Adding Bliss

Why?

 

** UPDATE: 12.15.12 I have edited the post to remove the name of the individual responsible for this atrocity. No one asked me to, but I made the choice to do so because I didn't want the focus of this post not to be the crime itself but it's effects, my personal feelings about the tragedy and what we can do as a global community to move forward and make things better. Speaking of making things better; as promised I listed a few ways that everyone can help to comfort the families directly affected and work to make sure awful events like these never happen again. Thanks for reading! ***

As most of you know a terrible tragedy befell the people of Newtown, Connecticut and our entire country. A gunman, entered an elementary school and opened fire killing 27  innocent individuals including 20 children, between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.

And the only thing that courses through my mind is why?  Why did this happen today? Why does this keep happening?

Miss Blueprint Magazine?

Me too!

This week I picked up Domino: Quick Fixes, a special edition of the now defunct, but available digitally, decorating magazine.

What's the Big Deal with Diamond Engagement Rings?

It's supposed to be every girl's dream. The love of your life drops to one knee, whips out a velvet box and opens it to reveal a giant glittering diamond ring with the promise that he will spend the rest of his life making you as happy are you were the moment you laid eyes on that jumbo jewel.

But why? 

Ancient Egyptians began the custom of giving betrothal gift of a ring symbolizing the never ending cycle of life and the space in it a gateway to be worn on the fourth finger which was believed to have a vein connected directly to the heart. Romantic, right? Traditional engagement or betrothal rings were  just plain circular bands made from gold, silver, iron or other metals.

So why is now that not just any ring will do? Why does it have to be a diamond?

Why You May Want to Think Twice Before Sliding on Those Skinny Jeans...

In 1992 an 18 year old Italian woman was picked up by her 45 year old, married driving instructor. He took her to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her. She immediately reported the crime and her attacker was convicted and sentenced to prison. In 1998 an Italian Supreme Court decision overturned the conviction because... wait for it... she was wearing tight jeans.

The court ruled that because her jeans were so tight there was no way her attacker could have gotten them off with out her assistance, even though she testified that he wrestled one leg out in order to assualt her, making the encounter consentual.

Who's Next: Jeffrey Williams: Fashion's next star...

You probably only remember two things from Season Two of Bravo's The Fashion Show: The Ultimate Collection; the hilarious incoherent ramblings of finalist Calvin Tran & the zen like optimism of the season's winner, Jeffrey Williams.

Williams is a Seattle native with 11 brothers and sisters. Since arriving in New York in 2004, he's graduated from F.I.T., studied at Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy, worked with Alexander Wang, Peter Som, stylist Patti Wilson and now he beat out 12 other contestants to win the title of creator of The Ultimate Collection. It seems like there's nothing he can't do...

Who Does Your Awesome Caricatures?! & Giveaway...

That is a question I get all the time. It all started when my friend Jackie commissioned a caricature for her new organic lifestyle website. I'm a person who is always the first to sit down for a big head/ little body sketch at Six Flags and I knew that ever I since I saw Oprah's caricature get bumped by the O at the end of every show that I would have my own character when I started my multimedia empire.

I immediately contacted the artist and he's been illustrating my life ever since. From my Sugar Mama NYC sassy baker to the Save the Dates for my upcoming wedding,  Don Phillips Jr., the  award winning illustrator & animator has  been illustrating my life for the past 5 years, so I got him to sit down for an interview & autograph a couple of tote bags for a giveaway!

Why (as of today) Everyone Loves a Good Wedding...

As some of you may or may not know, I am engaged to be married. With my wedding date fast approaching it's hard to believe the by the time I tie the knot, or jump the broom; if I have my way, I will have been engaged for 2 years and one month. However, when I first got engaged, staring down an engagement period twice as long as most celebrity relationships (including courtship, marriage & divorce), I would frequently find myself getting a little antsy.

So many mornings I would wake my fiance, by explaining how easy it would be to scoot (yeah, I said scoot!) down to City Hall & elope.

A few months later I got my chance. In this horrible job market my beloved scored a sweet new gig with a great salary & most important of all, health insurance. But before I could start calling every doctor on Madison Avenue for an appointment I had to prove I was worthy of my fiance's benefits. Apparently, our word wasn't enough. So the quickest way to prove our undying devotion & score pricey ADHD meds for the mere cost of a co-pay was to become domestic partners.

How We Can Honor The Legacy of The Oprah Winfrey Show...

I've just spent the last hour boo-hooing through the last (new) episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Like millions of people my age I grew up watching Oprah.  It seems strange to mourn the end of a talk show, especially the talk show of a person that is going on spearhead her own (Literally. It's named OWN) cable channel in addition to her magazine, website & radio channel.

But The Oprah Show wasn't your average talk show. Yes, there was a charismatic host & celebrity guests. But somehow over the course of 25 years Oprah managed to convince us to do what our mothers have been trying to convince us to do for years: read more books, become more generous, take better care of ourselves & become the best version of ourselves. And we were excited to do it! Who else could have a reality show where contestants didn't eat bugs or make out with "celebrities" to win money but researched charitable causes and held fundraisers to see who could give the most away?!

Maybe it worked so well because Oprah made us feel like she was one of us. You have issues with your weight? Me too! You had a troubled childhood? Me too! You had embarrassing encounters in stores because you were broke? Me too (but not lately)! Remember when she ripped off her fake eyelashes on the show and immediately regretted it? Or how she could always spot the can of Slim-Fast in someone's cupboard? Or got her ears pierced on the show? 

Though, some of my favorite moments of the Oprah show were her surprises & giveaways. I watched every Favorite Things episode with excitement (mixed with a tinge of jealousy) waiting for the audience to react to each thing & no matter how big or small I was never disappointed:

What You Can Do To Celebrate Earth Day 2011 & Giveaway!!

"Always remember, you have the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world."

-Harriet Tubman

Happy Earth Day fellow Earthlings!!

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22nd 1970 and was spearheaded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, a staunch environmentalist &, fyi, the guy responsible for the side effect warnings on all of your prescription meds. Thank you, sir.

Earth Day was a environmental teaching day geared toward bringing awareness to our effect on the environment.

It went global in 1991 and today is celebrated in over 175 countries and has been expanded to Earth Week. In 2009, the United Nations declared April 22nd "International Mother Earth Day"

So what can you do to celebrate Earth Day today?

How the GEMS office became a glittering jewel...

Every girl that steps into the GEMS office, found in an undisclosed location in Upper Manhattan, is a rare and unique treasure that just needs a little TLC to shine.  And after $250K in donated time, effort and ultra modern furnishings   Correction: over $170,000 worth of materials & furnishings and over 1100 hours the same can be said about the office itself.¹

I first discovered GEMS in 2007 after I was invited to an advanced screening of "Very Young Girls" in The West Village followed by a Q&A with the director. While I can't fully remember what I expected going into the screening, I can tell you the by the end of the film I was shocked, outraged, emotional & inspired.