Modern Do's and Don'ts of Proper Attire

"She knows what to wear and how to wear it." -Marques Houston

A list of common occasions and what to wear for each. Click on the occasion for more advice and some suggestions.

Wedding: White is still the ultimate wedding no-no. Let the invitation, season and hour be your guide.

Dinner Party: Gauge your outfit by the party. Given the number of variable, there's no one right anser, which can make things a bit tricky.

Cocktail Party: Cocktail dresses are always in style, but you have other options.

Business Dinner or Company Party: Keep things professional but in line with the event; and the culture of your office should prevail in your choice.


Job Interview: You can't go wrong with a suit, but in many fields it's not the only (or best) choice.

A Funeral or Wake: While your outfit doesn't have to be black; it does have to be respectful.


A Baptism, Bar Mitzvah or other religious ceremony: Honor the occasion in attire that is tasteful, not stuffy. Steer clear of anything low-cut or clingy, but also of anything overly serious when celebrating a happy milestone.


A Night at the Theater, Ballet or Opera: Once upon a time, these evenings out were considered a license to dress to the nines. Nowadays, you've got a pretty wide variety. Still, spiff it up!


A Good First Impression (a first date, meeing the in-laws, school functions): Dress true to your personality but this isn't the time to take risks.

A "Festive" Party: Get dolled up and have fun with it. There are lots of options, from slinky tops with dressy slacks to a dress in a bold color or print.

Recycle Anything

"Time to re-up gotta recycle the flow (Cycle the flow)." -Young Jeezy

Real Simple has a great feature on "How to Recycle Anything." An A-Z guide to use as a reference for recycling those everyday and not so everyday items that you don't know how best to get rid of. Also, see my post "A Bit of Give and Take" for more ideas on how to reduce waste!

Open Your Eyes

"They said girl open your eyes." -Whitney Houston

Every woman needs to know what is going on in the world around them. Get your daily dose and read Day of The Crocodile in the September issue of Vanity Fair.

Easy Container Gardens

"Cause next year this time I'ma sell out the Garden." -Wyclef Jean

Live in an apartment or condo where there is no place to plant a garden, or anything for that matter? Take these ideas, where you can even plant vegetables.

Potted herb garden

Potted salad garden

Potted cutting garden

Also, try planting nasturtiums, which cascade out of pots or climb trellises, they are a cinch to grow. Sort of remind me of morning glory's, except these are edible with an intense peppery flavor. They are colorful and make for lovely arrangements in salads.

Harvest: As soon as the plants begin to bloom, you can gather for eating. Opt for young flowers and small tender leaves. Nasturtiums are cut-and-come-again - the more you pick, the more they bloom so don't hold back.

Prepare: Soak them in cold water for two hours. It makes the texture of the leaves much perkier. Dry and scatter a handful over greens.
Dress: Use a tablespoon tarragon white-wine vinegar to three tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and plenty of sea salt (you won't need pepper because of the spiciness of the nasturtiums), then whisk it all up with a fork. Pour the dressing over the salad just before you ready to enjoy.

Or, wait three months or so until the plants are well established before picking for arranging; that way, you'll get good long trailing stems. After cutting, sear stem ends in boiling water for 20 seconds to increase their vase life. Trailing nasturtiums look great arranged in small vivid pitchers or glasses.

Spend? Save? Invest?

"Shake your money maker like somebody boutta pay ya..." -Pharrell with Ludacris

Answers to common money questions...all in a nutshell. Great for reference - I keep going back to it. Found in Real Simple.

Also, check out the book Secrets of the Young & Successful by Jennifer Kushell.

Garden Ideas

"In the garden of fruitfulness, You plant and it grows, yeh." -Ziggy Marley

Three different garden plans from Real Simple:

The Succulent Garden


The Shady Garden


The Annual Garden

Scientific Thoughts

"You best flee, because I've come with the science..." -Gang Starr

Great article in Time on intelligent design and evolution.

Is Refinancing Right?

"And since I cover the mortgage, the car note, the Porsche and the condo." -Da Brat

Click here to read the short and sweet article from Real Simple on whether or not you should refinance your mortgage.

Girlie Things You Should Never Apologize For

"A girly female feminine dame." -South Pacific

Continued...

• Divulging everything to your friends.
• Toting a stash of survival gear in your purse - The kind that would make MacGyver jealous (think aspirin, a nail file, hair pins, a sewing kit, Band-Aids, extra undies, salad dressing).
• Giving yourself the royal treatment - Getting manicures, massages and facials may seem self-indulgent, but a bit of me-me-me generates positive emotions that can boost the immune system, enhance your metabolism and soothe your mind.
• Swiping one of his tee shirts.
• Going in herds to the bathroom - Because you never know when you'll need backup, like toilet paper from another stall or a breath mint. Plus, hanging with your girls in the impossibly long line is way better than standing alone.
• Spending eons in the bathroom - Your lengthy shower-and-primp routine is probably the only true me-time you have during the day...so enjoy and relax.
  Secretly wondering what you'd like like with a boob job or butt lipo, even though you're not planning on going through with it.
  Window-shopping - Ogling pretty things without making a purchase is not pathetic...it's ingenious.
  Having an unexplainable bond with your phone. Scoping out other women - Biologically speaking, it's natural to check out the fairer sex.

Harvest of Fear - Must read!

"There is so much trouble in the world." -Bob Marley

Whoever provides the world's seed controls the world's food supply. If you have not yet heard about this company and their practices, please take a few moments to read this. Monsanto already dominates America’s food chain with its genetically modified seeds. Just as frightening as the corporation’s tactics–ruthless legal battles against small farmers–is its decades-long history of toxic contamination.

Vanity Fair article on Monsanto's fierce reputation for enforcing its patents and suing anyone who allegedly violated them.

Health Help

"Woman win the healthy body contest." -Shaggy

Follow this link to Real Simple and a wealth of health articles. The "10 Medical Tests" and "Rev Up Your Metabolism" are two of my favorites. You can find an article on most anything there.

They also have a good article on "Organizing your Medical History," which gives good ideas but I would rather have it all online or atleast on the computer. I remember hearing about something like this but can't think of it. Anyone know of any?

You can read Self magazines articles for free on Healthline.com.

Habits of So-Happy Couples

"Such a happy couple love and some." -Stevie Wonder


From the April 2003 issue of Cosmo:

1. They have their own lives - To go the distance, it's important that you allot some time to spend away from each other doing things that you enjoy.

2. They create their own customs - Having a one-of-a-kind routine that you call your own can boost your bond in a way other things can't.

3. They remember not to take each other for granted - There's a big difference between getting comfortable and getting sloppy. Don't get sloppy.

4. They still make out - Ban the quick peck and make it a conscious point to kiss passionately on a regular basis.

5. They fight to resolve, not to win - The secret is to focus on making progress, not scoring points.

6. They get sappy sometimes - Giving in to those goofy impulses provides a peek at each other's quirky side, one that's lighthearted and silly.

Questions to Ask Aging Parents

"No need to argue parents just don't understand." -Fresh Prince


The parent rap - What to ask about finances, health care and final wishes. From Real Simple.

Alternative Health

"They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy, my goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy." -Dead Prez


Real Simple sorts through the science to find which therapies are effective in the March 2006 article "A Worthy Alternative?"; acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, hypnosis, magnet therapy, message and meditation. Find what might work for your ailment.

10 Big Rules of Small Talk

"Nothing comes from talkers but sound." -Tevin Campbell

Real Simple (yes, this magazine is one of my favorites) had a great article on how to have small talk. I thought this was a great article because as we get older, we find ourselves increasingly in places with people that we do not know. Remember how easy it was when we were kids to say to the person sitting next to us, "Wanna share crayons?" It's still that easy! Click here to read the article and get some tips for your next networking opportunity.

The Seven Habits of Highly Motivated People

"All you hatin' is fuel to my fire...It's motivation." -T.I.

No longer available via the internet, Real Simple's "The Seven Habits of Highly Motivated People" gives great advice on how to get and stay motivated. Here is a summary of the article:

1. Decide on the size - sometimes our goals can be simplified and reduced. Activities during a vacation seeming to wear you down? Decide to sit and relax instead.
2. Multitask - Listen to a language instructional tape in the car, dance while cleaning or organize your closet a bit each morning before getting dressed.
3. Keep a record - Each and every day write down your goals; there are only so many times you can write "I want to make a demo tape" before you book the studio and do it.
4. Fix it so you have to do it - Sign up for that cooking class and treat it like school or work, if you don't attend you flunk or get fired. Sign up with a friend for extra incentive.
5. Get the right supplies and put them in plain sight - Even if you just dabble in your goals a bit each day, you will feel accomplishment and be encouraged to continue. If you are interested in some kind of art, get the supplies and put them on the coffee table so that you can draw a bit each night. Even if you can't one night, the sight of the items will keep the learner in you in the forefront.
6. Recruit your family or friends - This can add enthusiasm to your project, or, with kids, it can add the energy you feel you might not have. Plus, additional time with those you love is never wrong.
7. Seek inspiration - from a book, a movie, a speaker or a influential person.

And remember, there is no dream too silly, there is always time if you make the time and starting small usually leads to something big.

What Lawyers Know That You Wish You Knew

"I brought the money like the lawyer said to do..." -Bob Marley

Featured in Real Simple
Based on the book Winning Every Time: How to Use the Skills of a Lawyer in the Trials of Your Life (Ballantine) by Lis Wiehl.

1. Know your theory of the case - what is your end goal?
2. Pick your juror - who is likely to help achieve your goal?
3. Discovery - gather evidence and knowledge.
4. Make your case - confront.
5. Cross-examination - should you encounter a hostile witness.
6. Avoid the 7 Deadly Spins - don't shoot yourself in the foot.
7. Tell a story - persuade by conveying your message in a memorable way.
8. Closing - ask for it and send thank yous.