There is an epidemic of men out here, who honestly feel like they don’t have to do little or much to impress women. WRONG! Quite contrary to male beliefs, women don’t require a lot of maintenance ALL the time, in fact if men would plan activities for their girlfriends and prospective suitors more often, they’d hear less complaints about the value of the experience at hand. Women are designed to be stimulated mentally first, always, and I do mean ALWAYS! Even if you’ve noticed a select few that can just about work themselves up in that way, but trust me it all begins inside the mind. We women are designed like this:
If you give a woman plans to look forward to for the weekend, she’ll resonate on those plans for the entire week, making her all the more happy to see you at the end of the week: she’ll pick out her clothes, match up her accessories, and mentally prepare herself to be swept up off her feet. There is no longing or desire when men say, “this weekend I want to take you to ____________ , we’re going to have a blast, but first I need you to call and find out how much it will cost and if they have any available reservations” How romantic is that? If you’re trying to woo a woman this way, you’re going about it all wrong! Remember the part in the bible that said that women are supposed to be submissive? Now don’t get me wrong, this is 2010, and there are millions of well accomplished women, but guess what? We WILL submit to the right things, like this:
“This weekend, I want to take you to away, I’ve already booked the trip and I can’t wait to see the expression on your face when we get there. I don’t want to take up too much of your time, but be prepared to have a fun filled, romantic weekend, just you and I, and make sure you pack a swimsuit.” Doesn’t that sound better? Gentleman, you will get so much further with a little preparation on your part and the element of surprise. 
It’s really not about the dollar amount attached to the experience; it’s about how much thought goes into it. These are some really tough economic times, but you’ve got to think and think hard about these women and what kind of cerebral experiences you can give them with little to no cost at all. There is nothing like it for a woman to be introduced to something she’s never seen or heard of before, it makes you look well rounded, you’ll definitely impress her, and brownie points, oh trust- you’ll get them! Its summer time, there are street festivals galore, the parks are open, museums have special entry fees on certain days, heck- ask other women what they’d want to do on a date night, and I can almost guarantee you’ll get some really good ideas. If for some reason, this woman is still not impressed with your creative efforts, then she’s obviously not the one, and then give me a call, and I can link you up with a few good ones I know.
On Tuesday, the NAACP had to retract their statements that condemned Shirley Sherrod, who is now the former Director for Rural Development in the state of Georgia for statements she made at a NAACP event in March of 2010. Ms. Sherrod resigned from her position when a Fox news web publisher, Andrew Breilbart posted snippets of this video which when craftily edited, made Sherrod out to be a black woman in a position of power who exhibited “institutional racism” against a white farmer. She told a story about how it weighed heavy on her heart to help this white farmer who felt that he was superior to her because of her experience as a black woman and our struggle as black people on a whole when it comes to land ownership and entitlement.
Sherrod, whose father was murdered at the hands of a white man during the civil rights movement, told the audience a most humble and heart felt story about the commitment she made on the eve of his untimely death, which dealt with helping black people change for the better. Her level of commitment has changed for the better over the 45 years in service she has afforded the state of Georgia, and one of the turning points in her decisions to broaden her commitment horizons was when she encountered a poor white farmer in the 1980’s who desperately needed her help when he faced losing his farm. During the speech, she wholly admits to at first not helping him with “full force”, until she came to the realization that “the struggle is really about poor people, those who have and those who don’t”. She said that she had taken him to a white lawyer to deal with his issue because she felt that in the hands of his people, he’d be treated with care and concern, little did she know the same lawyer, whom this poor farmer had paid for months (which really set Sherrod off) came out and told a man who was losing his farm that he was getting too old and maybe he should just give the farm up. With that came Sherrod’s epiphany: she exhausted every resource she had and the farmer was able to keep his farm.
What blows me away is this; The NAACP was one of the first to give backlash about Sherrod’s statements without even viewing the FULL video. Now I have seen white people idolize child molesters, pacify incestuous behavior, and support all their habits with astronomically high record sales, can you say Jerry Lee Louis? If they can do that, then why on God’s green earth couldn’t ANYONE at the NAACP give Sherrod the benefit of the doubt? NAACP President Benjamin Jealous should be really embarrassed for letting his organization have a hand in taunting this teaching moment in time. If someone would have had faith in their people, maybe they wouldn’t have jumped the gun so fast. Now this woman has no job, and an apology at this point is a day late and a dollar short! It is understandable that the NAACP would never endorse her first intention, which by the way wasn’t the end result of the story Sherrod told was to use institutional racism against this farmer, but to not even attempt to vouch for a woman who they chose to speak to their chapter is totally ridiculous! They gave this woman, a civil rights pioneer in her own right, a hearty slap in the face instead of guarding her against the very injustices that they are up against every day.
Typical of UO, the stylists and designers behind the store have taken ethereal, trendy, street style and incorporated with the simplicity and elegance that is the essence of why people shop there. The preview for the Fall 2010 look is anything but disappointing, which left me- as a dedicated shopper- itching for autumn breezes and falling leaves. Here are some of the introductions I found most interesting…
Levi’s has taken the boyfriend jean and expanded it into a collection for Urban. Featured pieces are the Levi’s Oversized Sol Short and the Levi’s Customized Jean ($58 and $138, respectively, urbanoutfitters.com) and seems easy and fun to wear in the back-to-school season.
In perfect synchronization Morgan Yakus, founder of No. 6 in New York, has collaborated with Urban Outfitters to create 6×6. From a store that mixes masculine and feminine, 6×6 is “a curated version of this, but we are mixing in some aspects that we are really liking right now- such as animal, 90’s, menswear, oversized prints, rock and roll- pretty with a twist” (Morgan Yakus).
Urban has once again managed to successfully join forces with overseas designers. UO is featuring Korean brands Beyond Closet, Standard Issue and D. Gnak. Straight from New Amsterdam, Mark McNairy shoes will be old school meets trendy and exclusively for Urban. There is also an interview from the creators of Stolen Girlfriends Club out of New Zealand, a new line Urban has decided to feature in the store. The full dialogue is posted below.
Never fear, UO martyrs—there are still the same brands we all love, including BDG, Ecote, and Levi’s.
Let’s fast forward to fall, shall we?
What a better way to round out the summer than with two new and punk-y make up lines at Sephora and MAC.
Alice + Olivia previewed a new series at MAC back in April, and now the line has debuted (July 8th) and will continue to be available throughout August 2010. This line contains classic Alice + Olivia colors and textures typical of their clothing line, and translates them into wearable nail lacquer, lip gloss and eye shadow, ranging from 12 to 20 dollars.
Betsey Johnson will bring yet another punch of color to MAC’s unforgettable palette. The girly rockstar designer has begun to create a line of makeup, fragrances and toiletries alongside Sephora; we can only expect to see vibrant colors, quirky names and overall pleasure. There is no preview date set at this time.
Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr is launching a new line of organic skin care products from down under. Kerr is naming her line Kora, after the pilgrimage and meditation journey in Tibetan Buddhism. Her face is part of Kora for more than the name and the promotion- she is supposedly heavily involved in the developmental and creative processes.
From the campaign’s promo photos, it is apparent Kerr is nude- with no clothing or make up sight. What makes these photos and her line truly beautiful are the products that improve skin and leave the face looking fresh and natural.
The Kora website is full of useful information about the products and skin care, along with tidbits from the VS Model herself. The only store carrying Kora is David Jones Australia; for us non-Aussies, we’ll have to rely on international shipping.
Scoop NYC launched a new line of T-shirts in May by Out-of-Print Fashion inspired by some of America’s classic novels and plays. So far, the line has exploded with sales!
Whether you’re a fan of Tennessee Williams, Moby Dick or Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita in general, Out-of-Print has a shirt tailored to your liking. Currently, the website for Scoop NYC is down; once it is fixed, choosing from a variety of tees representing your favorite book will be available. Impatient? Get over to one of their 5 NYC locations- including SoHo, Uptown and West Village- or another store in Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago or Miami. Who says books are a thing of the past?
Christian Louboutin; a name any woman, or lover of shoes, knows very well. Whether is it the trademark red soles of his intricately designed heels or the boutiques that are individualized and created by Louboutin himself, Christian’s designs are a (or at least a desired) staple in every girl’s closet.
With the age of technology developing leaps and bounds every year, it’s no wonder even the most renowned and classic designers are hitting the World Wide Web. Christian is not far behind them- the new flash media-filled, interactive website is perfect for browsing the collection and finding a store nearby.
The first click visitors take to enter the sit cracks a glass shoes case in half followed by a mystical Louboutin with crazy green eyes. Getting around to finding the collection was easy, and is easily divided by category: flats, skins, short boots, high heels and extremely high. Though the naturalistic scene sprinkled with designer bugs (see for yourself) was slightly distracting, it certainly does not take away from his shoes.
The extremely high category, including the ‘Staratata’ and the ‘Meree’ are sure to quench the high heeled thirst while the ‘Let Me Tell You’ and ‘Corazon’ boots rounded out my favorites.
His collection is really starting to branch out, and though the website can be a little intimidating, it’s nothing compared to his unique style that any woman will fall in love with.
courtesy of www.christianlouboutin.com
It is so easy to be complacent with the natural order of how things arrange themselves in our lives. We often sit around and try to sift through our mess when things haven’t landed in the direction we would have wanted them to go in. If we would confront things right when we see them going in the wrong direction, it would save us a lot of trouble. This is so true when we think about our personal relationships. I’m hearing a lot of stories and personal accounts about women who are dealing with men that are consistently displaying behavior that screams out “I DON’T WANT TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP” and these women are either too afraid and or not strong enough to heed the warning signs, be proactive, cut their losses for goodness sake, and find someone who is interested in investing the time and energy necessary to have a fulfilling and meaningful relationship. Confrontation is king!
When you confront that special someone, you are opening up the floor for you and your mate to clearly discuss and define all boundaries and expectations within the relationship. When a woman confronts a man about his neglectful behavior, it gives him the opportunity to make a better effort, or continue on in the manner that he has been, which will most likely result in the end of that relationship. The main reason why a woman is hesitant to confront her man is because of her fear of further neglect and rejection, and heaven forbid the end of the unfruitful relationship she’s holding onto in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, it is like pulling teeth to get a man to change up his routine, especially if he finds that it is convenient and works well for him, but if he really cares about a woman and how she feels, he will at least make a conscious effort to do better. Now ladies, don’t go home and start asking your man to try and change every thing under the sun that you don’t agree with, it won’t work and it’s unrealistic! Think about the things that matter, the real deal breakers and see how far it gets you.
It may be the economic times, the rising rate of obesity or the convenience of being home, but online shopping has gone to a whole new level that has skyrocketed sales. Traditionalist ways of paying with pay pal, credit card and online coupons are taking a back seat to an exclusive, automated serving of personal preferences and easy access.
Online sites such a Ruelala, HauteLook and Splendora are shopping sites that cater to the bargainista in all of us. After entering some personal information, the site brings up sales from exclusive boutiques and hot designer stores/products in friendly email reminders. Then, the shopper can go to the site and easily purchase items- simple, easy and rewarding.
Being a huge shopper myself, i do like the convenience of online shopping and it’s benefits- not going out on a rainy day, having someone do the had work for me- but I will always love going to the store and searching myself. Ruelala, HauteLook and Splendora and wonderful sites that appeal to the lazy character in me and the time constriction of other fellow shoppers. If you are on the latter of this spectrum, sign up for these sites today!
For more information, visit www.ruelala.com, www.hautelook.com, and www.splendora.com
While sitting down and enjoying a meal at a local restaurant the other evening, I was extremely disturbed by the behavior being displayed a few tables behind me. A young African American couple were placing their order with a waitress and the young man (although he didn’t act like one at all) had clearly become annoyed with the waitress and proceeded to let her know so by telling her that there were no further questions that needed to be asked, and to go hurry along and place their order. You could see the expression on his dates face; she was utterly embarrassed and could do nothing but give off a nervous laugh and a few head nods of disbelief. As the waitress walked briskly away to do just as he said, he proceeded to get louder about the way he felt she was taking his order, stating how it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to take an order and put it in. READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
