BoyFriend Jeans are loose, comfortable and have a very casual look. These mimic men’s jeans, loose fit, low rise, cuffed hems. While several labels sell boyfriend jeans, the jeans we selected are by Calvin Klein, Svoboda and Avenue . Pair boyfriend jeans with ballet flats, sandals or heels, they are meant to show your feet in order to catch the casual effect and keep it feminine. The rest of your outfit should be simple, try a T-shirt, and leather belt.

Enjoy a weekend of Fun, Beauty, and Glamour presented by Project Curve Appeal. The day includes the following:

• Diva 101 Classes
• Glam Day Beauty Makeovers
• Exclusive Photo Session
• Meet Industry Insiders
• Fashion Shows
• Beauty, Health & Fashion Vendors

As an added bonus attend the Bachelorette Expo featuring a hot fashion show, vendors, pole dance classes, and of course the male revue!  What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

Hosted By: Chenese Lewis

For additional information visit, ProjectCurveAppeal.com.

Promotion runs Sep 3-6, 2010

Visit Swimsuitsforall.com, the leader in plus size swimwear

Commitment means responsibility

It’s all about the number game
A lot of men feel that commitment is going to rob them of the opportunity to sleep with more women. And as men they want to sow as many oats as possible before they finally settle down.

They don’t want ANY change
Relationship and commitment means some change and men are just not willing to accept any change in their lives. They are quite set the way they are and believe that this the way life should be led, even if he is living like a caveman.

They don’t feel settled and ready in their professional life
Men can commit only if they have achieved the financial success that they have aimed for and the goals that they have laid out for themselves. Until they feel financial and professional stability they are not willing to commit to a relationship.

They fear getting hurt
A man also would be reluctant to commit if he has been hurt at some point in his life. A bad marriage or a messy break up could have jaded his approach to commitment and relationships completely. Also they feel that if they commit, get married and then have to get divorced the financial and emotional implications are too high to mess with.

They fear having to adjust
Another reason why men fear commitment is that they fear that they will have to adjust and will have to accommodate the woman in his life. The perfect balance of lying in underpants drinking beer and playing video games on the weekend will be jeopardized.

They are waiting for the ‘perfect mate’
Lastly, some men believe in the concept of the ‘perfect soul mate’. They are willing to go out and date as many women as possible to get to that one girl who makes everything seem right. This process of elimination takes a lot of time and hence with every passing relationship he gets more determined to find the right person without realizing that the concept of the “perfect soul mate” is a myth.

These traditional plans for getting the physical activity we all need can work very well, month in and month out, for some people. For the rest of us, life can mess up our exercise routines, big-time. An injury, illness, children’s schedules, demands at work, elders’ needs, boredom, fatigue, a tightened budget—all can contribute to blocking our efforts to become, and remain, physically active.

Once that exercise block develops, finding the motivation to get past it is tough.

Block-busting advice

These suggestions can help motivate you past an exercise block:

• Do less, not more. It’s important that physical activity feel good in order for you to enjoy it—which leads you to want to repeat it. Pushing yourself to start exercising at a highintensity or frequency rate or to match a previous high level, results in a negative experience and keeps you blocked. Instead, move more slowly and for shorter sessions. Activity can be accumulated over time and doesn’t have to be vigorous to be worthwhile.
  • “When you decide to do less, you do more,” Dr. Segar says. “People have grandiose plans to do 40- or 50-minute workouts. If you understand that everything counts, you get more physical activity…(than before when) you wouldn’t have done anything because you didn’t have the full 50 minutes.”
• Distraction helps. Dr. Welch’s research shows that listening to music while exercising brings positive feelings because it activates the brain region that controls negative emotions. Lower intensity also produces a positive psychological state, so be sure to include a cool-down period after activity.
• Change your mindset. If you’ve been trying for years to lose weight by exercising and it hasn’t worked—or you got only short-term results—maybe it’s time to rethink the result you want. The goal you set is the starting point for your behavior, Dr. Segar explains. Motivation fuels that behavior, like gas stations on a road trip. If your goal changes to wanting to increase your feeling of well-being, you will be more likely to become more physically active in ways that fit your life, help you feel better and are more sustainable for the long-term. Your motivation is then less likely to be thrown off-track or become blocked.
• Be a good coach. Use positive self talk (“I feel proud of myself for doing this today.”) while exercising and afterward, Dr. Welch advises. This helps improve your psychological experience of being active and encourages your decision to repeat the activity later. For more on how a positive approach can help you, go tohttp://www.healthywomen.org/wellness
• Take charge for yourself. Plan one do-able physical activity you think you might enjoy—a five-minute walk, say—and put it on your calendar. Or simply walk out the door and do it right away. Record it on a chart or planner when you finish. Then, if you feel good about that walk, schedule another of the same length for whenever you can next do it. Continue with that pattern of scheduling one activity session at a time and recording your successes.
• Cut yourself a break. If you fall off of your schedule, don’t waste energy agonizing over what you “should” have done—just begin again with one activity session.

And don’t think that you must join a gym or an exercise class to achieve motivation. Those external forces do little to sustain long-term physical activity for life.

~Healthywomen.org

Falling into a routine when it comes to your hairstyle is very easy this is why it is important to be versatile with your tresses as routine and hairstyling create a boring, unattractive look. Learning how to instantly update your ‘do without turning to the scissors can be very helpful as this can boost your looks in just minutes.

Hairstyles play a very important role when it comes to physical appearance this is why choosing the right cut is a must. The right hairstyle can help conceal flaws and enhance the best facial features, softening your look and boosting your sex appeal. Styling your hair the same way makes the hair loose its magic, so take the following advice into account so you can update your ‘do instantly and with a minimum amount of effort:

• Turn towards accessories as hair accessories can instantly transform your hairstyle from simple to fabulous. There are a variety of hair accessory styles to choose from depending on the result desired to be achieved. Choose headbands, hair clips, barrettes, hair pins, scrunchies, hair sticks, simple or jeweled depending on your outfit and preference. Using hair accessories is very easy, a minimum amount of skill is necessary to create the desired hair styles.
• If you have a parted hairstyle try changing the part of your hair. Depending on how your hair is parted you can try a side part on the left or on the right, a center part or an oblique part as they all look great. This will enable you to instantly change the aspect of your tresses.
• You can also try to zigzag part or no part at all by pulling all your hair back. All styles will offer you different benefits so try them all as often as you wish.
• Pull your hair back as there are a variety of pulled back hairstyles to choose from which can easily be created and which give amazing results in an instant. You can try different ponytail hairstyles, half updo hairstyles, bun hairstyles, chignons, French twists, updos, braided hairstyles as they are all hot and popular among women with medium and long hair.
• Try to use different hair styling products as the new techniques developed in the cosmetic industry allowed specialists to developed and improve a variety of hair styling products destined for different hair types. These products can enhance the beauty of your tresses and allow them to be styled as desired easier.
• Get your tresses trimmed regularly to allow your tresses to grow healthy as only healthy hair can look fabulous. If you don’t want to turn to a professional you can try to trim your own tresses but keep in mind that a little bit of skill is required in order to use the scissors right on your hair.

Be diverse with your hair and you will most definitely be bombarded with compliments. Beauty and style can help boost confidence so you will not only look fabulous you will also feel great as well.

Stephanie Penn-Danforth, Editor & The Daily Venus Diva Team

Since becoming Miss Plus America in 2003, you’ve been busy.  Tell me about your journey before winning the title?

I had an interest in modeling and acting prior to enterng the Miss Plus America Pageant, and the reason I entered was because I was looking for more exposure. I lived in a town where there weren’t that many opportunities in the entertainment field so I reached on-line and as a matter of fact I found out about the pageant through Venus Divas.

Once you became Miss Plus America, what other doors opened for you?

Since I was the first person to win the title, not many people knew about the organization, so I had to start from scratch.  With the title and crown I created opportunites for myself and exposure to the pageant as a whole that has helped the queens that have came after me.

What did you learn about the business of entertainment while creating your own opportunities?

I learned early on how properly marketing myself and presenting myself in a professional way went a long way. I also learned that everything that glittered is not gold.  I was scammed a few times and learned the hard way to take my career into my own hands.

I recall seeing you on BET’s Hell Date. As a plus size woman, how was that experience?

That experience was great for several reasons. First was because it was improvisation, which is fun.  I didn’t have to learn lines, so although we had an outline of what we should do, we didnt know how the episode would turn out ourselves because it depended on the persons reaction!  This also brought a new fan base to me that was not associated with the plus industry.  BET’s Hell Date was a very popular show that re-aired regularly.

Working in entertainment, do you feel like the industry is portrayed unfair as it relates to body image especially when it comes to women?

Absolutely. Where to I start? There are a lack of positive roles for plus size women,women of color, mature women. Hollywood isn’t good with celebrating diversity. It’s getting a little better but there is a really long way to go.

As a plus size woman, what do you think women can do to change the lack of diversity specifically with size acceptance in Hollywood?

The solution would be to create and produce our own projects, but that’s easier said than done. I know a lot of people out here (including myself) with a lot of concepts to pitch to networks but at the end of the day you have to pitch it or sell it to someone who may not have the same vison and goals as you do.  If  you’re lucky to get a project green lighted, they (producers)  will change everything up to make it more “marketable” which probably changes it completely. The internet has given people an avenue to create and produce their own content and distribute directly to the people.

In 2008 Plus Model Radio launched with you as the host.  Why did you feel there was a need for such a radio show?

Podcasting was becoming a popular forum on the internet.  I listened to other shows, but there wasn’t one geared to the professional plus industry. I was already writing for PLUS Model Magazine as the Empowerment Editor and was in the process of pursuing hosting in addition to acting.  I was looking for a way to practice  my skills, furthur my brand, and contribute something to the plus community. With the first show it was an instant success and one of the highest rated shows on Blog Talk Radio. I feel like the show is needed because it allows those in the industry and outside of the industry to hear our voice.

You’re also very actively involved with a number of worthy causes.  Tell me about your involvement with BEDA (Binge Eating Disorder Association)?

I was recently announced as the official spokesperson for BEDA and I am super excited. Before being exposed to this organization it had never crossed my mind that a plus size woman could have an eating disorder.  To some that might sound silly, but I had never put 2 and 2 together. Everytime I got invited to an eating disorder event it was always focused on Anaorexia and Bullemia and I always associated eating disorders with very thin women.

Binge eating disorder is the MOST common eating disorder and there all a lot of plus size women that have it.  As the BEDA Spokesperson I will help increase awareness around unrealistic “body-perfect” ideals, binge eating disorder and several associated conditions, including compulsive and emotional eating, and food addiction.

You were not alone in not knowing plus size women could be affected by eating disorders. I too had the same mindset.  That’s why your involvement is so important.  You’re also heavily involved with Hollywood National Organization for Women.  Tell me about this organization and how are you involved.

I got involved with Hollywood NOW about 5 or 6 years ago and joined the local chapter to get involved with their Love Your Body campaign. The National Organization for Women has been nationally celebrating Love Your Body Day for years.  I did not come up with original concept. Local chapters across the country do various things to celebrate in various way. When I joined my local chapter they weren’t doing anything to celebrate.  Since it was something I was very passionate about, I was appointed the Love Your Body Committee Chairperson.  This will be my 5th year producing this event and every year it gets bigger and better. This year I will be serving double duty because not only am I the Love Your Body Chairperson but I am also the Hollywood NOW’s chapter president, so I have been very active this year doing a lot of things in my community.

As the Committee Chairperson for Hollywood NOW’s Love Your Body campaign, what message do you want women to receive when attending the annual Love Your Body Day event?

Love Your Body Day is a day of celebration for ALL women. It is a day to promote and instill positve body image and self esteem regardless of your size. Although there are many plus size women that come and support, it is not a plus size event.  It celebrates women of all shapes and sizes, everyone should love their bodies whether they are a size 2 or 22. As long as you are healthy and happy that’s all that matters.

How important is it for women (especially Plus women) to get involved with different organizations on a national level such as yourself?

My goal with everything I do is to be mainstream and diverse and every event or project that I have produced has reflected that. From Love Your Body Day to PLUS Model Radio, even going back to previous projects from the past. You can’t bring change by dealing with only people that look like you and think like you, you have to reach the people that are opposite to really make an impact and bring change.  If everything I did was only within the plus community, that would be the only people who would hear my message, expanding my reach makes my message far more powerful!

What events do you have planned for the rest of the year?

I am hosting the Project Curve Appeal Convention in Las Vegas, NV Oct. 2nd which I am very excited about and of course I  have Hollywood NOW Love Your Body Day that is coming up Oct. 22-24 in West Hollywood.  It is a FREE community event and a lot of fun.  It’s very positive and uplifiting and I’m excited ths year to have America’s Next Top Model cycle 10 winner Whitney Thompson as the celebrity host.  We also have some great industry people on the panel discussion that will be announced soon. My entire schedule of events from now until Spring 2011 are on my website, Cheneselewis.com.

Thank you for the opportunity, and I am a huge fan of Daily Venus Diva!

Photo Credits

Photographer: Victoria Sprung

Make-Up: Marlene G.

Hair: Jo Williams

Wardrobe Stylist: Bette Tilch

Tadashi started his career by working with famed costume designer Bill Whitten in the 70′s. For Whitten he created costumes for Elton John, The Jacksons and Earth, Wind and Fire just to name a few.

In 1982, The Tadashi fashion house opened in Los Angeles. He quickly became known for his one of a kind signature pieces. Today Tadashi Shoji is a staple on the red carpet having created incredible looks for starlets of all sizes.

I take particular note to how he recreates his runway collection for the curves of  Amber Riley,  Jill Scott and Gabourey Sidibie. Most notably, Tadashi was responsible for Mo’Nique’s Oscar winning look in royal blue.

Although Tadashi Shoji maintains only 2 retail boutiques in the Unites States,  one in the South Coast Plaza and another in Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas, he has maintained tremendous wholesale success.  His designs can be found in over 4,000 retail stores across the country including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s.

1. College vs. retirement: Most of us want to help fund our kids’ college expenses. But let’s face it, college isn’t getting any cheaper and it’s getting progressively more difficult to come up with the monthly money needed just to pay a quarter of a college bill. Then there’s your retirement. While most kids can find money for college (scholarships, student loans, grants), there’s nothing I’ve heard of yet that will fund your retirement. So, if you have to decide between college or retirement fund, my money is on your retirement. Sure it’s not great that Junior has to fend for himself when that acceptance letter arrives, but it’s much better than having Junior fret about what his elderly and broke parents are going to do to eat. When the time comes to pay back his loans, maybe you’ll be in a better financial position to help him. But put that extra money into your future first.

2. Bankruptcy or pay it off: With the economy floundering, many people are eyeing bankruptcy right now and for some, it’s a viable solution. But not for everyone. Bankruptcy is not the best path if you want to maintain your credit. Once you’ve filed for bankruptcy, you’ll be forced to pay astronomical interest rates on everything going forward. Many apartment complexes look at your credit history and won’t let you rent if you have a bankruptcy on your records. Additionally many HR departments are pulling your credit and making judgments about you as a potential employee. Bankruptcy may be quicker, but the long-term effects linger and can make life more difficult.

3. Pay off debt or start saving: We’ve all heard about having a three to six month cushion of savings for emergencies and job loss. But what if you have debt that you’re paying off every month and can’t afford another dime towards savings? Should you siphon some of that credit card debt to a savings account or just focus on paying off debt? The answer is in the interest rates. If you’re paying 10% interest on that debt and your local savings bank is offering 1% on a savings account, you need to keep paying off that debt and the minute it’s over, keep paying the same amount, but this time towards your new savings account.

Having to make financial decisions every month is tough. There’s only so much money to go around, and so many bills and possibilities. The key is to think long-term.

Paula Sirois is a Florida based writer who writes about family life and frugal living.http://www.Deals.com is your easy-to-remember source for the best online deals, sales, and coupons.