Amidst the barrage of economic bad news, social revolt, and the superfluous press lavished on such superficial role models like the Kardashian sisters, we at IndieWomanMag find ourselves more determined to shut off all the media polluting noise and remain committed to finding our own truth, creating our own heroes, and finding our own sources of inspiration. There are a lot of extraordinary human beings out there who yearn for substance and choose to connect by sharing their ideals despite negative influences, busy lives, or personal obstacles. Those people do not reside inside a TV screen. They are not accessible by remote control. And you won’t find them on E Entertainment. On the contrary, they are often within arm’s length – neighbors, teachers, acquaintances, friends. When was the last time you connected with someone in your community, or even with your own friends and family?

Meet our next IndieWoman Model: Chana Rothman, a former Brooklynite now residing in Philadelphia. I have recently and serendipitously met this remarkable woman in the guise of a neighbor no less. She is not only a young mother to a beautiful one-year-old boy, but also an activist, educator, and a talented singer songwriter. Her agenda is simple and to the point: speak, or in her case sing the truth, to unite people and inspire change. Through her funky and unique fusion of world, folk, jazz and reggae beats Chana Rothman doesn’t shy away from calling out our legacy of capitalist greed, the ‘false’ American dream, and her vision for a better world. Her newest CD Beautiful Land, prominently inspired by time spent in Jamaica and South Africa, is like a storybook weaving pressing social agendas with a biographical quest for personal identity, truth, and a call for change and liberation. Speaking of her experience in those latter places, Chana shares that she was struck by people’s incredible resilience. “Despite having been savagely and systemically oppressed, locals were kind and generous, sharing stories, food, and song. I wanted to write a song honoring these extraordinary people and the land where they live,” hence the inspiration for the song and album title Beautiful Land. “There’s a universality to their struggles and triumphs that everyone can respect and relate to, whether they are world travelers or simply heading around the corner to buy milk. I didn’t set out to write a hit; I set out to give voice to a story of survival.” Her poetry and wit marry perfectly in the latter song and also in my favorite and super catchy tune on this album, Inadequate, which pretty much embodies Chana and her reverberating message in a nutshell:

I’ve got scabs on my skin, I’ve got knots in my hair
And my chest feels tight when I breathe in the air
I’ve got a few extra pounds, I wish they weren’t there
I try to convince myself that I don’t even care
But there’s subliminal messaging of which I’ve got to be aware
Expecting us to look like models in our underwear
See, I’m a human being – Eastern European
And my people aren’t known for being long, tall & lean
So how do I reconcile what they taught me as a child:
I’m “beautiful outside & in”, but only skinny girls win??!?

I feel inadequate
And I’m sick of it
But I’m not gonna quit
Nuh nuh nuh NOT YET

There’s a discrepancy in what they’re telling me
And what seems to be in this industry
So they left me on my own to try to figure it out
They tell me “it’s all good” but what are they talkin about?
They say “American Dream” I say it ain’t what it seems
You’ve got to go to the extreme just to see a little green
Sacrifice your pride, suck it up deep inside, wait for the pain to subside
And get back on the ride
This is the recipe, and you’ll hear it repeatedly
But it still ain’t helping me or my family….

To see Chana rock it out check her out on her YouTube Channel at: youtube.com/chanarothman. This chanteuse is as much a social activist as an idealist with a profound sense for global community and kinship. She has been teaching music and leading workshops geared towards youth and communities worldwide for over ten years. You will not find this woman standing on the sidelines. Most recently, aside from touring nationally and internationally, she partook in and performed at such landmark demonstrations as Occupy Wall Street. Like a loving yet cool mother Chana gets her groove on and urges us to wake up, stand up, and not give up. At the core, her message is pure unadulterated love – love for self, and love for each other. The superficial media and news pollution exalting to fame inauthentic role models has finally been replaced and drowned out by a real and authentic role model with an angelic voice.

Chana Rothman performs regularly between New York City and Philadelphia. Beautiful Land is available digitally and in stores on December 6, 2011. For more information, news and upcoming shows, visit www.chanarothman.com, www.facebook.com/chanarothman, www.twitter.com/chanarothman.

Be sure to spread the love and share the soulful music of this genuine uber role model, because together we can make a difference and rewire our thought forms with positive vibrations.

***Join Chana at the Point of Destination Cafe in Mount Airy, Philadelphia on December 10th, for her CD Release Party. Click on the latter link for event details.

Your Time Travels isn’t just an ordinary travel company. It’s a travel company founded by a woman with a great love and concern for animals!  If you stop to think, most travel destinations advertise and exploit animals for the sake of tourism.  Know anyone who has swam with dolphins, or taken an elephant ride?  I was particularly moved on two separate trips I took, one to India and Russia, where I saw bears chained up on the side of the road being made to stand so people could photograph with them. I can honestly say those experiences didn’t contribute to my having a good time, on the contrary.

Enter Liz Longacre the founder of YTT and our featured Indie Woman Model, a gal who describes herself as timid but adventurous. She was inspired to start her company after a visit to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, where the animals are considered sacred. Whether you are interested in volunteering to care for animals while abroad, go on a safari to observe wildlife, or want to take your Fluffy along on your dream vacation, this company does it all.  Everything is customized to the last details in the spirit of adventure with a clear mission.

As Liz states, “We’ll never promote any activity or hotel that exploits animals, cages them for display purposes, or forces them to provide entertainment…Our trips are for travelers who want to have exciting adventures without them being at the expense of other living creatures.” Liz’s blog is also a great read and resource, so get busy and plan your next vacation with Noah’s Arc in mind.  Go Liz!

As a freshly uprooted Big Apple transplant currently living in The City of Brotherly Love, I come with a lot of baggage.  I am skeptical, you see, that for all the fanfare of being the original capital and boasting its own namesake cheesesteak sandwich and a very heavy Liberty Bell  – this little city south of the big one ain’t’evah gonna holda candle to NYC.  Let me use simple layman terms: would you ever trade the Statue of Liberty for the Liberty Bell?  I wouldn’t.

What I’ve come to learn is that there is age-old rivalry and fierce competition between the two cities.  Hey New York, ya think ya got the best pizza – well here’s the Philly Cheesesteak baby, and better yet we’ve made a pizza version too, so get a holda dat!  Hey, New York ya think the Yankees kick butt? Fuggetabout it…we put the big A in bad Ass with Michael Vick representing the Phillies! And we can add another bad boy to the roster: Rocky Balboa.  Have ya heard of him?  Oh, and you think NYC cab drivers are bad? Ha!  Why do you think cabs are scarce in this city? Cause we’ve ran all of them over suckers! I’ll translate the last line:  don’t mess with the local Philly drivers – and if you know what’s good for you avoid eye contact, crossing lanes, or following any traffic rules lest you want to have your legs broken at the next light.

I admit it, this city has a knack for intimidating the daylights out of me that I can’t help but…ehmm… respect it.  I think its heavy dosage of spit-in-your-eye tough love is somehow starting to grow on me.  Especially after my first cheesesteak bite at Jim’s Steaks on South Street, where by the way if you want to do as the local do you’ll order your steak with cheese wiz.  With my belly full and ready to quench my thirst, it dawns on me that I must start harvesting this city’s its ‘badness’ (as in Michael Jackson bad) in order to start savoring its sweetness.  I will become a hardcore anthropologist, and the best place to harvest anything worthwhile, including local flavor, is anywhere where BEER is served.  I will fight fire with fire and blend in like a chameleon in search of finding the ONE thing that this city has that will give the Big Apple a run for its money.  My first destination is Fishtown, a gritty up-and-coming neighborhood fraught with tattoo baring artists turned messenger bikers and the kind of cool street culture that the East Village used to have before the Japanese karaoke and mini-mart invasion. Sorry NYC! If I squint I can almost see CBGB’s around the corner with a pierced Blondie look-alike strutting her stuff, wearing beat up Doc Martens and a vest held together by safety pins.  I heard this place Johnny Brenda’s is desperately worth the visit, especially for it’s outstanding line-up of live bands and micro-brewed beers, even if takes driving through the infamous North Philly ghetto to get to it. Thank God that no one stops at stop signs in this town, because the latter hood makes the most dangerous part of Harlem after dark look like a children’s playground (except for in Norway these days).

Johnny Brenda’s, like it’ nearby Standard Tap sister in adjacent Northern Liberties, takes great pride in serving delicious wholesome food and only local beer on tap.  Now that’s something to rave about: awesome local brews.  Sorry New York, you’re about to take a big hit here. This list of awesomeness, cherished by beer lovers nationwide, is comprised of: Yards, Victory, Stoudt’s, Flying Fish, Sly Fox, and Philadelphia Brewing Company.  I don’t hesitate one moment, grab a seat at the dimly red lit bar, and order myself the Flying Fish Belgian Abbey Dubbel, winner of the silver medal at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival.  I am die-hard Belgian ale fan, and this fantastic floral ale malted to perfection satisfies my palate with a dry and crisp almond finish.  Dare I try Stoudt’s Fat Dog Stout, a dark oatmeal chocolaty concoction with a 9% alcohol content just to prove that I’m not just a pretty faced imposter trying to look cool?  I’m a hard core New Yorker after all, but no one has to know especially in this patriotic Philly lovin’ part of town. This is a big beer and I must admit at first taste the bitterness assaults my mellowed taste buds and I pucker my cheeks a bit.  But it reminds me of Stone’s Imperial Russian Stout, dark and rich with a creamy espresso finish. I swallow and look like an instant pro.   If you want to quench your thirst by the litter with traditional German on tap check out the super cool beer garden nearby set in an old industrial building and courtyard at Frankford Hall.  I’m a sucker for outdoor beer drinking Oktoberfest style and ping-pong tables, all intermixed with the aroma of freshly baked giant pretzels and crunchy frankfurters beckoning me to come hither.  I tried to ignore the fact that this place is owned by fancy pants celebrity restaurateur Stephen Starr, but hey all I care about is good beer and cool Philly hangouts – and this place is pretty darn cool!  Get your last fix of gritty Fishtown at Memphis Taproom, which received some great press for its impressive collection of select Belgians, along with a fun and innovative menu catering to vegetarians and meat lovers alike.  Try the Russian River Belgian sour ale alongside their beer battered kosher dills (a.k.a fried pickles), which come with a tangy buttermilk horseradish dip.  And if you’re looking for something unusual you might want to try the smoked coconut club sandwich, or the buckwheat noodles topped with grilled peach, cucumber and cilantro.

I realize that as much as visiting a new city revolves around taking in the gastronomic pleasures, that there is lots of culture in between needing to be savored.  So I recommend that you might want to start your whole adventure in the City of Brotherly Love by first heading to the very epicenter of culture by stopping off in Fairmount, the area which boasts ‘Museum Row’: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, the Franklin Institute, and the newly relocated Barnes Collection (due Spring 2012).   You will also find picturesque riverside Boathouse Row in this part of the city, home of the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia and seasonal regattas. There are a couple of outstanding food and beer places that should not be skipped while taking in some art and the local bad-boy in this neck of the woods that is the Eastern State Penitentiary, once the most expensive and famous prison in the world and temporary home of Al Capone.  Stop off at the Belgian Café and indulge in a fabulous sampling of Belgians (unless you want to hold out for its legendary sister outpost, Monk’s in Center City) including a selection over 200 bottled beers.  If you’re a vegetarian be sure to have their mouthwatering seitan reuben sandwich (my favorite!), otherwise opt for the pastrami version and make sure you don’t skip on the delicious frites.  On your way to the infamous Penitentiary you’ll probably need another drink, so make a quick stop at the Bishop’s Collar for a Houblan Choufe on draft or a bottle of the LeftHand 400Lb Monkey. I much prefer the rather smaller and quainter hidden gem that is Bridgidt’s if you want to rub elbows with some colorful yet down-to-earth locals and have a cozy dining experience, with a great beer menu of course.

In the very heart of Philly is the quintessential historical part of town also known as Old City.  I urge you to stop at Eulogy Tavern for a huger than huge array of Belgians, and over 300 national and international craft beers – the largest selection of brews in the city.  I love this place simply because in my opinion it is ‘the’ place to get outstanding beer in Old City and try ales you’ve never dreamed existed. Plus, the old and narrow two-story copper ceiling building boasts two bars and the most delicious and juicy burger in Philadelphia hands down!  It will be crowded, but worth squeezing in every inch.  If you want something a bit more gimmicky but downright to the bone old school, you may want to stop at City Tavern, the place John Adams called ‘the most genteel tavern in America’ in 1774, when he attended the First Continental Congress.  You’ll certainly get a taste of history here, but it will cost you a pretty penny.  But hey, it might be worth breaking down and playing the typical tourist card at least once.   Just don’t go to this place in shorts and a baseball hat since it’s pretty formal and you will look down right silly next to Colonial staff.  If you are still craving a good dose of local history (after all why come to Philadelphia at all if you’re not into this kind of stuff?) but are not into a ‘Historic Williamsburg’ experience, head on down instead to Center City to McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the oldest running Irish pub in Philly which opened its doors in 1860, the year Lincoln took the presidency.   This is where you’ll find real good folk drinking good no nonsense beer, hence the rating of this watering hole as one of the top 12 best beer drinking pubs in America.  Go straight for their own house specialties like the McGillins 1860 IPA, all proudly brewed locally in Adamstown by Stoudt’s.  This place is not your random Irish pub by any stretch of the imagination offering a great selection of outstanding microbrews, paying special homage to its home state.  And be sure to check out the shopping scene in this rather glamorous part of town, taking in a tour of lovely Rittenhouse Square. I want to end my travel/beer log of the City of Brotherly Love by urging you to make one final stop, heck… actually, you can even make this the very first stop in Philly and begin your journey here at the one and only Monk’s Café. They call themselves ‘the soul of Belgium in the heart of Philadelphia,’ and by God, how right they are!  I can try to compare Monk’s to other places but I would be wasting my breath because this place is truly an institution in and of itself – and well worth waiting two hours if you have to, just to sample the mouth watering beer, wine, or coconut infused moules and the superb array of Belgian ales boasting the finest Trappist selection anywhere.  In the end it was the first place I asked to be taken to as soon as I arrived in Philly, and it is the one place that beckoned me to stay and give this city a chance to conquer if not yet my heart then definitely my holier-than-thou taste buds.   Let’s just say what will always make Philly stand out and shine in my eyes is not so much its dose of tough love as its double dose of good taste.

The older (and wiser) I get, the more disenchanted I become with super fancy, hyped up and gimmicky skin care products which most often than not are largely comprised of toxic chemicals rather than wholesome ingredients. They cost a pretty penny but for all for the wrong reasons. It’s as if the price corresponds to the number of unnatural ingredients listed on the package, that, and all the effort put into advertising and packaging something which in the end is more harmful than it is good.

Take for example sunscreen, and the huge market it dominates. Sunscreen is supposed to  be good for you, but guess what? Unless you are buying all natural, organic, paba-free, non-toxic sunscreen products you are actually putting yourself at a higher risk for cancer due to the free-radical generating properties found in the chemical ingredients they contain. Would you consciously put poisonous pesticide all over your body to protect your skin? Most people do. Remember, that at the core of any huge endorsement  driven by cleverly instigated mass demand and hysteria there is a huge industry profiting. Let’s not forget that cigarettes were once touted to be good for you – back in the 50′s and 60′s when they ‘took the edge off’ and relaxed you at the end of a long day.  That’s back when real men smoked, as we are nostalgically reminded by the debonair Don Draper in Mad Men!

So forget all the commercial, expensive name brands, and get back to basics.  My rule of thumb is there should only be items you are familiar with and can clearly identify on any label, and the list should never be a mile long.  I use the same rule for food labels. If I want an oat bran cereal, there should be only one ingredient: oat bran – unless you want raisins in it!  Simple goodness is what it’s all about.  Have a look at these old-time favorite brands I’ve recently re-discovered. Not only are they good for your skin, they are affordable, and they will look super vintage glam on your bathroom shelf. Did I mention they’ve been in business for over a century?

J.R. Watkins SPF 30 Sunscreen ($10.99) is an eco-friendly, plan-based formula which contains all natural titanium-dioxide for sun protection and anti-aging ingredients. I also recommend their Gentle Pore Scrub ($9.99), which was awarded Best Exfoliant in the 2009 Beauty With A Conscience Awards! 

Thayers Witch Hazel Lemon Toner ($9.95) which is based on a Native-American skin cleansing formula is my favorite antidote to dull and oily skin. It refreshes, boosts shine, and invigorates your face immediately – and is the perfect solution for enlarged  and clogged pores.  If you don’t fall in love with the aromatic and fresh lemon scent, you will definitely fall in love with how soft and supple your skin will feel.  The Witch Hazel Pads ($7.95) are great to carry in a purse if you like to freshen up on the go, and are also great for traveling!

Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel With Aloe Vera

J.R. Watkins Pore Scrub

How many of us women willingly put our freedom at risk every time we get behind the wheel of a car to run an ordinary errand, like grocery shopping? Recently, one Saudi woman, Manal Al-Sharif, took such a risk backed by the support of her brother and a well-known Saudi women’s rights activist, both of whom accompanied her in the car while she drove in plain view.  Later that day Manal posted a video on YouTube, shortly after which she was arrested but released on bail, and then arrested again in the middle of the night without a warrant.  Her crime, in the words of a Mona Eltahawy, a famous Egyptian columnist: ‘driving while female.’  Saudi Arabia, is the only country in the world that prohibits women to drive, not by law but by old standing tribal tradition.  The Saudis believe that women should be protected and kept from danger, granting them the treatment of ‘queens’ while the men act as their guardians providing them with everything they need, except well, unconditional freedom. Manal is being perceived by many now as the new Rosa Parks, and gaining world-wide support and attention for her courage to challenge tradition. It is ironic to note that there are Saudi women who travel and drive overseas and are in legal possession of international driver’s licenses,  only to get back home and have their rights revoked.  Manal, a 32-year-old Computer Security Consultant, sees herself as a practical woman of the 21st-century, and contends that it is in fact more dangerous not to be able to drive, contrary to what her patriarchal society upholds.  Call it efficiency, practicality, or just plain common sense, but what if she or a family member were to get sick for example? She wouldn’t be able to transport herself or either of them to a hospital, but instead have to wait for an arranged ride or for a male guardian to get home. Here is where tradition and practicality clash.  As Joseph Campbell so eloquently put it, our religions, myths, and traditions must be adapted to fit our modern and functional understanding of the world, otherwise they become nothing more than archaic fairy tale like machinations of an extant world with which we can no longer identify. In light of all the exciting changes taking place in the Middle East, Manal, like many other women in that part of the world today believe they are standing at the threshold of a new age.  She is the inspiration for a new generation of women whose voices are now starting to reverberate worldwide, thanks to social media groups and the internet, like that of a young Saudi tweeter who recently posted: ‘Wedo not need a guardian or someone to watch out for us, in order to keep our purity and honor.’ She could’ve well added to that, BUT WE DO NEED CARS!  As of May 27th, Al-Sharif’s detention in prison has been extended to another 10 days while authorities decide how they should handle her case. Despite her ordeal, and as her 5-year-old son is in the hospital with an infection, Manal remains positive and believes in the judicial system, confident that she will receive a fair trial.  Her Facebook page has attracted 2086 followers thus far since her apprehension on May 23rd, as more people everywhere are rallying in her favor.

Please share this story, in support of this outstanding young woman, and her undeniable victory – a victory which in the end we can all partake in and be proud of.  For further information you can also log on to RightSideNews.com and ArabNews.com.

“In this life you’re reborn every moment. Every single second is a rebirth, a time when we re-create ourselves and our self-concepts. Every moment, there’s a new YOU.” – Lama Surya Das

“We carry about with us the burden of what thousands of people have said and the memories of all our misfortunes. To abandon all that totally is to be alone, and the mind that is alone is not only innocent but young and only such a mind can see that which is truth and that which is not measurable by words.”-Krishnamurti

It has been a long winter. In some ways I feel like it has been the longest winter yet.  At least the most challenging by far. But somehow, yet again, I’ve managed to survive the anguish of isolation and discontent that this season brings for me.   And the only reason I think I have ‘survived’ is because I had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Winter was my keeper.  I spent excruciating days and hours locked away from nature, within the confines of structured walls surrounded by brick and concrete.  No colorful flowers to gaze upon, days devoid of sunshine, the sound of birds obsolete.  As I’m putting this into words a new thoughtform arises: maybe I can equate winter with a stern yet highly valuable teacher rather than a fierce and dreaded foe.  For it was during this long, excruciating period of ‘death’ and ‘dying’ and being forced into seclusion, at least my own self imposed seclusion, that everything came to a head and was forced to reflect on and confront the obstacles in my own life. Those cyclical obstacles that we all keep encountering but are too eager to dismiss or blame on external sources.  The same question of ‘why am I here, and what am I doing here – again?”  Tibetan lamas believe that only through acknowledging the ever presence of death can we truly experience life: living every day as if we are dying. To me winter has always symbolized death.  In fact we are dying every minute, every second, as cells and tissues in our bodies degenerate.  But like the skin of a snake and the new cycle of life that spring inevitably brings we also regenerate. So is death then merely an illusion, since life brings death and death bring on new life?  Are obstacles an illusion.  Is winter the illusion of an obstacle for me?  Let’s just say that I agree with the Buddhist philosophy – that through honoring the omnipresence of death we can fully appreciate and honor that gift that is life. And only through death we can experience rebirth hence the never-ending cycle of existence.  And to complete the full circle perhaps I can now come to view winter as merely cyclical – the teacher that enabled my own rebirth – the birth into a new spring, into a new beginning, into a new Self.

So this spring I commit myself to my own rebirth. Shedding the past and harnessing my newly gained wisdom.  The wisdom I have acquired from trying to resist something by camouflaging it into something different than its true form time and time again – in this case winter, my teacher in disguise.  I want to give myself the gift of trust.  I want and choose to trust in my own potential for transformation.  In my own ability to release myself from everything that has kept me attached to old habits and old fears.  We all deserve the chance to release ourselves from the old stories that have shaped our past, the stories we got caught up in along the way, the stories we made up about ourselves, and the stories other people imposed onto us.  My official rebirth into spring began this past weekend. On my birthday, with everything in full bloom.  I chose to celebrate the day of my birth in the Catskill Mountains at a Buddhist monastery.  This year more than any other I wanted to make it about renewal, a symbolic gesture to be reborn and awakened into new beginning, a new year, a new chapter of my evolution.  There was nothing I wanted more than to surrender. Surrender to nothingness and everything at once.  The thought of spending a full day in meditation was beautiful and daunting all at once. What would I find in the black infinite space of my mind disconnected from the world and all its distractions?

I took off my shoes, entered the shrine room and stood face to face with a giant golden Buddha, bathed in the incandescence of dozens of prayer candles and red silk scrolls hanging from the walls. I felt instant peace, and whatever apprehension I had thus far dissipated like morning mist. Suddenly I was meditating in the presence of a Tibetan lama, who chanted the sacred teachings of the Dharma, praying for compassion and the happiness of all sentient and non-sentient beings. I prayed to the delicate sound of a meditation bell and the powerful thunder of a gong and tried to release my mind from clinging.  I prayed for my own happiness and felt torn for not exercising selflessness. But compassion begins with the Self, I remembered.  I think I’m getting somewhere. I hope I am. I watched ‘non-attachment’ play hide-and-seek in my head, as my mind seemed to cling to everything that tied me to the past like a stubborn velcro. I cannot say that I triumphed in the end, but I certainly was able to catch a glimpse of what lies on the other side. I saw a crystal clear lake with water lilies floating on its surface. I smiled. My victory manifested itself in a few brief and fragile moments when I allowed myself to surrender and experience the beauty of the present moment –  a present removed from any ties to the past – newly born, like my own rebirth into spring.

What is the ‘gift of rebirth’ you would like to grant to yourself this spring?  What would you like to shed like an old garment that no longer fits you? Remember, every moment there is a new you – or the real you that you have been somehow suppressing.  Who is that person today?

Gear up for those glittery Christmas and holiday parties, and take this once a year opportunity to deck the halls with your fabulous self! Here are three stylish, sexy, and super affordable accessories that are guaranteed to get you noticed, whether you’re standing under the mistletoe or not!

revolveclothing.com

Flaunt it faux real! I’m not a fan of animal hides, but you can show off all you want in this lavish BB Dakota faux-fur vest. It looks great layered, on top of a low-cut chemise, or simply peeking out of a coat.  Everyone will want to touch you, so leave your shyness at home because you’ll definitely get some attention in this little number.  This is a definite must-have at the top of my list for merely $65!

 

Give a hoot, or at least hang it! Adorn your pretty neck with this irresistibly charming 18″ silver plated owl pendant. This is just too adorable to pass up. Guaranteed you will get lots of compliments while making a groovy statement. Oh, and it will accessorize perfectly with your faux-fur vest. Definitely something to give a hoot about at only $22!

www.etsy.com/shop/bethallison

 

 

Grab that hobo before it’s gone! This double handed chain hobo bag adds a perfect touch of glitz to your holiday wear.  Aside for having multifunctional compartments to drop your lip gloss and cell phone in, the silver multi-chain detailing makes it super cool.  Make sure to get it in silver before they run out. On sale now for only $29.24!

Now get out there and make a statement, and whatever you do, don’t let that eggnog get to your head!

www.mandee.com

If we are what we eat, then we are what we think.  And if we think ‘gratitude’ we will not only embody it, but we will also receive it.  I usually like to take this time in the eve of the forthcoming holiday and reflect on what is most sacred and worth giving thanks to.  Happy Thanks-Giving to you!

1. Be grateful for every NEW DAY because it grants you the miraculous opportunity to start fresh, re-connect to what’s important, and re-invent yourself. We are too often convinced that we can’t change our patterns, that we can’t change the course of our lives, yet each new day affords us the opportunity to grow and take our life in any direction we so choose.  Every new day is a new chance. So choose to be the better and kinder person today, and forget about what you said or did yesterday. Do it better today!

2. Be grateful for the LOVE you receive in your life.  Never mind the love you feel you are not receiving or getting enough of. That doesn’t matter. A drop of love can fill an ocean!  Focus on the love that’s been gifted to you in every shape, size, and form and return it tenfold – not only to those that give it, but to those that are in need of it.  The world could use more of your love!

3.  Be grateful for what you can GIVE  of yourself to others. This is truly one of the most beautiful and tangible of gifts.  You don’t have to be rich to give your support, love and understanding to another being on this earth. Giving is free! When you give something, anything, the Universe opens up to you and surrounds you with love.  I can’t think of hearing anything better than the words “thank you.”  I can’t think of anything that feels better than GIVING.

4. Be grateful for this LIFE.  No matter what hard circumstances and challenges we encounter along the intricate and often complicated pathway of our lives, we always have the chance to make our life better. Life unfolds and expands like a beautiful tree, so stay in the light and avoid getting stuck in the shadow for too long.  Make your life into a song. Dream it and it will happen!

5. Be grateful you are the ARCHITECT of your own life.  The canvas is blank before you start painting on it.  The paths are open in every direction, so choose where you want to go.  No one else, despite the crippling belief that we are often at the mercy of life’s circumstances, can choose for you.  You are the most powerful person in your own life!  Create what you wish and watch it unfold.

6. Be grateful for your MISTAKES.  If we made no mistakes, then we would never grow.  Mistakes allow us to stand taller in their aftermath and take inventory of where we went wrong.  Think of any inventor, philosopher, scientist, or mathematician and the myriad of times they tried to break a code, solve a puzzle, failed, then went back to the drawing board until they had that ‘Eureka!” moment.  Without mistakes there would be no breakthroughs.

7. Be grateful for SOLITUDE.  When you have the chance to be alone, take it and embrace it.  In solitude we find the doorway to our inner selves.  We can’t reflect when we’re surrounded by external stimuli.  We can’t have that inner dialogue with ourselves, and tap into our higher selves – our needs, our abilities, our dreams.  Solitude is a form of meditation and a direct channel to what lies beyond our human form. It is our chance to connect to the Divine.

8. Be grateful for your HEALTH if you’ve been blessed with it, and likewise for the chance to rise above any ailment you are facing, because in the end it’s all about empowering ourselves to be strong for the sake of providing strength and inspiration to those around us. We are here to live by example, so inspire others to live better!

9. Be grateful for your POSSESSIONS, however modest they seem they are grander than they appear.  Imagine if you lost everything in a natural disaster, yet only one thing remained: a photograph, a cup, or a blanket.  Either of those things would become the most treasured mementos and objects in your life.  It’s not the quantity of our possessions, it’s the feelings they evoke in a moment of unbiased appreciation which gives us something to be grateful for.  So enjoy that fragrant single flower in a vase, and let it become your most valued possession for a moment, if not just for the simple reason that it gave its life to bring a sliver of unparalleled beauty into your world.

10.  Be grateful for your TALENTS.  Every single person is born with a talent, and the sooner you appreciate yours, the sooner you will have the chance to share your gifts with the world. Having a talent doesn’t always mean that you have to be artistically inclined.  Maybe you have a talent in being able to connect with people, tell a story, plant a garden, bake a cake. However small you think your talents are, remember they are unique gifts that only you can bring into this world.  One’s talent is like imprint of a foot in the sand. No two are alike.

UAN Dog T-Shit, www.cafepress.com

Before you take out that credit card and start buying random things online or anywhere else, pause for a minute and think of some causes you believe in. If you’re going to spend your hard-earned dollars you might as well spend it thoughtfully rather than frivolously.  With the upcoming holidays it’s easy to forget that we don’t need to go into automatic pilot gifting mode. Instead of giving something for the sake of meeting obligations, why not give something that will bring awareness to a great product and an equally great cause?  I’m always inclined to lend my support first to animal welfare, having benefitted tremendously from the unconditional love, friendship, and companionship of my furry friends.  Here is a great gift you can raise a glass to, benefitting the United Animal Nations!

Humane Cellars Wine sold exclusively by Benefit Wines (America’s Charity Wine Shop) will give any oenophile more of a reason (errr…or maybe that’s just wishful thinking!) to raise a toast, as for every bottle purchased (most selling for $19) $7 goes towards UAN (United Animal Nations), ensuring the protection of animals.

Humane Cellars Sample Pack

The Sample Pack offers a great selection of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sparkling White, and makes an amazing house or holiday gift for animal lovers at a reasonable $74.99 for the four bottles, $22.99 of which goes straight to UAN. Oh, did I mention these wines are organic and vegan?

For other great causes, visit iBuyiHelp, an extraordinary website that allows you to shop for the non-profit of your choice!  This site links you to any vendor you like, and after downloading their user friendly charity toolbar it will donate a portion of your purchases to your chosen cause via its network of retail affiliates.

As always, shop and spread love whenever you can. And don’t forget that every time you give a gift such as the one above, you teach by example!

Who has the extra cash these days (are we not still in a recession?) to throw money out the window on expensive beauty creams or lavish facials at a salon?  Trust me, when this girl gets money in the bank she likes to splurge.  Here’s my guilty pleasure: I like to combine my beauty regimen with my food and fill my fridge with super yummy bites that I can put both on my face and also eat – just not (eat) directly off my face! You would have thought that I survived the Great Depression with these kind of thrifty survival skills, right?  But listen, truth be told if you’re a foodie like me and like buying wholesome and gourmet products then you can bet your bottom dollar that the facial you can give yourself at home will rival those you can get at most salons.  Here’s my favorite facial for tired, dull skin, that will leave your visage with an incredible glow, minimizing the appearance of those unsightly pores that drive us all so crazy.

Organic yoghurt – the thicker the better so it will stay on your face

Organic Honey

Wheat Germ

Tomato Paste

Mix those babies together, and don’t worry about what it looks like because it certainly won’t be pretty.  Stir the ingredients in a bowl until it is the consistency of oatmeal and use a small plastic spatula to apply it to the face.  The potent antioxidants, vitamin C and Lycopene in the tomato paste will detox your skin and make it look younger, the wheat germ will exfoliate, the yoghurt will minimize pores and give that healthy glow, and the honey will nourish and moisturize.

Another great ingredient which you can substitute or simply add to that magic fountain of youth is (brewed) coffee grinds.  When you wash off give your face a rub down so you can also exfoliate, another thing the coffee is good for besides reviving tired skin.

Enjoy the new-found beauty in your fridge!