Weekly Motivation 03.30.08

“I maybe here for a shortwhile, gone tomorrow into oblivion or until the days come to take me away. But, in whatever part you play, be remembered as part of a legacy
...of sharing dreams and changing humanity for the better.
It's that legacy that never dies”
~ Author Unknown

A Plus Size Movement

Dear Readers:

I recently blogged about the wonderful event that Miss Chanel Clark, Founder and CEO of the Miss NYC Plus Runway Model Competition held on March 15. Miss Clark is now undergoing the task of trying to get signatures for a petition to get a plus size show during NYC's fall Fashion Week. The signed Petition will be sent to IMG World, the producers of Fashion Week.

Miss Clark writes in her plea to both IMG World and the Plus Community:

"I am pleading with you, to please acknowledge us during Fashion Week. We are not asking you to give us the whole entire tent, but rather, just a segment of one of the shows. If there was a runway built exclusively for the plus models, and if each designer contributed one designer outfit as a special "project" towards the benefit of size acceptance, I truly do believe that it would be an asset to Fashion Week. The time is now because the average size woman is a size 12/14, and we have spending power. We are tired of being ignored by the fashion industry. Please stop ignoring us, we want to be included. Curves are beautiful. Please give us a chance."

Isn't it time that we see real women and fashions for real women at fashion week? If you feel like I do, click here to view and sign the petition. When you do, be sure to put your real name and a positive comment regarding a plus size runway show at Fashion Week.

Thanks in advance to all who help Miss Clark in her cause!

Beauty Q & A: Afrobella

As women of Color we often are left wondering where we can turn to get the real 411 on products that are specifically for us. Ladies, look no further than Afrobella.com. Created by Patrice Yursik, afrobella.com is now one of the top blogs about hair and beauty products for women of Color on the Net. Ms. Yursik was kind enough to take some time between posting tips and working for the Miami New Times to be the first to sit down for Belle-Noir Magazine's Beauty Q&A.

The Lovely Patrice Yursik aka Afrobella

Thank you for taking time to talk with Belle-Noir Magazine. Before we find out more about your site, I'd like to know some more about you. Who is Afrobella?
Afrobella: I’m the creator of Afrobella, and my actual name is Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik. My readers call me Bella. An Afrobella is a woman who is all about being positive, vibrant, informed, intelligent, and proud to be beautiful on her own terms.

What was the catalyst behind your creating afrobella.com?
Afrobella: Quite simply, I couldn’t find the kind of reading material I was looking for. I’m a magazine junkie, and I noticed a void in the representation of women like me. The articles didn’t connect with me because they weren’t being written with me in mind. I also couldn’t find a blog that combined my interests – makeup, hair, music, culture, fashion, randomness. I was addicted to celebrity blogs and a lot of them can be really negative and judgmental. I wanted to create a space that was positive, smart, and encouraging; and celebrated the kind of women that don’t get celebrated often enough.

If you had to give the cosmetics industry a letter grade on the number of quality products in the market for women of Color, what would it be overall?
Afrobella: Right now, I’d give the industry a B+ -- so close to an A -. The industry has come a long, long way from the days when Flori Roberts and Fashion Fair. So many more cosmetics companies produce niche lines for women of color, L’Oreal’s HIP comes immediately to mind. Even for ladies who shop at the drugstore, there’s HIP, there’s Milani, there’s Black Opal… all great brands that are super affordable. And as for high end brands, practically every one has come out with some special side line targeted to women of color, or now pride themselves on having a wider range of concealers. And lucky me, I am constantly getting contacted by unique boutique businesses owned by women of color, for women of color. I’ve discovered some great niche brands recently, like Valana and b.l.a.c, and Big Girl Cosmetics. Quality is improving, and there’s a lot to choose from. The industry will earn an A from me when I start seeing more models of color in the advertising.

If we peeked into your purse right now, what must-have items would be there and why?
Afrobella: Oh Lordy. I roll with a little zip-up makeup bag everywhere. I recently pared it down, at one time I had a bigger purse with at least 15 lip glosses on me at all times. Now I have like five – my Softlips vanilla, the Rimmel Light Beam gloss, HIP lip gloss in tempting, Valana Minerals sparkie lips in velvet pomegranate, and whatever matches my outfit for the day. Today I took Shu Uemura lip gloss in a dark purple. Besides that, I have a Cover Girl Queen Collection powder foundation compact, Boscia blotting linens, and a mini perfume. These days, it’s a teeny bottle of Ysatis. Mama Bella would be proud!

There are more and more women of color who are sporting natural hair styles today. For someone who is looking to go natural, what steps would you recommend? Any specific products?
Afrobella: Product recommendations? Oh, definitely. The shampoo that changed everything for my natural hair was DevaCurl No Poo. It’s supremely gentle, and DevaCurl One Condition made my hair feel softer than anything I’d tried before. An awesome cheap conditioner is Trader Joe’s moisturize. Love that. An expensive but excellent conditioner is Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery. For drugstore brands overall, Crème of Nature is my favorite right now. They’ve got an affordable organic line and a great leave in conditioner.

In terms of advice for bellas who are considering going natural, I advise them to shampoo less, do conditioner washes instead. Comb their hair when it’s soaking with conditioner in the shower, and always comb from the bottom up. Forget your obsession with hair length; focus more on having strong, healthy, happy hair. Look at it as an adventure in discovering the hair you were born to have. Some natural hair grows in thick spirals, some doesn’t. Some grows straight, some grows kinky, some parts of your hair might be coarse while the rest is smooth. I find it fascinating. If you have short hair, don’t be afraid to accentuate your look with loose and comfortable headbands, or big fabulous earrings and dramatic makeup. Own your fro. That’s the best advice I can give!

Going natural is a real commitment to improving the health of your hair, so it’s important to get to know your texture and take the time to figure out what kind of styling products your hair will respond to. Some afrobellas love oil based products like Lisa’s Hair Elixir by Carol’s Daughter. Some prefer a creamy moisturizer, like Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme, or Curls Milkshake. I’d say do as much research as you can before you start buying up products, because it can get expensive.

Finish this line: "I never leave the house without ________________."
Afrobella: My purse, which weighs like eight pounds and contains my entire life, including all the aforementioned makeup. Is that cheating?

Where do you hope to see Afrobella.com in five years?
Afrobella: Oh boy! I have so many ideas. So, so many. I think Afrobella’s just going places. I’ve done five appearances on NPR so far, and I’m starting to feel comfortable with doing audio interviews. Now I’m considering doing podcasts, and eventually video when I feel ready for the world. So I can see Afrobella becoming even more multimedia, and I can see some pretty cool stuff coming down the line. The sky’s the limit, and I’ve got a real vision. Watch and see!

___________________________________________________________________

Be sure to check out Afrobella.com every day for the latest beauty tips and more. Also, check out Pretty in the City, her blog at the Miami New Times featuring reviews on Miami beauty hot spots.

Weekly Motivation 03.23.08

Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there.

~Clarence W. Hall

Wise: Six Traits You Don't Need

Wise: 6 Traits You Don't Need

By Alexys Fairfield

Do you ever feel like you are burdened with the weight of the world on your shoulders? Often times the weight of the world is really the weight of your inner world. The world that you may neglect at times, unbeknownst to you. Sometimes when we get so busy in our lives, we may inadvertently channel these traits that we can really live without.

1. Anger - Two words; not good. Two more words; anger management. It's no fun being on either end of anger. Though sometimes it is justified, anger can be an emotional tsunami with serious health complications that can shorten life span and interfere with quality of life.

In a major study, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley identified chronic anger and hostility as key triggers of smoking and excessive drinking, and obstacles to healthy immune function. In addition, episodes of anger were found to play a role in the onset of potentially deadly ischemic strokes.

Anger typically occurs in degrees, ranging from mild annoyance to intense rage and not all of it is vocalized. It is best to communicate, if that's not possible, learn to differentiate between the action you WANT to take and the action you MUST take.

2. Aggression - We often hear that aggression is good, but is that really the case? Like a lion ready to pounce, aggressiveness puts us on edge. It may be a jungle out there, but that does not mean that we have to be the lion. It's true that you can get more flies with honey than with vinegar. Do aggressive people really get ahead or do they ruffle as many feathers as possible to rise to the top? What aggressive people may not realize is that what goes around comes around.

3. Fear - We are here to experience life at it's fullest. Living in fear is like living in a lunar eclipse; you can never see the illumination because your joy is being blocked. Take small steps, feel the fear and do it anyway.

4. Lying - There is a difference between harmless white lies and lies that can harm, defame and ruin someone's life. If you have to lie to other people, then you are really lying to yourself. Being honest and having integrity is worth more than lying for any reason. There are exceptions, but use discretion if you have to stretch the truth. Think of the outcome before you say it.

5. Infidelity - There is no excuse for this. The statistics are staggering. Most infidelity goes undetected. Given the secretive nature of infidelity, exact figures about cheating and extramarital affairs are nearly impossible to establish. It is estimated that roughly 30 to 60% of all married individuals (in the United States) will engage in infidelity. These numbers are probably on the conservative side, when you consider that close to half of all marriages end in divorce.

If you feel that you have to cheat, then you should probably get out of the relationship. Why put your partner through the pain of adultery? We all want to be loved, but when we pick the wrong partner, that can lead to a lifetime of pain and baggage that can follow us from relationship to relationship. It's better to pack your bags than to have baggage.

6. Ridicule - Putting other people down to elevate yourself shows a defect in your character. If there is something inside of you that gets a kick out of another's downfall, then something inside of you is off kilter. It behooves us to treat others as we want to be treated. People don't want to be mistreated. When an elephant falls, even the frogs don't kick him.

___________________________________________________________________

Alexys Fairfield is a writer and rhapsodist in Los Angeles who specializes in ways to enlighten the human experience while helping individuals find happiness and fulfillment in this moment. Embrace this journey of a lifetime. Life gives you wings, all you have to do is fly. http://www.soulmeetsworld.com/

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Hot Spot Review: Miss NYC Plus Runway Model Competition

On Saturday night March 15th, I attended the 1st annual Miss NYC Plus Runway Model Competion. If you missed this event, shame on you because it was truly a great night.

I will get my one critique out of the way, because there is only one:

The theater, for as beautiful as it was, was not very plus friendly. I know of both one BBW and one BHM that had to sit in folding chairs at the back of the theater because the theater style seats were reminiscent of the seats in a public school auditorium--and were about the right size for an elementary or junior high school student! It was a shame because the BBW was a VIP and the BHM was the husband of one of the contestants. But I know that the founder and CEO of the competition, Miss Chanel Clark, had no control over the seat size. And I think that most theaters have smaller seats in general. *shrugs* Ultimately, not a big deal. I think most people were happy for the close quarters, because sometimes it got chilly in there. *smile*

Now onto the GREATNESS that was the show itself:

The show was WONDERFUL! The twenty contestants were in three scenes: the 1st, in which the ladies channeled their inner Hollywood starlets, the 2nd where they provided some wonderful silhouettes, and the 3rd in which they donned the outfits of their favorite character from Sex and the City. What I loved about the show was that there was an obvious mix of runway veterans and those who might just be starting out on the runway. What I also loved was that each young lady came out with the attitude that they were going to rip that runway! In getting an inside scoop from one of the contestants, I know that each of them were responsible for picking their outfits for each scene. Of them all, my favorite was the Hollywood Glamour. The ladies, for the most part, chose to go for Old Hollywood looks, reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn, Lena Horne, Dorthy Dandridge, etc. Simply beautiful!

The most moving moment of the night came when the ladies of the competition honored their choreographer, Mr. Robert "Bobby" Mallory, who died of a diabetic stroke on February 23, 2008. I don't think there were many dry eyes in the house as the models, all dressed in white, laid single white roses at centerstage with Destiny's Child's gospel medley playing in the background. Miss Clark then presented the white roses and the Appreciation Award that Mr. Mallory was supposed to receive that evening to his mother, who gave a lovely speech and encouraged the models to keep their heads up and "God will do the rest".

Awards were also given to DeVoe Signature Events Founder and CEO Gwen "Diva" DeVoe (Dynamic Diva Award), The Rev.Patricia Lawson of the Riverside Church (Lifetime Achievement Award), Mr. Max Szadek, founder of Divabetic, an outreach organization educating women to take control and "make-over" their diabetes (Accent on Awareness Award), Fashion Designer Robert E. Knight (Creative Spirit Fashion Designer of the Year Award), and to Co-host Catherine Schuller (Voluptuous Visonary Award). The models even surprised Miss Clark with an award and gifts in a tribute to her hardwork and dedication in getting the competition together.

Congratulations to all of the ladies. They all walked away winners in their individual boroughs (shout out to Tiffany Braxton Belvin and Elsa Peralta who rocked the runway and came away with 2nd runner up finishes in both of their boroughs, as well as The Diva Award and Miss Congeniality, respectively).

Congratulations to Nic Moore for winning the title of Miss NYC Plus 2008!

Chanel Clark and company, job well done for your first time out. I am already looking forward to next year's show.

Hot Spot: Meeting in the Ladies Room

Blissful Elegance in association with Belle-Noir Magazine and Divas in the City present "Meeting in the Ladies Room".

While your Sweetie is caught up in March Madness join us for a Meeting in the Ladies Room Session:Let's Talk about Sex.

Our hostess for the night will be the Real and Raw Robbyne Kaamil, the acclaimed comedian, actress, talk show host, author and advice columnist. Join us on the couch and get information about your sexual health from Tanisha Jacobs, a nurse at the MIC Women's Health Services.We also have "The Professor" who will help us explore the world of personal pleasure, we will get tips on how to add some spice to our life and learn some tricks to help develop a heightened sense of our sexuality.

Join us at the very sexy Madame X Lounge, our uninhibited arena for a very special Girls Night Out!

For more information visit us at: http://www.myspace.com/ladiesroom101.

Tickets are only:$15.00 in advance $20.00 at the door

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to One in Three Women, a Global campaign to raise awareness about violence against women.

We will also have vendors in the lounge:
Trubutter: http://www.trubutter.com/ The best line of body moisturizing skin care products in the world!

Annie Mae's Cheesecake: http://www.anniemaescheesecakes.com/ A little slice of heaven on earth.

Pearls of Black: http://www.pearlsofblack.com/ A place to explore the world of personal pleasure

Robbyne Kaamil: http://www.canwebereal.com/ Our real and raw host will have copies of her books and DVD available for purchase.

*ADDED BONUS! The first twenty people will get the exclusive Blissful Elegance Events Gift Bag*

Sorry Fellas, this event is LADIES ONLY!

Q&A of the Week: Et Tu, Phat Girl?

If your favorite plus size celebrity had WLS, would it change your opinion about how you viewed them? Why or why not?

Q&A of the Week: The Rules

Welcome to the Belle-Noir Magazine Q&A of the Week! There is so much going on in the plus community and in the world at large (no pun intended!) So this is a chance for us to hear how you, our readers, feel about some of the hot topics of the day. A new question will be posted every Sunday and comments will be open all week until Friday night at 8:00pm EDT.

To sweeten the deal, at the end of each week, one comment will be selected as the winner and will be entered into a contest. At the end of four weeks (three for the month of March) a winner will be selected and will win a prize (more details on the prize for March coming soon)!

The Rules:

1) While we encourage free speech, please refrain from using profane and explicit language.

2) Healthy debate is encouraged, however, flaming another commenter will not be tolerated and comments deemed as derogatory will be disqualified and deleted.

3) Anonymous posts are welcome but will not be considered for the contest.

4) Have fun with it!

Rules having been established, let's get started!

Weekly Motivation 03.16.08

Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it.
Try again. Do better the second time.
The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.
This is your moment. Own it.
~ Oprah Winfrey

HBO Turns To ‘Ladies’ For New Drama Series

Partners With Weinstein Co., BBC On ‘The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency’
By Kent Gibbons

HBO has bought the rights to a 13-part drama series derived from bestselling book series The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and also will air the two-hour film that serves as series pilot, directed by Anthony Minghella from the script he co-wrote with Richard Curtis.

Grammy winner Jill Scott (Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?) will star in the series, whose two-hour pilot (originally to be a stand-alone movie) was filmed on location in Botswana. Curtis and Minghella are executive producers; producers are Oscar winner Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa) and Timothy Bricknell for Mirage Enterprises, along with Amy Moore for Cinechicks.

The pilot is scheduled to air on the BBC in the United Kingdom later this month.

The 13 one-hour episodes will begin filming this summer, with HBO obtaining U.S. and Canadian television and home video rights and the BBC taking U.K. television distribution. The Weinstein Company, which controls all other international territories, is planning to take the project to market at MIP in April.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, by author Alexander McCall Smith, chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe (Scott), the eminently sensible and wise proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Aided by her highly efficient yet rather peculiar secretary Mma Makutsi (played by Anika Noni Roseof Dreamgirls), Mma Ramotswe investigates cases, helps people solve problems in their lives, and begins a special friendship with the highly respectable owner of a local garage.

Lucian Msamati plays Mma Ramotswe’s devoted suitor JLB Matekoni. They are joined by David Oyelowo, Idris Elba (of HBO’s just-ended series The Wire), Colin Salmon and Tony Award winner John Kani.

Said Minghella in a release: “Filming The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in Botswana was an amazing adventure. The people were marvelous and the landscape, especially in the northern areas of the country, is extraordinary. Particularly fascinating to me was working and filming in an African country where old and new are currently coexisting, where traditional values have not yet been eroded by the demands and efficiencies and neuroses of the modern. It was a privilege to be working on a film which celebrates what we can learn from Africa, and not what we think we can teach it.”

Source: Mulitchannel News

Lane Bryant's Closet of Your Dreams Contest

Starting March 10 through April 1 Lane Bryant is sponsoring a contest to win a closet and wardrobe makeover.

The contest is called “Closet of Your Dreams” and the grand prize winner gets a ClosetMaid closet makeover valued at $2,500 and a Lane Bryant wardrobe valued at $2,500. Lane Bryant will even hook you up with a personal shopper.

Additional prizes will be awarded too. The first place prize winner gets $500 in ClosetMaid products and a $500 Lane Bryant gift card. Second place winners (10 total) get $100 in ClosetMaid products and a $100 Lane Bryant gift card. Third place winners (150 total) get $25 Lane Bryant gift cards and 1,000 other winners will get $5 ClosetMaid canvas organizers.

All of the contest details are listed on the main Lane Bryant website where you can download the entry form. And of course, you have to submit your entry form to your local store--a perfect excuse to not only do a little springtime shopping, but also to start day-dreaming about what you might fill your closet with should you win.

Editor's Note: I was just in Lane Bryant last night purchasing a pair of Spanx to wear underneath a gown for an event this weekend and was looking adoringly at all of the absolutely darling dresses and tops that just sang out spring and summer. I was also looking at LB's favorite price on several of the dresses (89.50, anyone?) So if ever there was a time to enter a contest for some really fabulous clothing AND a new closet that would make the likes of Carrie Bradshaw jealous? It might be now. Good luck to all who enter!

Weekly Motivation: 03.09.08

"Anger is a little thing. Hate is a little thing. Order is a little thing.
Each of these little things has a major impact on the big picture.
Right thinking, right action, and right response to the little things will help us conquer the big things, like injustice, inequality, poverty, and disorder.
Until we are each able to conquer and master the little things in our lives,
the big things will remain undone."
- Iyanla Vanzant

The Scene:: Cabaret Unkempt

In Cabaret Unkempt, image is everything. Work explores how the body of a 'woman of size' is accepted and rejected

By NANCY WOZNY
The Houston Chronicle

As a self-described "woman of size" with a background in dance and theater, Jennylin Duany knows how much size matters.While the Miami-based Duany, 39, spent 10 years in a dance company that utilized her to an aesthetic advantage, she found the established theater world less hospitable. So she gravitated toward experimental theater, which, she says, is less concerned with stereotypical images of weight and beauty."I didn't always want to be the big gospel singer," Duany says. "Why can't my character ever fall in love? Fat people fall in love, too."

Duany will incorporate a mixture of movement, music, theater and visual arts when she explores how body image is linked to self-worth in Cabaret Unkempt, which she'll present Friday-Saturday at DiverseWorks.Duany spent the past year developing the piece as part of DiverseWorks' creative arts residency. Her Afro-Cuban heritage proved a good starting place in her study about being a large person in a culture that values smallness. "Cubans are remarkably direct. I went to Cuba to meet my relatives as part of my research, and one of them said to me, 'Wow, you are fat!' " Duany recalls. "They don't have the same trauma over political correctness. "

[ m o r e ]

The Scene:: Hot Spots

Here are some of the upcoming places to be and be seen in the plus community. Please follow the links for more information on the times and locations of these events.

Sat. 3/8/08-DeVoe Signature Events, Inc. Plus Model Call-NYC

Sun. 3/9/08-Gemini Full Figured Diva Academy Presents Stilettos & Curves-Baltimore, MD

Sat. 3/15/08-1st Annual Miss NYC Plus Pageant-NYC

Fri. 3/28/08-Blissful Elegance Events presents...Meeting in the Ladies Room: Let's Talk About Sex-NYC

Sat. 4/26/08-Project Curves-Chicago, IL

Keep It Moving: Get Outside!

Get Outside And Turn Your Workout Into A Mind-Body-Soul Experience
By Diane Raymond

In a funk because your daily trek on the treadmill has turned into an event only slightly more exciting than watching a pot of water boil? If so, maybe it's time to tuck your gym pass away in a safe place and step outside.



Research conducted at the University of Essex showed that outside exercise has benefits that extend beyond the expected calorie-burning effect. It turns out that surrounding yourself with nature stimulates spiritual feelings and your senses, and gives you an escape from modern life. This should not be a surprise, but exercising outdoors also lowers stress levels, improves concentration and positively impacts health and well-being.


Getting Started: Assess The Scenery
How well do you know your surroundings? At first glance, your neighborhood or community may not appear to have the same tools and equipment you're accustomed to using inside. Look a little closer, however, and you will notice hills and trees, curbs, stairs, playgrounds, pathways, picnic tables, benches, rocks and large tree limbs. The landscape has plenty of "equipment" and once you know how to utilize it all, the world becomes your gym. Before you get started, spend some time driving or biking around your community to scope out potential workout sites. In addition to parks and playgrounds, note where the schools, community green spaces and cityscapes are - these are all viable options for working out. Taking full advantage of the scenery and landscape will not only rev up your cardio routine, it will give you a mind-body experience that engages your senses, as well as your glutes!


Ten Ways to Get More from Your Outdoor Workout
1.Start close to home. Your most convenient option may be your own neighborhood. My own neighborhood, for example, has a surrounding pathway that is downhill on one side, uphill on the other. Combined with evenly spaced trees along the path, the set-up is ideal for interval training: downhill jog/run, followed by an uphill power walk or jog, then sprinting intervals between the trees, followed by walking lunges, skipping, and/or side-shuffling.

2. Go back to school. Most junior highs and high schools have tracks that are accessible to the public. Quarter-mile tracks make it easy to track your distance and they are also "give" more than concrete and cement, lessening the impact on leg joints. The green space in the middle of the track is a great place to practice agility drills, such as zigzag runs and shuffles. Run the stadium stairs and use the benches for push-ups and dips.

3. Make working out an adventure. State parks and metro parks have an abundance of hiking trails set amidst beautiful scenery that changes with each season. If you like to run, take advantage of the varying terrain to improve your agility and kinesthetic awareness. Some of the hills are rough, so practice common sense: watch your footing to avoid stumps, rocks and bumps that you could trip over; keep an eye out for poisonous plants like poison ivy; and take your cell phone with you.

4. Head for the hills. Hills, especially sledding hills, can really turn on the burn. Running hill repeats, side skipping, and walking backward uphill works every leg muscle and challenges your cardiovascular system as well.

5. Play like a kid. When was the last time you did the monkey bars? It's hard! Wear a pair of weight lifting gloves (available at most all-purpose stores, such as Wal-Mart or Target) to protect your hands and give the monkey bars a try. Challenge yourself to try pull-ups and chin-ups too. Use a low step for reverse leg lunges. Take resistance tubing with you and use the playground structure as your anchor for performing countless strength exercises, such as rows, overhead presses, and bicep curls. Want cardio? Take a jump rope with you.

6. Play with your kids. You'll earn your smoothie after an afternoon game of tag, kickball, flag football or catch with your kids. As an added bonus, children who have active parents typically grow up to be active adults, so you'll be setting a good example.

7. Practice backyard basics. If your backyard is like mine, it probably has some bumps, dips and many small rocks, creating an uneven surface. Try doing walking lunges across the yard. It is a much different experience than doing them on the flat gym floor. The uneven surface challenges the assisting muscles in the upper leg, as well as the stabilizing muscles of the hip, knee and ankle joints. Because you use those joints and muscles regularly in daily living, it makes sense to challenge them in ways that mimic real life scenarios. If this setting inspires the child in you, try crab and bear walks, inchworm push-ups, or mountain climbers.

8. Take your equipment with you. If you have small hand weights, weighted balls, resistance tubing and/or a jump rope, consider taking it with you to the park. Park benches can double as weight benches, railings can be used as an anchor for resistance tubing and the jump rope, well, that can be used anywhere and it is a fun way to get your heart pumping. If you haven't jumped in a while, start slowly - 10-20 seconds for beginners. Over time, work up to 2, 5, even 10 minutes. Try to beat your own record each time.

9. Learn something new. Tennis, basketball, swimming, cycling, kayaking, horse back riding and rock climbing are just a few activities you can to try. Attempting something out of your comfort zone is a great way to boost self-confidence. You'll surely meet new people, and you never know - you might discover an inner athlete in you that you didn't know existed.

10. Sites and Cityscapes. If you live in a metropolitan area that has little green space, fear not - there are still plenty of opportunities here for working out. Take your elastic tubing and tie it around you waste, then head to the nearest set of stairs (think Rocky in Balboa here). Go for a jog, run up the stairs, use the railing as an anchor for your tubing, then knock out a set of squats. If there is a hill nearby, try walking lunges up the hill. No railing in sight? Use a tree, or even a parking meter. Be creative - that is half the fun!

Remember -- no workout is effective if it isn't safe. Some Do's and Don'ts:

- Do follow the rules of the road. If you have to walk/jog on the road, be sure to go against traffic. If biking, go with traffic and be sure to wear a helmet. Stay alert to potential hazards, such as rocks and wet patches.
- Do wear sunscreen - the sun's harmful rays span all four seasons.
- Don't visit places you aren't familiar with, especially at night.
- Do take a buddy, especially if you will be in unfamiliar surroundings.
- Do abide by park hours. Most parks are off-limits from dusk to dawn.
- Do watch the weather and dress appropriately.
- Do drink plenty of water before your workout and take a water bottle with you.
- Do wear quality footwear that is designed for the activity you'll be doing.
- Do take your cell phone and tell someone where you'll be working out.

The outdoors, with its varied terrain and natural beauty, can do more for your mind, body and spirit than you ever imagined. But as long as you're still looking out the steamy window of your indoor gym while logging yet one more mile on the treadmill (yawn), you'll never know.



Diane Raymond is the Founder and President of Blue Sky Gym, a Columbus, OH-based personal training business specializing in in-home and outdoor personal training, lifestyle and weight management coaching, live workshops and educational resources. She is also a noted consultant and workshop presenter. You can visit her website at: http://www.blueskygym.com


Article Source: Ezinearticles.com

Money Matters: 5 Tax Rebate Check Tips

Five Tips to Help Your Tax Rebate Check Go Further When it Comes
By Roy Primm

In few weeks millions of U.S taxpayers will find tax rebate checks in their mail boxes. Including you, if you earned under $75,000 last year. So, will you blow your rebate check ... or will you increase it?

In an attempt to stimulate the economy, Congress approved an economic stimulus package designed to jump start the economy. If you're single and earned under $75,000 or married and earned under $150,000 as a couple you're eligible.

Your rebate check will go out in May or June according to initial estimates. Congress and President Bush agreed on the amount and who will qualify. These are the terms they agreed on.

- $1200 maximum per family.

- Most individuals will receive around $600 ($1200 per married couple).

- And another $300 per child.

Although the main reason the stimulus package flew through congress and signed quickly by the President in record time is simple. They want you to immediately spend it on more consumer goods. This in turn will stimulate the economy and avoid or shorten a recession.

But many financial advisers see this as a bad idea for most families, especially in this financial climate.

More financial advisers suggest saving it for a rainy day or using it to pay down debt you've already accumulated. For example, credit cards, auto loans and student loans. Which according to the latest report by The Federal Reserve board has doubled in the past 10 years.

As consumer debt increases, salaries continue to stagnate or even decrease as more high paying jobs slowly move overseas. So if you're planning to buy that flat screen television, stereo or other depreciable item think twice.

1. Save it.
According to the Los Angeles Times the savings rates of Americans have been falling for the last 10 years. In fact, the levels has dropped to the same levels as during the Great Depression.

Those who can manage to save the most in the coming year will have the most advantages. In the coming years it won't be how much you have or earn but how much you can save that will count the most. So use this check as an opportunity to start a savings habit if you can.

2. Kill a Bill.
Another wise move to make with your rebate check is to kill a bill. credit card companies will slowly raise rates, fees and pass other cost on to consumers. Why? To make up for losses caused by the mortgage meltdown.

So, the more you can pay down - or better yet, pay off your credit cards the less vulnerable you'll be to rate, cost and fee increases of credit card companies.

3. Retire it Toward Your Retirement.
If you have a 401K plan, IRA or Roth IRA consider investing it and enjoy the tax free growth.

4. Invest in Yourself.
With many jobs getting downsized, phased out or moving overseas this could be your opportunity to invest in another job skill.

5. Start Another Income Stream
Another smart way to use your rebate is to start a home based business. Don't laugh, every 10.4 seconds someone in the U.S starts a home based business.

The key is to do your research - first! Use the internet and your local library both free - before spending any money.

The second tip is find something you like to do and you'll be on your way. You can do it. Millions like you do it everyday. You have a home, why not make it pay for itself for a change?

Note: There are hundreds of home based businesses that you start for under $500. Focus on the ones that fit with your personality, hobbies, and likes. Avoid the get rich quick schemes. Focus on the businesses that stress good customer service and value.

Starting or expanding your home based business is an excellent choice because you're not taxed on you rebate check. In addition, if you spend it on a business it's 100% tax deductible. This give you a double benefit.

Conclusion
It's my hope that you use this coming rebate check and this message - to continue looking for ways to spend wisely so you can save more in 2008. By Using these tips you won't blow your next check - but instead you'll increase it!

During the depression a reporter asked John D. Rockefeller how to grow richer in hard times. At the time John D. Rockefeller went from grinding poverty to one of the richest men on earth. His quick reply? "It's not how much you have - but how much you save that makes you richer".

Roy Primm Founder and Publisher of BlackHomeOwnerNews.com the largest source of information for black homeowners. Get free ebook 99 Ways To Live Better On Less Money at ShoppersCoach.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Belle of the Month:: March 2008

Tiffany Braxton Belvin

Meet Tiffany Braxton Belvin, one of Belle-Noir Magazine's Signature Belle Models. Tiffany is currently preparing to take part in the 1st Annual Miss NYC Plus Pageant, taking place on March 15, 2008 at the Julia Miles Theater.

Hometown:
New York, New York

Age:
32

When did you first know that you wanted to be a model?
From very young I knew I wanted to be a model. You couldn't tear me away from a beauty pageant when it came on television. My mom looked into entering me in pageants, but it was too expensive. When I was about seven or eight I went to an open call audition for child models at Macy's. There were hundreds of people there and we stood in line for hours. I wasn't one of the child stars they were looking for, but even at that young age I understood what it meant to market yourself and have what people wanted in the industry.

Have you been in any fashion shows or been featured in any print layouts?
I did my first fashion show at York college when I was 21-years-old. I remember one of the designers said I had the best walk on the runway for a full-figured woman. I was a size 16 then. She asked me if I considered doing other projects for her, but I declined. As a Biology major, I didn't really have time for extra-curricular activities and I didn't see modeling as an option. Recently, after some advice from Gwedolyn Devoe of Devoe Signatures Events Inc. and Chamein Canton, author of Down That Aisle in Style, I decided to start modeling professionally. I have done a number of projects including shows with the John Perry Model Club of Jamaica, New York, Michelle's Of New York Plus Size Boutique, and Nigerian Fashions and Fabrics.

How would you define your personal style?
My style is constantly changing. When you live in a cultural salad bowl like New York City you tend to adopt styles. I appreciate the styles from the thousands of different ethnicities you'll find here. So don't be surprised if you see me in a sari, some chaps, or jingle dresses (Native American dance outfit).

What other projects are you currently involved with besides Belle-Noir.com?
Currently I am working with a company called Peach Couture, and another company that is developing a new line of jeans. My goal is to make my full-figured stamp on New York when I enter the Miss N.Y.C. Plus Pageant this year.

What is one quote/saying that serves as inspriation for you?
"Opportunity knocks once, but temptation will lean on the doorbell."

Where do you envision yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
I don't. I take one day at a time and thank God for giving me all that I have accomplished with each sunrise and sunset.

For More Information & to view Tiffany's portfolio, please visit:
www.musecube.com/mrsbigdog
www.myspace.com/braxtonbelvin

The Vanity Table: Stylin'

Welcome to one of the new features of our Beautiful You Mondays, The Vanity Table. The Vanity Table will host information on all potions & lotions that will treat your body to a most luxurious experience from head to toe! In honor of Women's History Month, we will not only bring you suggestions for some great products to try, but will be dropping a little history as well. We are proud to kick off the month with a topic that is at the very top of very woman of Color's list: hair care.

Born in 1867 as Sarah Breedlove, Madame C.J. Walker is known to be one of the first self-made millionaires in American History. It was her own hair loss in the 1890’s that caused her to begin experimenting with various homemade and store-brought products. In 1905 Sarah married her third husband, Charles Joseph Walker, a St. Louis newspaperman. After changing her name to "Madam" C. J. Walker, she founded her own business and began selling Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower, a scalp conditioning and healing formula, which she claimed had been revealed to her in a dream.

Today, women like Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter are leading the way in products created specifically for people of Color. Celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith attribute their lovely locks to Carol’s Daughter products. Give your hair a special treat with CD’s Saturday Morning Special. Filled with wonderful treats for ladies with both relaxed and natural styles, this gift set contains some of CD's most popular items, including Rosemary Mint Shampoo with Sea Moss, Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner, Hair Milk, Kizzi "Stay Put" Hair Pomade, Healthy Hair Butter, and Tui Hair Oil [$50 gift set, http://www.carolsdaughter.com/].

Also try:
Carol's Daughter Hair Balm
Carol's Daughter Loc Butter

Weekly Motivation: 03.02.08

Maturity includes the recognition that no one is going to see anything in us that we don't see in ourselves. Stop waiting for a producer. Produce yourself.

~ Marianne Williams