From You - Dawn Richard

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Former Danity Kane and Dirty Money starlet Dawn Richard makes her solo debut with the video from her first solo album, GoldenHeart. The track, “SMFU (Save Me From U),” produced by Druski is Dawn’s first visual as a solo artist.

(source: via Concrete Loop)

Necole Bitchie Discuss The Secret To Her Career As A Blogger

2012-01-16T09:10:00.000-05:00

Blogging has become a popular career choice in recent years and one of my favourite bloggers is the one and only necole Bitchie! Who doesn't love Necole Bitchie? what is so incredibly speciual about her is the fact that she has established special relationships with all our favourite celebrities such as Trey Songz, Amber Rose and the cast of Basketball Wives. In the video clip below she gives her fans advice on how to make a living as a blogger and also shares some of the obstacles she faced on her way to the top and how she overcame them! Her most recent interview with Amber Rose is also added below.

What is your opinion about blogging as a career?

Is it something that you would ever chose to pursue or do you think that the online realm is too overcrowded with bloggers?

Melanie Fiona Covers Rolling Out Magazine

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Friends of What Women Want, 28 year old Songstress Melanie Fiona is gracing the cover of Rolling Out Magazine this month. She has grown so much since we first interviewed her for our "Woman with a Story" back in 2009 and whenever I get the opportunity to show love, I take it. In her behind the scenes video, she discusses the work ethic she learned from her parents, her obstacles as a teenager and how she feels about love. WWW hopes that 2012 brings Melanie much more success.

Jessica White's words...

2012-01-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

Name: Jessica White

Age: 27

Zodiac: Cancer

Occupation: American Model/Actress

She says:

How To Stay Organized: Throw Away 50 Things

2012-01-12T09:00:00.003-05:00

Gail Blanke, life coach and author, challenges you to throw out 50 things that matter. Her philosophy is that it will help to become a person who will learn to let go (in various areas of your life). Apparently 50 is the magic number, but before you turn away from this daunting task, look at the brighter side and ask yourself how easy it is for you to remove unnecessary clutter from your life. This is an organization skill that most have yet to master and while reading this article I found on Stylelist, it refers to material possessions, but as I continued reading my mind ventured off into a deeper message: decluttering my life in other regards such as: bad habits, negative people and toxic relationships that do not add value to my life. It was a great eye opener and also a good way to start off the new year and I thought I'd share.

Robin Thicke Talks Loving Black Women & Interracial Dating

2012-01-12T09:00:00.002-05:00

Pauleanna says: Robin Thicke recently sat down with Essence Magazine to talk about his lovely wife Paula and his thoughts on the "Black Experience" and what it means to white men. A while ago we did a post on 'notebook' love and celebrity couples who showcase an unbreakable bond. These two definitely share something special and it's so refreshing to see. Peep the interview below, what's your opinion on dating outside your race? Are you open to it?

ESSENCE.com: Being that your music defines romance, how does it feel to know that people are getting married and making babies to your music all the time?
ROBIN THICKE: To be a part of your biggest days -- you know your child being conceived or born, or you walking down the aisle -- there’s really nothing sweeter. That’s the truth.

It’s actually the best thing. It’s nice if you can make someone drop it like it’s hot, or pop a bottle. But we’re always dropping it and popping it. What I realize about the difference between me and my peers -- you know, Chris Brown and Drizzy Drake and all my musical peers -- is that they haven’t been with the same woman for 18 years and I’ve been with a Black woman for 18 years. I’ve never dated a White woman. Don’t want to. I’ve never been on a date with a White woman. When you have that relationship and that means the most to you -- you know I can’t live without that woman, she is my muse, my best friend, and my creative partner. I didn’t have a great relationship with my mom and she didn’t have a great relationship with her dad and we became that for each other. She’s my mama and I’m her daddy. I even call her mama and she calls me daddy. We are that to each other.

ESSENCE: If someone saw you whispering in Paula’s ear, what would you probably be saying?
THICKE: I can’t wait to get you home and love you up for two to three hours. I like to try to get her into double-digit orgasms as much as possible. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when I’ve got my mojo and my swag, it happens. Every few months it’s just like bam -- repeated. Repeated! I like her to just be going crazy in the bedroom.

ESSENCE: What is Paula’s sexiest quality?
THICKE: It’s her intelligence and her strength. I’ve never met a stronger person who stands by their will and their moral values. She is such an amazing human being. Ever since I met her and we were 16 years old and she was the president of the Black student union and I was just a silly White boy who didn’t understand or have compassion.

I had no animosity, but I just didn’t understand the Black experience in America and how different it is -- and most White people can’t. You can’t understand it until you are with somebody every day and you have a child that you know is Black, you then understand that, wow, what a different experience Black people and in particular Black women have to go through.

I have a song on my new album called, “I Don’t Know How It Feels to Be You,” and she and I were in the middle of an argument and she said, “Robin, no matter how hard you try, or how compassionate you are, you’ll never know what it’s like to be a Black woman.” So I got up and I wrote this song in five minutes. The lyrics are: “I don’t know how it feels to be you, though I try my best to understand what you’re going through, I don’t know how it feels to be you. I can’t walk in your shoes. But, I’m trying baby. You know how much I love you.”

ESSENCE: Do you ever feel misunderstood?
THICKE: A lot of mainstream magazines, like SPIN and Rolling Stone, they still don’t get me. They can’t figure out how a funny guy with a dad on a sitcom can have a 90 percent Black female audience. It’s never happened before. I didn’t plan it that way. I just love the music and I love my wife and she is a strong Black woman, so if my wife doesn’t like it, how can the other Black women like it? If my wife approves of the song, I’m doing it.

Those Girls Are Wild x Melissa Kristen Present "The Clothing Swap" Event

2012-01-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

EVENT: Clothing Swap

DATE & TIME: Sunday January 15th 2pm - 4pm

LOCATION: 366 Bay St, Suite 800

Do you want to update your wardrobe, but are on a tight budget after the holidays?
Do you love vintage finds that no one else has?
Is your closet a hot mess and desperately needs to be cleaned?

If you said "yes" to any of these, then we've got the perfect solution!

Come to our CLOTHING SWAP! presented by Those Girls are Wild & Melisa Kristen

Bring your lightly used clothes, shoes and accessories and go home with fabulous new finds for only $5!

All remaining clothes will be donated to charity because we're nice like that.

BOOKS: WWW Recommends "What To Wear, Where: The How-To Handbook For Any Style Situation

2012-01-11T09:00:00.006-05:00

Pauleanna says: This is the perfect book for any woman who wants to mainatin a fabulous appearance every single day. I bought one for my best friend, my momma and myself, I can't believe I didn't discover this novel sooner! It's a quick, fun and easy read, so dive right in!

HAPPY READING LADIES!

OVERVIEW: Life is stressful; your outfit shouldn't be. That's the philosophy behind What to Wear, Where, the second book from the authors of the popular style guide Who What Wear. This time Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power give readers exactly what they've asked for: specific advice on how to put together the perfect look for any social occasion. What to Wear, Where addresses more than 50 major social situations, explains what you should wear and what you shouldn't wear, and shows you exactly what the authors would wear. What to Wear, Where is loaded with practical tips and style suggestions, making it the perfect resource for anyone who wants to feel more confident about her outfit choices. It's your go-to guide for wardrobe advice and inspiration!

Praise for What to Wear, Where:

"[A] definitive guide to looking trendy and timeless. With style advice for more than fifty special occasions, What to Wear, Where is the ultimate investment piece."
-Harper's Bazaar

Purchase your copy on AMAZON

Latoya Robinson - Woman with a Story

2012-01-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Pauleanna says: I first met LaToya many years ago backstage at a Kim Davis concert and I've always known her to be a positive influence and an extremely hard worker. What I admire most about her is not only her drive, but whenever I see her she has the biggest and brightest smile on her face! After studying at Ryerson University, Latoya eventually connected with her true passion: dance. Her resume is very impressive and I know that 2012 has better things in store for her. It is my pleasure to introduce her story...

20s/30s/40s?
20’s -- 29

What is your zodiac sign?
Scorpio

What is your educational background?
I went to Ryerson University and studied Business and Accounting

Where were you born? Raised? Live now?
I was born in Rexdale, raised in Mississauga and now living in Brampton

Single or Taken?
Taken :-)

First job ever?
My first job was babysitting my neighbours, tutoring kids after school.

First “real” job?
My first “real” job was as a tap dancer in the movie Bojangles, starring the late great Gregory Hines.

Your 5 “must haves” of the moment?
My iPhone, Macbook, iPod, accessories (earrings) and my passport!! LOL Got to make sure that’s ready for the last minute travels ;)

What are you currently listening to?
Old school hip hop and r&b jams, and some Drake and Beyonce

So what do you do?
I’m a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer.

(JUNO Awards 2006 with Massari)

(Raptors Dance Pak Photo 2005)

Take us along the path (personal & professional) that took you where you are today.
Well, my parents put me into dance class at the young age of 3, where I started out with ballet. The following year I started tap and jazz as well and was put into gymnastics. I enjoyed it a lot and ended up switching studios and dancing more competitively at the Canadian Dance Company and was in classes about 5 days out of the week! I travelled all over Canada and the US competing in dance. I was also heavy into sports and played baseball, basketball, volleyball and ran track in high school and named MVP in grade 11, while maintaining honour roll grades and dancing in the evenings. It was in my last year of high school when I auditioned and booked for a role in the movie “Bojangles”, starring Gregory Hines, as a tap dancer. That was my first real taste as a professional dancer in the industry and it was such an amazing experience. After high school I studied Business and Accounting at Ryerson University and continued dancing as a cheerleader for the Toronto Blue Jays J-Cru and then 3 seasons as a dancer with the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak. Had an amazing time with those teams and was able to watch all the home games up close and personal. During my Raptors days, I had been cast as a dancer in the movie “Honey” with Jessica Alba and then began dancing with one of Toronto’s top crews Blaze! It was then that I got into dancing in some notable videos for Keshia Chante, Jully Black, Mario, Rihanna and Massari to name a few. After my run with the Raptors, I was booked in the movie “Save the Last Dance 2” as a hip hop dancer and continued to dance in commercials, tv shows and stage shows.

I have been fortunate to dance with Lebanese-Canadian R&B singer Massari at the JUNO Awards in 2006 and on tour over the past 5 years across Canada and the US, in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Australia and the UK! Definitely one of the best perks of this career, getting to travel all over the world to countries most haven’t heard of and do what I love most…performing!!! Over the past 5 years, I have gotten more into the creative side of dance doing choreography for the Toronto Argonauts Cheerleaders and the Toronto Rock Cheer team, as well as teaching at competitive studios and some Toronto based artists. I’ve also started a school program that I teach as well as a performance group, Diva Dollz that perform at events including the Sex and the City event WWW put on last year!

As of late, I have been on So You Think You Can Dance Canada assisting Tre Armstrong and Luther Brown, danced at the MMVA’s with Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Kardinal and Flo RIda, toured with judge and choreographer Blake McGrath from So You Think You Can Dance Canada, dancing with Soca super star Destra on her 2011 tour in Trinindad, a judge and choreographer for a tv pilot called “Dance the Dream” and in the movies “Breakaway” with Russell Peters, Rob Lowe and Ludacris and as a tap dancer in the soon to be released movie Cobu 3D!

(MMVAs 2008 with Akon and Kardinal Official)

What’s the toughest thing you’ve been faced with thus far?
Just the reality that jobs may be few and far between at times and you always need to have something on the go to make this career work for you.

What did your parents want you to be?
My parents have always been very supportive of what I do, they were the ones that put me into dance after all lol. It’s nice to see that all the time and money they put into my love for dance is now paying off. They also stressed the importance of having an education to fall back on as well though.

(On tour in Doha with Massari)

What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Not to compare my goals, accomplishments and achievements with that of others. We all have different paths, struggles and triumphs. Not everyone encounters the same path to success. If you lack confidence, do more preparation. Let go and take chances to achieve success.

What advice do you have for women who want to follow in your footsteps?
You really have to put the time in and train, invest, develop and love your craft. Look at every situation as a learning experience. You have to love what you do and work hard at it. Know your worth and don’t settle for anything less! :-)

Is it possible for a woman to successfully balance both love and career? Why or why not?
Definitely! Woman are strong and great multi-taskers hahaha. It takes some work but well worth it in the end.

(On tour in Germany with Blake McGrath)

(Replacement Girl video with Trey Songz)

What’s next for you?
Have a workshop I will be teaching with Kay-Ann on January 21st, 2012 from 1-4pm at Gotta Dance Studios. More info can be found online at: http://www.dancexpression.eventbrite.com/ or by emailing: info@dancexpression.com - I am also planning on going to the UK and Europe in the new year, mainly Barcelona, working on some shows!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years... 10 years?
In 5 years, I will be opening up a studios around the world, continuing to share my love of dance, creating and directing events, shows, competitions.

(In Trinidad with Destra)

(With Divine Brown and Jully Black)

In 10 years, I will be successful in my endeavours and doing them on a larger scale, married with a few children!

And lastly, in your opinion, What do Women Want??
Women want to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin, have power and success in their careers, lasting friendships and to love and be loved!

29 Ways To Stay Creative...

2012-01-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

MOVIES: WWW Recommends "The Vow"

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

In Movie Theaters: February 10, 2012
Directed by: Michael Sucsy

Starring:
more credits Channing Tatum ... Leo
Rachel McAdams ... Paige
Scott Speedman ... Jeremy
Jessica McNamee
Jessica Lange
Sam Neill

Distributed by: Sony Screen Gems
MPAA Rating: PG-13
for an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language.
Genres: Romance Comedy

Synopsis: A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.

MUSIC VIDEO: You Da One - Rihanna

2012-01-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

5 Things That Sex & The City Teaches Women About Love & Life

2012-01-05T09:00:00.003-05:00

Many women from around the world grew up with Carrie, the girls and their series of heartbreaks and passionate lovers. We have laughed and cried and most importantly been taught many lessons about love and life. Below is a list I found.

Is there anything else you would add that you've learned from SATC?

1. YOU CAN LOOK HOT AND FABULOUS POST 30
Sex and The City showed the world that the romantic lives of thirty-somethings are much more interesting than that of the 20-somethings, who have less at stake in the dating world. But, at the same time, Sex and The City illustrated just how fabulous women can look past 30. Mini skirts and hot designer dresses and Manolo Blahniks were all part of the “wow factor” attire.

2. YOU CAN'T MAKE SOMEONE LOVE YOU
Ok, so this may not apply to the last season of SATC, but the first ones did depict something very real as manifested in the relationship between Big and Carrie. No matter how much Carrie loved Big, nothing could make him see her as anything but the girl of the moment. He cared for Carrie but not enough to marry her. We know what happened after he broke things off because “he couldn’t commit”: he went to Paris, came back and married a much younger woman by the name of Natasha. We think that if we just treat someone right and nurture the relationship, we can get back what we put in but as Bonnie Raitt sang “I can’t make you love me, if you don’t/ I can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.”

3. A GOOD GUY IS NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH
Sometimes the nice guy just doesn’t make the cut.

4. HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
The phrase has sparked an awakening amongst dating-aged women worldwide and I think for that, we have to be grateful to SATC.

5. FRIENDS ARE THE TRUE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS
As much as SATC focused on the trials and tribulations of dating and relationships, it also highlighted the glories of friendship. We women may always be on the mission to find “the one” but we know just how important it is to our health and happiness to have strong bonds with other women. The fun of dating involves the fun of commiserating and sharing, and no one showed that better than the gals of SATC. Miranda, Samantha, Charlotte and Carrie did it big on the town and were always there for each other whether it was at a cocktail party or during a divorce.

(source: Madame Noir)

BOOKS: WWW Recommends "Look Better Naked" By: Michele Promaulayko

2012-01-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

When you look into the mirror, do you love what you see? A WWW blog reader asked me to track down a book that would help her keep on track with maintaining a healthy diet and I have found the perfect one! My aunt actually told me about this book and she swears by it and I thought it would be a great addition to the blog! Peep the overview below...

HAPPY READING!

OVERVIEW: Today’s young woman wants to be in great shape and have control over her life, which means being confident and comfortable with who she is. Looking great naked and feeling great about how she looks is the foundation of effortless beauty—on a date, in the office, or just relaxing with friends.

Look Better Naked! is a diet, exercise, beauty, and self-confidence plan from the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health, the magazine that knows how to speak to women in a smart, inspiring way. The book offers expert tips and simple plans for reshaping a woman’s body quickly and easily. It reveals the powerfoods a woman should put on her plate every day and has a workout plan that delivers results in just 15 minutes a day. The plan also helps a woman flatten her belly, tone her legs, tighten her butt, and improve her skin and hair.

A woman’s posture, her pride, her personal power—they all go together. Look Better Naked! shows a woman how to be the best possible version of herself that she can be.
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NEW MUSIC: Echoes of Silence - The Weeknd

2012-01-04T09:15:00.000-05:00

The Weeknd dropped a new collection of music.

Finally, what we've been waiting for.... Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Best Fashion Moments of 2011

2012-01-03T09:10:00.001-05:00

This year some of our favourite celebrities definately hit us with some show stopping dresses. Below are a few choices that I picked from 2011. My absolute favourite is Zoe Saldana. What's yours?

Jennifer Lopez: American Music Awards
Wearing: Zuhair Murad

Sarah Gordon: Toronto Film Festival
Wearing: Jason Wu

Kerry Washington: Keep A Child Alive Event
Wearing: Donna Karan

Kelly Rowland: MTV 2011 Movie Awards
Wearing Falguni & Shane Peacock Fall 2011
w/ Christian Louboutin Lady Peep Spikes peep-toes and a black clutch completed her look

Demi Lovato: The 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards
Wearing: Roland Mouret "Compeyson" dress

Zoe Saldana: The 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards
Wearing: Elie Saab - Spring 2012

Pippa Middleton Inspires The "Pippa Butt Lift"

2012-01-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

According to the Globe and Mail, Pippa Middleton has inspired thousands of American Women to enhance their butt.

One Miami plastic surgeon told Good Morning America that 80 percent of his work is now butt lifts – and 20 per cent of those are requests for the derriere made famous at the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. He calls the procedure the “Pippa butt lift.”

Pauleanna says: I remember when the wedding aired and the media was going nuts over Kate's sister and how gorgeous she is! Days later, to no surprise, TLC ran an exclusive special on Pippa and she then became the "IT" girl. Whatever happened to a healthy diet and exercise to tighten up? Would you ever consider the "Pippa butt lift" and has the plastic surgery craze gone too far?

New Year's Resolutions: How To Keep Them

2012-01-02T09:10:00.001-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all had a safe one, but most importantly I hope that 2012 brings you much happiness. Many people see this new year as a fresh start and a perfect reason to leave baggage behind. Although making to-do lists and new year's resolutions are very popular this time of year, might I remind you that you don't need to wait around for another year to make changes in your life. It can happen anytime! "Out with the old, in with the new" - is that how the saying goes? Anyway, as I was doing my online creeping, I came across some great tips about how to stick to those NY resolutions and follow through.

One challenge that I want to improve upon is learning how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I have a really bad habit of drowning myself in my career without popping up for air and in doing so my relationships and friendships have suffered. So moving forward I hope to have better time management so that I can enjoy life's simple pleasures.

Do you have a new year's resolution? and do you normally stick to it? if so, what's your secret?

1. GET SPECIFIC
A common mistake people make is setting big, nebulous goals like, "I'll be healthier." Instead, make your resolution specific, with a tangible, achievable outcome. Rather than saying, "I want to save money," determine how much, exactly, you want to save. What are you saving it for, and what will you do once you hit your goal?

Then, visualize what good will come when your goals and desires are met. What does it feel like? What does it look like? It also helps to have something simple, tangible, and positive to repeat to yourself over and over again. "I will be able to run a 5K because I'm healthy and strong," is not only positive reinforcement, but it's a quantifiable goal that you can check in on and make your reality.

2. WRITE IT DOWN
Write down your goals and outline the small, manageable steps you'll need to take in order to achieve them. If you set a big goal -- say, learning a language -- without a step-by-step plan, it can be overwhelming and trigger frustration or negative thoughts that get in the way of your success. But by planning and accomplishing one small thing at a time, you'll stay on track, focused, and positive.

Pauleanna says: This is a great tip and has worked for me! I have a 4 ft vision board on my bedroom wall so that every morning when I wake up to start my day, I know exactly what it is I want to accomplish and how to get it done!

3. MAKE TIME
Be sure to set aside ample time for yourself to achieve your goals. If you really want to write that book chapter, you might set aside three regular four-hour blocks during the week, and plan one day every month to track your progress. If you want to exercise more, plot out time in your weekly schedule for runs and time at the gym.

4. MOVE PAST DOUBT
Keep tabs on how often you "unset" your goals with your thoughts. Pay attention to self-sabotaging mind chatter, like: "I'm not good enough" or "I can't do it." Every thought you have is an intention. It's normal to feel fear, doubt, or worry -- but to make progress, it's important to move past those negative feelings. If you find negative thoughts surfacing, don't criticize yourself, but stay in control. If your thoughts don't support you or your goals, let them go -- they're not doing you any good. Replace them with your positive mantra, instead.

Pauleanna says: Change your thoughts - change your world. Positivity is key! Try to remove words like "can't" and "no" out of your vocabulary, trust me it makes a huge difference in the outcome.

5. GET A PARTNER
Having a group, partner, friend, or professional to encourage you can be a great way to keep you going. Try finding a friend who has a similar resolution, and check in with each other every week to talk about your progress and challenges. Or, ask a family member or significant other to keep you accountable -- just make sure they're supportive and positive.

You can also seek professional help, whether that's a personal trainer to help you meet your fitness goals or a counselor who can help you tackle larger, looming issues such as low self-confidence or a lack of direction. If you are dealing with issues of self-doubt, these can seriously get in the way of you meeting your other goals -- so do yourself a favor, and address such issues head on.

6. BE STILL
You're more likely to slip on your goals when you're stressed or overwhelmed, so spend time every day to getting out of your thoughts and reconnecting with yourself. Try a breathing exercise, meditation, yoga, or just going for a walk. The more practice you have being still and calm, the more present you'll be for each step of acheving your goals.

Setting and reaching goals isn't about willpower, it's about the power of your intention. Once you've mastered these few steps, you'll be well-equipped to follow through on your resolutions -- this time, for good.

(source: Huffington Post)

p.s. Follow @whatwomenwant and @pauleannar for What Women Want updates!

New Hair Dos To Try in 2012

2012-01-02T09:00:00.007-05:00

Be Bold. Be Daring. Leave behind whatever styles that you've already done and move forward with a few that may be outside your comfort zone. Vibe Vixen has suggested a few a trends that will be hot next year.

Short, Loose Bob
This may be an ongoing hairstyle trend and only bold for the long hair wearers, but we highly suggest a major chop to a dull ‘do. If you haven’t done the short ‘do, take the leap of faith. All A-list Vixens have rocked their tresses in a short style sooner or later, so it’s your turn to lose control. Loose bobs with bangs and tousled beach waves are in for the upcoming year, so try it out now and thank us later.

Top Knots
We love, love, love this new hair trend. Simple yet chic, the bun or wraparound pony that sits atop the head can be perfect for any casual outing or high-class soiree. It can be a messy one or a neat, slicked back creation. Either way, this is the go-to for 2012 hairstyles. Everyone from Ashanti to Sanaa Lathan have taken the reigns on this one, so try it!

Center (Side part)
Ah, yes, it’s back again. The defined part down the center of your scalp is back again. Made popular again by the Kardashian sisters and seen on many a runway, this simple yet bold hairstyle can make any new ‘do sophisticated and chic. If you’re simply not feeling it, the side part is on trend as well.

Retro Updo’s
With fashion taking a look back (always) at yesteryear, hair is keeping up in the on trend race. Grab your inner Bridgette bardot and try out some retro chignon or beehive hairdo. Bold? Yes! And completely acceptable

Braids
Fishtail, side-swipe or milkmaid, the braids are back to adorn wigs. Natural or relaxed, it’s time to take a hold of the memories of our moms. Tap Draya Michele for inspiration and peep a few YouTube vids to get the fishtail down pat, as well as other woven locks.

(source: Vibe Vixen)

WWW Wishes You A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2011-12-23T21:34:00.003-05:00

On behalf of the What Women Want team, we want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy new year! As we enjoy time with our family and friends, a little break is well deserved. Please note that blogging will resume on Monday January 2nd, 2012.

I will be checking email periodically, so if you have any questions, concerns or just want to drop a line, I can be reached at pauleanna@ilovewhatwomenwant.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!