Yes we can ALL get along!

A few weeks ago, WHEN IT WAS WARM, I took my boy and his boys for a little fun downtown.

Seething and hot, it was a picture perfect day.

In a mecca like Chicago, on a summer's day, Indian, Chinese, African and Polish were all wiggling, screaming and stomping with delight. Black and White. Latino and more.

We were eating and laughing.

We were smiling and winking.

We were admiring each other's children. You know the ones we'd really like to see grow up and shine?

How is it, if we all want the same things for our off-spring, that we can not insure them all equality. Preferential treatment for each one.

Health care and quality education?

We sat on the "L" passing each station on our way home. The further away we screeched from Millenium Park, the more segregated the stops ~ still mixed but not as much.

We sauntered down 18th, graffiti greeted us as did the mix of Chinese Food and tacos - it tickled our noses.

The grit from the street blew through us, hugged us and fled. But the thought I was having stayed with me. I know we can do this. I know justice can win.

Je t'aime pour toujours, Nouvelle Orleans!

I did not write about Hurricane Katrina yesterday.

I spent the entire day honoring the city, its people and my Gran.

Many of you who read here know she was the force in my life. She made me who I am and who she was, was NOLA.

Everything she did, from the chicory in her coffee, to the fruit in her jello, to Revillion and the mid-night masses Christmas Eve, was NOLA.

As a child she almost lost her life to NOLA in a battle with malaria.

I don't even speak about her gumbo, only Leah Chase knows anything about that.

When she passed, my heart broke like never before ~ only until Katrina had I suffered like that.

I was not there, but I watched, and groaned, and yelled at the television for someone to go there.

Then I went there.

It still pains me 4 years later, the images, the suffering and the unanswered pledges.

The "refugees" of their own land, left to drown.

Here in Chicago, I try to look at the good.

The dedication. The voices. The renewal speak. The Hope.

I enjoy being able to have Cafe Dumond on our shelves here because of so many displaced.

I enjoy all the things we used to have to search for or have shipped.

Jewel carries ALL the NOLA brands now. But, I long to move.

Where the sky hangs, the humidity hugs and the people are smiling.

Where the streets come alive and there is a party in the hearts.

Folks let's help to keep NOLA alive.

Do what you can.

I won't bombard you with a list. {Yes, there is still a list} BUT, I think the most important causes right now are the New Orleans School District, Charity Hospital, and Levees.org.

Meet Irina Wardas ~ The Natural Counselor

Irina, I absolutely love your bio. It is chock full of credentials and very important health education. Were you completely inspired simply by bettering your health?

Oh thank you Dwana. I have been doing my best. As a matter of fact, I was inspired by my mother and thanks to her I am a second generation of Alternative Practitioners with a lot of insightful tips full of European wisdom, flavor and experience.

What types of maladies did you first begin to experience and how long did you endure before you sought to address and ultimately alter your self?

Well, I started studying and using natural remedies when my son was 4 years old helping him when he had fever, sore throat, stuffed nose, regular cold or cough.

As for me, after I turned 30, I struggled with failed diets and weight gain; I was overstressed and had hormonal imbalances with non-stop heavy bleeding before I hit menopause; and I had severe PMS issues at a much younger age than most. I gained much knowledge and insight from my unpleasant experiences and have since gained a new outlook on how to take care of myself. I share my experience with my clients, being an exclusive Holistic Health Counselor to support and guide them in getting rid of health concerns they may have, and help them become healthier and happier.

My positive and negative experiences in overcoming difficulties associated with multiple marriages, dating online and in person, being in an abusive relationship, raising my son by myself give me capability, knowledge and expertise to be the best life coach. By the way, my son is in NYC right now, and has a wonderful career in finances. As for me, I am in California with my wonderful and supportive husband and two rescued dogs I love very much.

The Institute of Integrative Nutrition is extremely influential. What was your focus there?
Why did you feel compelled to certify your training in all of these practices? It is so very commendable. Would you recommend it, all or a few for those you list for seeking better overall nutrition expertise?

At the Institute of Integrative Nutrition I studied all the different dietary theories, from the ancient to the modern, through an integrative approach in a program designed for working professionals. It is very important to be certified in this country so I chose the best possible credentials.

Talk to us a bit about "failed diets", "overstress" and hormonal imbalances.

My mother always tried different food recipes to cleanse her body, so I started learning about detox properties of different foods and have realized that we don’t need to go to extremes to cleanse our body- we can do it with the right foods, herbs and spices.

At the same time, I was also learning about stress, foods and stress, foods that can calm you down or visa versa. So my focus became on detox and distress. Stress is number one cause of all illnesses. It is also one of the reasons we have hormonal imbalances and slow metabolism. The solution? We have to reduce stress and detox our body first if we want to be healthier. I have the same approach to weight loss, something a lot of coaches overlook. They help people lose weight, but it doesn’t work in the long run, because weight loss is about lifestyle, not the diets.

As for diets, we are all different, we are not the same age, so how can the same diet help everyone? And I hate the word diet. Diets don’t work because we are forced to eat something we don’t like for a certain period of time. Of course we stop doing what we don’t like. That is why I teach my clients to listen to their bodies, find the right food choices for them, so they can accept, like and be able to stick to them in the future when I am not around as their counselor.

What is the first change you made to your eating habits? Home life? Cleaning products?

I started drinking one extra glass of water a day, it was my first step. Then I started using soap without chemicals and artificial colors and fragrance, by the way, my mother’s influence. She explained to me 30 years ago that if the soap was not white and smelled good, it contained chemicals. As for cleaning products, I lived in Ukraine at the moment so it was completely natural for me to use vinegar and baking soda.

Is there a specific yoga you follow?

My mother was 80 and still was practicing yoga every day starting with Sun Salutation. I also try to do yoga every day, especially a shoulder stand –Sarvangasana to improve circulation and look fabulous. (I recommend this asana to all my clients if they want to fight wrinkles naturally) If I don’t have time or not in the mood, I always do at least 10 Sun Salutations to keep my body flexible.

How can someone be enriched by your program?

In general, my holistic and wellness approach is focused on achieving whole-body health through nutrition, exercise, meditation and preventive care. As a Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor, I help my clients find balance in every aspect of their life including health, relationship, spirituality, career, exercises and food.

As a certified holistic health counselor, I work with women who are under a lot of stress, especially relationship stress, and are experiencing weight gain, lack of energy, insomnia, mood swings. I help my clients get healthier and it means happier by changing their lifestyle and food preferences. We work in a step-by-step ~ very enjoyable way for long lasting results.

What do you see for those you help?

Better future and by that I mean better understanding of what is to be healthier and happier. I try to help people get rid of their concerns by changing their lifestyle without taking pills. We can be healthy and active and live longer, by it is up to us, it our choice only.

What has been the greatest challenge in changing your old habits? For me, I do not even miss the way I used to live, what do you think it takes to make the best adjustments?

Well, the greatest challenge for me was to resist temptations to try all unhealthy processed foods in the grocery stores when I moved to US 11 years ago. It took a lot of self-control and self discipline at the moment.


Was your family receptive? Children adapt well?

My son is 25 and he still eats oatmeal with raisins and walnuts for breakfast. His girlfriend has changed her eating habits (according to her mother). It is still a lot of improvement can be made but one step at a time is my motto. As for my husband, hmmmm. There are some changes after learning a lot from my website and blog. He drinks only organic milk, tries to read labels, doesn’t eat red meat…Well, I don’t force him, he changes his habit at his own pace, one bite at a time. And I work with women, not with men, anyway don’t I?

Tell us about NaturalCounselor.com. How did you begin, where would you like it to go and what do you see for yourself in 5 years?

NaturalCounselor.com is Holistic Health and Nutrition Services for women - everything they need to get healthier and happier as well as feel and look fabulous:

Holistic Health and Nutrition Programs for Women in person and over the phone: Five-Month Personalized Program for Women Balancing Act, Healthy Relationship – Healthy You,
Single Holistic Health and Nutrition Consultation with Follow Up
Holistic Health and Nutrition eCoaching for Women,
Business Coaching for Holistic Health Practitioners and Counselors/Coaches

As a certified holistic health counselor, I work with women who are under a lot of stress, especially relationship stress, and are experiencing weight gain, lack of energy, insomnia, mood swings. I help my clients get healthier and it means happier by changing their lifestyle and food preferences. We work in a step-by-step very enjoyable way for long lasting results.

Ebooks
“Detox – 101 _ Super Simple Detox, The Ultimate guide for Beginners″

“DeStress – 101- Survival Kit for Busy Women″

Resources with links to websites with information for women
Health Tools for Women including Body Mass Calculator, Body Fat Calculator, Food Calorie Counter, etc.

Holistic health and nutrition tips on detox /cleanse with whole foods, stress and relaxation techniques, weight loss, better sleep, high blood pressure, headaches and migraines, cancer prevention, food as medicine, beauty remedies and facials, healthy cooking with healthy recipes, benefits of whole foods, self-motivation and relationship / dating – you can find them on my website and on my NaturalCounselor Blog.

Books I Recommend - I have selected books that worth reading and might help women feel and look fabulous.

Podcast and Video
Radio Show “Feel and Look Fabulous with Irina”

And in five years from now I plan to have a Retreat center for Women who want to feel and look fabulous.

*******************************************

LISTEN TO IRINA



How exciting Irina! You can also follow Irina on Twitter @IrinaWardas

You Fought the Good Fight Senator, Farewell ~

Looks like August 25th will be a day of birthdays {passings into the next realm} for great people.

Senator Ted Kennedy's passing yesterday was emotional for me.

I was a little toddler when the Chappaquiddick incident occurred. I recall the conversations and I recall the love and admiration my mother felt for the Kennedys. No matter, she stood by them.

Throughout the tragedies of their lives, my mother constantly supported them and wrote them notes, receiving personal responses. Go figure. With all their eccentricities, they are, and remain, a family of class and pomp and circumstance.

Senator Kennedy lived a life of honor within the Senate House. His support of crucial legislation that has benefited the disadvantaged, the disenfranchised and people of color has been his his trademark and his legacy.

Senator Kennedy will also long be remembered for catapulting Barack Obama into the presidency.

Senator Kennedy's jovial smile and centered disposition will be missed.

His fight for those in need must be taken up by the next soldier for justice and it is my hope that his spirit is shining in the presence of greatness for he will be an angel in my heart.

Happy Birthday Aaliyah~

I am sorry. Actually, Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born into this world January 16, 1979. This is the anniversary of the day she left.

At the time, witnesses reportedly stated that she appeared undisturbed, resting like an angel at the scene of the fiery plane crash site. So, in a way, today is her birthday into the other realm.

There is a lot of talent out there. And certainly, there will be more talent to come.

Many powerful voices and attractive female acts...

But there was ONLY ONE Aaliyah.

Her allure and and grace followed her right on up to heaven.

I STILL miss her and have ALL, that is, EVERY peep she every uttered.

Her family still maintains a site here: Aaliyah.com

BE SURE TO VISIT THIS PAGE, AS HER SHORT LIFE CONTINUES TO GIVE


I know there is a glissando among angels now that she is there ~

I support Caster Semenya and her right to be!

I have no idea what the commentators are saying in this video, I HOPE it is appropriate.

I have been upset and ranting for the past few hours because I can NOT believe the hype!!!

I am OUTRAGED and FURIOUS regarding the inquiries into this young woman's gender!!

I have been ranting on Twitter and have taken this to the BLOG world.

If a sistah doesn't have a weave down her back, does that make her a man?

There are so many issues playing into this controversy, I fear I may not have enough time.

It is the typical, racist, genderphobic, hypocrisy of our so-called civilized world.

If this young woman has identified as a female, what business is it of ours to question what her chromosome make up is?

Official or not. Racing or not. What federation or organization has the authority to tell you who you are?

Before we enter into the sports realm, are we now required to submit a gynecological exam, as one of my fellow Tweeters offered?!

Then bring into the fact that most of the modern world has an EXTREMELY different opinion as to what classifies as beauty and femininity.

99.9% of the time, it is not anyone black. Hell, even Dorothy Dandridge had to go through the back doors.

BUT, what has really made me snap is: Where is Al Sharpton? Jesse? Mandiba? Hell, where is Hillary?

Why should this young woman be subjected to the same hatred that caused Michael Jackson to change his face?

Where is the Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgendered community?

We do not know what the actual facts are, and dammit, we shouldn't.

She has been a female up to this point, so I beg everyone to look within. She is our daughter, our sister, our girlfriend, and our cousin.

I don't know why this has touched home for me as deeply as it has.

Her vulnerability maybe? The fact that I have not read anything in her support?

Shame on all of us. Or have Marion Jones, and the gargantuan list of cheaters made this sort of persecution even possible?

No.

This is worse than allegations of misappropriations.

This attacks a young woman's self-esteem ~ as if the black woman has the world's permission to have any in the first place.

This all makes me sick and stinks of something more rotten than anything I have heard in a very long time.


Feel free to join me in supporting Caster Semenya's right to be HERE!

Michelle's love letter to you~

My name is Michelle Whitlock and I am a cervical cancer survivor. Like most little girls, I dreamed of growing up, meeting prince charming, getting married and having children. But my life took an unwanted detour.

In Dec 2001, at 26 I was busy climbing the corporate ladder while completing my degree. I thought I had all the time in the world for those childhood dreams of marriage and motherhood. But I was wrong. My world came to a screeching halt with my diagnosis of cervical cancer. I was stunned!

Just a few weeks earlier I had gone in for my annual Pap, just like I had for the last ten years. But this time she performed the then new digene HPV test. The Pap came back normal but I tested positive for high risk HPV. My doctor called me in for biopsies, a leep procedure and conization. I didn’t understand the need for all these other procedures, because like most women, I believed a normal Pap Test meant everything was fine, that I was fine. But I wasn’t fine, I had Stage IB1 cancer. Thank God, my Doctor preformed the HPV test!

The doctor recommended a radical hysterectomy which would leave me infertile. I refused. I didn’t have children, I wasn’t married and I’d only been dating my boyfriend for 6 month. My dreams were unraveling fast.

Determined to fight, I researched my options, got a second opinion and asked my doctor all the tough and uncomfortable questions. I learned about a new fertility sparing procedure, called the radical trachelectomy. I chose that option!

But just two years later, in April 2004 only days after my boyfriend proposed, my worse fear became a reality—my cancer was back. My doctor immediate insisted I have a radical hysterectomy. I kept thinking not now, this is suppose to be my fairy tale ending. Desperate to preserve my fertility, I sought out a second opinion and did more research. My new doctor helped me find a reproductive endocrinologist. My doctor reluctantly agreed to give me eight weeks before my surgery. During that time I started fertility treatment, harvested my eggs and froze 7 embryos. One week later I flew to Jamaica and got married and ten days after that checked in Methodist Mid-Town Hospital and had my radical hysterectomy, partial vaginalectomy and lymph node dissection followed by weeks of chemo and radiation.

I found myself at twenty-nine with a whole host of new conditions courtesy of my cancer treatments: menopause, sexual dysfunction, and radiation damage to both my bowels and hips. I found myself faced with the reality that I would never be able to create life inside me. It was devastating both physically and emotionally. I spent my first few years married trying to piece back together my shattered life with the help of my loving husband.

Today, I am 41/2 years in remission and grateful to be here. My husband and I are trying to have a child with the help of a gestational carrier (surrogate). 8/4/09—We are 25 weeks pregnant finally!

Cervical cancer changed my life forever but No other woman needs to lose her life or fertility to this disease. Today, we have the tools for prevention and early detection. Please join me in spreading the word because together our voices are stronger than mine alone.

www.MichelleLeeWhitlock.com

Have you listened to your cervix lately?

One of the many fabulous things about the Blogher Conference 2009 was meeting extraordinary people and hearing their remarkable stories.

One such story I encountered was that of Michelle Lee Whitlock.



Michelle, thank you for being a strong and dedicated advocate for women.

Thank you for your courage.

Thank you for telling us the truth and for making statements on our behalf.

Here's the House chat with Michelle.
__________





Michelle, you have written a book "Reframing a Tragedy" cataloging the difficulties you have faced. As a young person, you faced challenges not typical of a young woman. Did you have time to dream about your future?

Dreams...what every young women should do. Our dreams push us, motivate us and shape our lives. However, there was a time I had to create an "insurance policy" for my dreams and then put them away while I focused on the present only. My insurance policy came in the shape of 7 frozen embryos tucked away for another day, while my present day was a battle for my life against a preventable disease--cervical cancer.


What were your wishes and goals before you had to face medical problems?

Before my cancer, I was very focused on my career, climbing the corporate ladder, the gym, and traveling. I thought I had all the time in the world for my childhood dreams of marriage and motherhood.


You had amazing strength and character prior to your bout with cervical cancer. Did this further your strength or deplete you?

Coming from a dysfunctional and financially challenged family, I learned very early to fight myself and never give up. My cancer just strengthen my believe that life is precious and so valuable. It reminded me to be conscience in all my choices, grateful and live each day as if it were going to be my last. I am strong, better, more alive, and appreciate the little things in life because of my walk with cancer.


Had you had prior knowledge of reproductive challenges that could overhaul and change our lives?

I had been diagnosed with Endometriosis at 20, but I never saw it as a reproductive challenge as I did painful periods. I believed a normal pap meant I was okay, that everything was fine, as do many women. But it does not and I soon learned I was not okay.


Were you an advocate for other issues before Pearl of Wisdom?

I have been an advocate, educating women about cervical cancer and HPV since Spring of 2005. So when the Pearl of Wisdom campaign kicked-off here in the U.S. in Jan 09, it was a natural progression for me to get involved. This campaign is a grassroots effort, girlfriend to girlfriend, mother to daughter, daughter to mother, woman to woman. It is about preventing cervical cancer through HPV awareness. No other woman needs to lose her fertility or die from this preventable disease. However, cervical cancer is still the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Help us stop this disease.



Your book details your supportive relationships, can you tell us a bit more?

I believe the most important member in your family is your spouse. They are the only member you actually get to pick. I am blessed to have chosen well. My husband has been better than any medicine available. He walked side by side with me during my battle and when I was too tired, he carried me. And when the battle was over he gave me the support I needed to rediscover myself and my sexuality after all my treatment. My friends lined up to hold my hand, chat with me and kick me in the pants when I felt sorry for myself too long.


How were the other women in your immediate circle impacted by your cancer?

It made them stand up and take notice. This cancer could have happened to any one of them. We held hands and learned together. Many of them have had abnormal paps and suffered from cervical disease themselves. In fact, about 1/2 million women in the U.S. are diagnosed with some cervical disease annually, which often result in painful procedures including biopsies, LEEPs, conization and more.


Tell us about your research. Where did it lead you? What did you find out about yourself?

I realized that doctors are not GOD; they are highly skilled and trained humans. They are a great resources, partners, and tools in the battle to stay healthy. But every woman, including me, needs to be her own advocate, ask the tough questions, challenge her doctors, seek additional opinions and always express her emotions and dreams. Our diseases are just a part of us, they do not make the whole person. For me, researching, asking questions and challenging doctors lead me to the oncologist that saw not only my disease but a young twenty-something woman desperate to save her fertility. I learned that even when we feel out of control or like a victim we can make choices to regain our balance and still achieve our dreams.


What do you envision for Pearl of Wisdom?

I dream women every where will stand up, take notice of the campaign, learn the facts and share a pearl of wisdom with the woman in her life...This is a PREVENTABLE disease...Almost every case of cervical cancer can be prevented through programs using the Pap test, the HPV test, and the HPV vaccine. But many women around the world don’t know about or have access to these tools. As a result, 500,000 women develop cervical cancer and almost 300,000 die of cervical cancer – every year.

The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer is a united, global effort to raise awareness of the opportunities now available to prevent cervical cancer. Our campaign reaches women, health care providers, policymakers, health advocates, and the media.

We recognize that by working together, we can more effectively:

Raise awareness of the tools available for preventing cervical cancer

Encourage women to take full advantage of these tools

Advocate for the implementation of these tools for girls and women everywhere

Join us, starting now, as we work together to prevent this unnecessary disease
and death




What is your hope for womenhood and the ravages of female cancers?

I hope women everywhere will learn to protect themselves, see their doctors annually, speak up and advocate for their own health care and know today with the advancements in science, there are many ways to "save" our fertility. I hope all doctors will remember we are people with hopes and dreams...we are more than our diseases...help us treat the whole person.


What is your assessment of the focus, or lack thereof within the medical system, preventative care, awareness and testing for women?

We have to come together, in a united front as politicians, lawmakers, health care workers, educators, women, citizens and humans to create access for ALL women. No one should die from a preventable disease.


Is there a dawn from the "Tragedy" you reframed? Tell us about where you go from here.

My dawn is present in the eyes of another woman who has just learned how to protect herself from this disease. It is in the voice of another survivor, who has discovered the power of telling her story, it is in the hands of every health care provider that utilizes the tools available to protect their patients and it is in the knowledge that cancer may have stolen my ability to carry a child but it did not stop me from creating my own biological child. When my surrogate gives birth in November 2009, and I place my baby girl in my arms, and in her see all the love between my husband and I, it will be my dawn.




***********************************

Beautiful ~ Thank you again.


Check out Tamika and Friends for more support.

*MEET MICHELLE*




Leave a comment about your cervical experience. Good & Bad. Say "Pearl" and I will contact you to send you your very own "Pearl Of Wisdom" compliments of our House guest Michelle!

Cusack, John

I have a cluster of freckles on my right arm that resemble Cassiopeia.

Well, more succinctly, they resemble the "Trio in Leo" but since I am forever a John Cusack fan, AND I enjoy saying "Cassiopeia", that is my story - and I'm sticking to it!


Cassiopeia




TripleInLeo






My two favorite John Cusack movies are "Sure Thing" and "Serendipity" where he mentions Cassiopeia in both!

Back in 1985 I was a doe-eyed senior graduating high school.

After a pre-teen era of Judy Blume followed by teen rite of passage movies with the beloved and recently passed-on John Hughes, what could be better than having John Cusack move us to the next phase!

With the "Sure Thing" John falls for Daphne Zuniga. I recently re-watched it and the charm remains.

A fellow Chicagoan - John is from Evanston - he has had quite the knack for being the guy's guy and the gal's sensitive sexy guy.

I adore him.

Through the years, I have waved at him after leaving "The Metro" and sauntering pass the "Gingerman" where he would often play late-night pool.

I have told him "Hello" at the "Star of Siam" while my parents inquired "Who IS that?" {"No no mother, he is not a potential suitor!" was my reply. "He's a big star,Ma! Ugh" I would exclaim.}

He has been such a force and indelible part of my adulthood's progression, that I had to let the Universe know!

He may feel second fiddle to Jeremy Piven, or off-beat on his trodden path, but his true fans know him for who he is.

Passionate, creative, leader of his craft, an actor's actor, a true performer and man of class.

From the classic scene in "Say Anything"


to "High Fidelity"




to "Grace Is Gone"





John Cusack has been at the top of his game for decades, and I think of him every time I look at my arm.


*************************************************************************************

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON!!!!!!!!!! MUCH LOVE!

I don't know, I just blog here!

I was tweeting away {uhem, as usual} and was enlightened by a tweet from a fellow Illinoisian and tweeter and blogger and Blogher about her recent NPR interview.

Mocha Momma!!

NOW, this is a big thing.

You may recall my rant about leaving the Tom Joyner Show after 35 years and how I settled on NPR.

WELL, what I have not shared, and I may be a tad ashamed, is that I receive most of my news from Twitter now! I wake up tweeting and have even abandoned NPR!

For shame!

Anyhow, the interview poses quite a bit about the latest discussions regarding blogging, mommybloggers, advertisings, reviews and such.

ALL represented the issues well ~ and well Mocha Momma was great!

What is your take? How do you feel reading a blog that has sponsorship? Do you feel it affects the writer's integrity?

Listen for yourself:

MAKE IT RIGHT NOLA.ORG

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Hurricane Katrina Anniversary is days away, and the void remains : MAKE IT RIGHT NOLA.ORG TODAY~

Pro-Publishing, Leadership and You!

The Power Of Leadership Book 4!

I am SO excited to share with you The Power of Leadership series: In Business Networking.

I penned a chapter and hope that you will purchase before its release.

I am so honored and proud to be a part of this great compilation!

Daniel & Debbra Sweet are phenomenal people with a great story to tell. Both are incredible entrepreneurs who have founded Pro Publishing Company, the Power of Leadership Book Series and Sweet Marketing Solutions respectively.

Both warm and generous souls, they have afforded me this percolating opportunity to author a chapter in their next Pro Publishing Power Of Leadership series: In Business Networking.

Under the great tutelage of our friend Ann Evanston, I was able to learn about this wonderful key element and participate to encourage and foster success!

Set to be a series of 12 books that are certain to enable and gratify even the most nervous up and coming entrepreneur, you will hear from today's most driven leaders!

Power Of Leadership: In Business Networking

PRE-RELEASE Pricing $15.00 Post Release August 15, 2009 $20.00

Shipping is Free!

Tyrese Gibson's MAYHEM!

I would REALLY have liked to interview Tyrese Gibson {whom I LOVE LOVE LOVE} about his new venture ~ BUT of course he is a big, busy star! DUH!

Tyrese has teamed with Mike Lee, William Wilson {writers}, Tone Rodriguez {art/cover}, Rachelle Rosenberg {colored}, and Rus Wooten {lettered}.






Why am I writing about a comic?

Because this comic is so unique to me.

After all, I grew up with Captain America and Wonder Woman.

I don't know anything about the "Comic World", but I came away from reading Mayhem so impressed. I actually enjoyed and identified with the story.

I highly recommend Mayhem for teens of color. Seeing their images IN living color on glossy, vibrant pages is really uplifting.

"Dante" and "Felicia" are dynamic.

Of course there is a tad bit of T & A and violence but hey, its the comic world! It is Spidey and Batman but better.

It is what I always hoped for JJonah Jameson and Lex Luther when on occasion they would appear as people of color.

Being a feminist, I would like to see Felicia as one of those gals "always in a Hillary suit" but hey, I am sure that would not go over well with the warm blooded guys ~ and that is fine because I get it!

A positive story of a praying, vigilante, superhero, with promises of an intricate, intelligent story for issues to come has made Mayhem very worth the purchase, the fanfare and the read!

Most of you know that I LOVE when Tyrese croons ~ but this is so much more.

A premise of passion that has taken flight with a destination of uplifting. Taking the comic world to new heights with talent that is incredible. Multiculturalism at its best ~ now who wouldn't want to support that?

Get your copy today!

House is in the HOUSE!

I've started two NEW blogs!

One is "Healthier, Happier You Reviews!" CLICK and CHECK it out!! You could WIN!!!! SPRINT is sponsoring a Share-Your-Story regarding cell phones and children. REALLY exciting ~ so be sure to comment on my review blog to win!

I ALSO have "HealthierHappierHouseonahill.org"!

This site will "HOUSE" all of the wonderful interviews I have been so honored in conducting. It is the perfect setting for our homey arrangement. It is also the "Home" of my new BOOK!

The Power Of Leadership will feature a chapter about my tips for successful networking in today's climate! You will find expert commentary from today's leaders who can help you to expand your "sphere of influence"!

GET YOUR COPY PRE-ORDERED TODAY! It should be arriving by September 15, 2009.

Some many exciting things happening at this HOUSE! ALL because we have been working together to bring your stories to life!

Keep reading! Keep me posted, follow me on twitter and Blogher.com.

I ALWAYS want to know what's going on with you!

Together we can make this world a better place!