Girlfriendology

How to Pick the Right Sports Bra | Lingerie Advice from Miss Kitty Plum

Judi — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:28:54 +0000

“A sports bra is a bra that provides additional support to female breasts during physical exercise.”

Wikipedia

I’m sorry, but that definition just cracked me up. Thankfully we have the perfect girlfriend to share her girlfriend advice on something that makes us comfortable when we exercise. Meet MISS KITTY PLUM as our Girlfriend Guru of Lingerie (& Sports Bras). Thanks Miss Kitty for sharing ..

It’s been a long winter and if you are anything like me you may have over indulged on hot chocolate, cookies, and yummy roast dinners. If you are also like me you may have left it a tad late to get bikini ready!

But not to be deterred! It’s time to break out the sports bra, hit the gym, courts, or tarmac to blow away the cobwebs and start to feel fit and healthy.

The sports bra is one of my least favorite pieces of underwear to buy; it’s never glamorous, it looks like it is destined to hold boulders rather than boobs, but it is an essential! Your sports bra needs to be replaced regularly; they go through more stress that your everyday bras, so here are my tops tips to picking the sports bra for you.

1. Get the right size. If you regular bra is uncomfortable because it’s the wrong size your sports bra will be agony. Get a fitting and ensure that the back size is nice and snug and the cup size is large enough. This will reduce the chance of the bra rubbing or not giving you enough support.

2. Right bra for the job. Sports bras tend to come in different levels of support depending on the type of exercise that you do. It you run or do high impact aerobics choose the highest level. If you are going to yoga or pilates pick a support level that is lower and allow you more flexibility of movement.

3. Look for wide padded straps. Wide straps spreads the load across the shoulder and the padding will make the bra more comfortable. If you do exercises with floor work look for a bra that has padding on the back hook and eye fastening.

4. Look for underwires. If you have a larger bust you will get more support with underwires. Sports bras that don’t have an underwire compress the bust to stop the jiggles. This can be restrictive and uncomfortable. The underwires should also be padded for maximum comfort.

So having purchased a new set of sports bras I am hitting fit camp, soon be tired and sweaty—but at least my boobs won’t be bouncing all over the place.

Miss Kitty Plum is a dedicated lover of lingerie. She is a professional bra fitter and co-owns Plums Lingerie, a specialty boutique that stocks lingerie for every woman. She also runs #Lingeriechat on Twitter every Sunday where lingerie fans get together to chat through everything and anything lingerie related. Follow her on Twitter @plumslingerie.

What are your tips and tricks for accentuating the positive and minimizing the negative?

“Friends are like bras: close to your heart and there for support.” – unknown

Here are some of Miss Kitty Plum’s awesome Girlfriend Guru blog posts:

Smaller Breasts Instantly – Girlfriend Advice

10 Signs it’s time to Ditch that Old Bra

A Brief Guide to Panties

Holiday Party Lingerie Girlfriend Advice

Girlfriend Advice for getting the Gifts you want

Trying on Swimwear| Girlfriend Guru Advice for Finding the Perfect Suit

Girlfriend Advice: Bra Fitting Tips from Miss Kitty Plum

By the way, we LOVE guest blogs here at Girlfriendology. Have a great girlfriend story to tell? Want to celebrate your fabulous female friends? SHARE! (And, we also have Girlfriend Gurus – check that out to be featured on Girlfriendology!)

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology and @Girlfriendology (Twitter) where we’re connecting with over 50,000 women and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration and great quotes. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Paying the Minimum? Credit Card Advice from Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga

Judi — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:41:07 +0000

Friendship, like credit, is highest when it is not used. -Elbert Hubbard

We know we shouldn’t. We know we really, really shouldn’t. But those shoes are soooo cute, and the credit card is just burning a hole right through our wallet. Bam! Proud owner of fabulous new shoes/purse/dress/camera (fill in the blank with your own personal weakness).

And we enjoy those shoes (or whatever). We really, really do. Our friends admire them, we feel great wearing them, and then BAM! the credit card bill arrives and somehow we don’t feel quite as great anymore.

We’re not saying don’t buy new shoes (we would NEVER say that!), but too many of us are carrying more credit card debt than we would care to, and getting that number down is not easy.

Girlfriend Guru and finance expert MIATA EDOGA shares some great advice this week to help us all get our bills back in line.

Every month girlfriends who’ve struggled to make ends meet pay only the minimum on their credit card.

That may be all you can do. If that’s the case: continue paying down what you can.

Realize, though, that paying only the minimum is costly. Not only will you continue to struggle financially, you’ll overpay for those items you bought on credit.

Here are the numbers:

Let’s say Briana has a $5,000 balance on her credit card. If her interest rate is 18%, it’ll take 150 months to bring her balance to zero making minimum payments! That’s 12.5 years!

Here’s the kick in the pants: she’ll pay $2,916 in interest during that period.

Ouch.

I can hear what you’re saying now: I can’t possibly pay more. Everyone has a reason for credit card debt. Some are irresponsible, but others are legitimate. Forget about why you have the debt and start focusing on your future. You deserve to be financially secure.

How to Pay Off Your Credit Card More Quickly:

1) Find other work. Are there odd jobs you could be doing after work? Babysitting? Lawn maintenance? Home cleaning for a neighbor?

2) Sell items. Although eBay is no longer the giant garage sale it used to be–professional sellers have taken over much of the space—you can still earn a few dollars either on eBay, Craigslist, or similar places, while decluttering your house.

3) Lower expenses. Do you need the deluxe cell phone package? Could you lower the cost of clothing or hair care? Many cable shows are available on Netflix or network websites.

It might not seem like much, but even if you can only save $10 extra to pay toward your credit card, you’ll cut your interest payments dramatically. With no more credit card debt you’ll be able to focus on life’s experiences instead of wondering how you’ll pay next month’s bill.

MIATA EDOGA is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, a 10-year old company committed to utilizing humor, inspiration & lots of love to give individuals around the world the necessary tools to thrive financially, while keeping focus on the things they treasure most. Visit the Abundance Bound Facebook Page for your free copy of Financial Success for the Creative Soul!

What are your tips for lowering credit card debt?

Thanks Miata and thanks for being one of our Girlfriend Gurus! Check out her girlfriend advice on financial success and saving money on your next getaway/trip.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

Mothers, Girlfriends, Women … Celebrating all our ‘Titles’ in Life :)

Girlfriendology — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:32:51 +0000

Behind every successful woman … is a substantial amount of coffee. ~Stephanie Piro

For every Mother, Girlfriend, Woman … there’s not only coffee, but other Women who help make us successful. Thankfully we have coffee (or tea, or wine, or chocolate) and each other.

What are your ‘titles?’ Mom, Sister, Aunt, Neighbor, Teacher, Knitter … whatever your ‘title,’ fortunately you’re still Chris, Jill, Julie, Marie (insert your name here!) to your girlfriends. You’re

HAPPY BELATED MOTHER’S DAY!

To our MOM Girlfriends – we LOVE you! We ADMIRE you! We SALUTE you! Thanks for all you do for so many.

Crafty Mother’s Day Gifts - by the fabulous BETH ENGELMAN, aka: MommyOnAShoestring
Ten Ways to spend Mother’s Day with your Family – by our Girlfriend Guru LISA HOLCOMB
Showing the Love to Girlfriends who are Moms – by our fab girlfriend SUSAN JACKSON, aka: Working Mothers Against Guilt

Girlfriends sharing Girlfriend Advice

Summer Salad, Beach House & Lunch Club Friends – by Girlfriend Guru LINDA STEELE (including the recipe!)
How to Lower your Car Insurance Bill – by Girlfriend Financial Guru MIATA EDOGA
Girlfriends in Business – What’s Your Business Strategy? – by savvy business girlfriend CRYSTAL COLLINS (and our BlogTalkRadio interview with her)
Some things you can only get from an Old Girlfriend – by Girlfriend Guru AMANDA WHITWORTH, aka: Bullfrogs and Bulldogs
Ever want to be Her? – great guest blog by Girlfriend Guru ARLETT R. HARTIE, aka: Chasing Joy

Coming this week on Girlfriendology

Paying the Minimum? Credit Card Advice from Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga
How to Pick the Right Sports Bra | Lingerie Advice from Miss Kitty Plum
Three Massive Mistakes Women Make When Shopping | Fashion Advice from Donna Gamache
Cell Phones, Brownies, and Trusting Yourself | Advice from the Faux Diet Queen
Traveling with Friends | Girlfriend Getaway Advice from Maire Hunter
and more!

And we’re at 28,000 FABULOUS FACEBOOK FEMALE FRIENDS! Whoo hoo!

Join us on Facebook everyday for inspiring quotes, lunchtime videos (that you’ll want to share with a girlfriend) like …

It’s just funny … I don’t know if you know this but … http://bit.ly/J6N2KP …. —->
“Three things are needed for a Good Life: Good Friends, Good Food, & Good Song.” Jason Zebehazy http://ow.ly/aTj9C
Inspiring! What doesn’t kill us makes us STRONGER http://ow.ly/aNsGP From kids who know! Today’s Girlfriend Video Lunch Break
“Go confidently in the direction of your Dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” Thoreau #quote http://ow.ly/aindg

SIGN UP for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology where we’re connecting with over 26,000 women (we block guys!) and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration and great quotes. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Summer Salad, Beach House, and Friends | Lunch Club Recipe from Guru Linda Steele

Judi — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:42:03 +0000

“Three things are needed for a Good Life: Good Friends, Good Food, & Good Song.” Jason Zebehazy

There is something wonderful about all the fresh veggies we see in the grocery right now. All the vibrant colors seem to scream “take me home and make wonderful dishes!” Generally, I ignore all this screaming because I’m not all that great a cook, but right now I am completely inspired to do something reasonably healthy.

Girlfriend Guru LINDA STEELE - who is a fabulous cook – is also ready for spending some spring time feeding her girlfriends. Even with my limited kitchen skills, I’m pretty sure I can make the summer salad recipe she shares in this blog. While my home isn’t on the beach, I will share the season’s bounty with some girlfriends (and imagine the smell of salty air).

I can’t wait for May Lunch Club. We may even be able to eat out on my back deck depending on what the weather does. Weather in May on Cape Cod is always so iffy. It will be sunny and warm one day, cold and rainy the next. I hope it turns out nice enough because I want to show off my new Beach House sign. I’d wanted one for awhile now but the store I’d been eyeing it at was just too pricey for my budget.

That’s why it’s so fun to have friends who like to shop. I got a call from a friend the other day, she was out and about when she spotted the sign I wanted at a local Thrift Shop. It was for sale at a fraction of the price I’d seen it for. She bought it for me and brought it over later that day. My shutters on the front of the house are blue and I feel like the sign fits just right. I’ll try to make an extra special lunch to thank my friend for her generosity.

My menu for May lunch club includes tea sandwiches made with chopped cucumber, fresh dill, and softened cream cheese smoothed onto white bread, a large salad that my daughter and I call “Summer Salad” (recipe below), and hazelnut shortbread cookies (recipe is published in my book “Meet me in my Cape Cod Kitchen”) offered for dessert with freshly brewed then chilled Peach Tea.

Daffodils have been in abundance at the florist lately so I’ll be sure to pick up a few bunches and place them in sweet little vases around the house and use a combination of blue and green cloth napkins. I never go all out on the decorating because for me it’s about making my guests feel welcome and at home. A few thoughtful touches here and there are all it takes.

May is a great time to host lunch club. The summer is on its way and it’s nice to catch up and see what friends have planned for the months ahead. If you host a lunch club of your own this month, drop a line and share how it turns out.

Recipe for Summer Salad

3 cups fresh clean and finely chopped leafy greens of your choice (we like a spring mix with romaine)

½ cup fresh strawberries, washed and chopped into small pieces

½ cup feta cheese crumbles

½ cup pecans, finely chopped

¼ cup finely chopped onions

¼ cup finely diced cucumbers, peeled

Toss together in large salad bowl with a lemon poppy seed dressing

Enjoy!

LINDA STEELE knows how important maintaining supportive friendships are. She’s an avid baker, Professor, writer, and mom. Her first fun and personalized recipe collection called “Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen” can now be purchased in e-book form. She loves to inspire people to always share fun times with friends while eating good food. You are invited to like her on Facebook at Sweeter by the Beach and become a follower of her blog.

What are your favorite spring recipes to share with girlfriends?

Thanks Linda! And check out her Girlfriend Chili Fest! and Lunch Club.

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Crafty Mother’s Day Gifts | Creative Advice from Girlfriend Beth Engelman

Judi — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:47:05 +0000

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey

Remember when we were little and we took Mother’s Day very, very seriously? We made gifts, and cards, and breakfast (which mom later cleaned up) and we were so proud of our ability to do something for our mother.

Today, most of us take Mother’s Day just as seriously, although we have moved beyond bringing mom Cheerios and milk in bed. Many of us ARE moms, and have the dual joy of celebrating the day with our own mother and with our children’s mom. Here are some great ideas from guest blogger BETH ENGELMAN on ways to help your kids make a gift for you (or another fabulous mom). Now that we think about it, these are pretty nifty ideas for girlfriends, too….

Happy Mother’s Day! Celebrate your favorite mom (or girlfriends) with these charming gift ideas that are easy on the wallet and even easier to make!

“Bubble Bath” Tea

Mom will love this “bubble tea” that is really a bubbly treat for her bathtub!

You Need:

Tall Glass

Bath Beads

Straw

Washcloth or Bath Poof

Directions:

Fill 1/3 glass with loose bath beads.

Add bath poof or washcloth.

Top with straw.

Personalized Wishing Well

Let mom know her every wish will be granted with this sweet wishing well.

You Need:

Recycled Glass Jar

Blue Food Coloring

Glitter

Pennies

Directions:

Fill jar with “magic” water by adding a few drops of blue food coloring and glitter.

Include a bag of pennies for instant access to wishes!

Decorate with a bow and card that says “wishing you well with this wishing well.”

Peace, Love and Happiness Notecards

Be eco-savvy with these unique “peace, love, and happiness” note-cards made from recycled jigsaw puzzles.

You Need:

Glue

Scissors

Colored Paper

Old Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces

Directions:

Trace puzzle pieces onto colored paper.

Carefully cut out tracing and glue to puzzle piece.

Allow time to dry.

Happy Mother’s Day!

BETH ENGELMAN is single mom living large on a shoestring budget. Her website, www.mommyonashoestring.com, is all about crafts and activities families can do without breaking the bank. Her column “Mommy on a Shoestring,” appears in over 30 local papers around Chicago as well as on the Chicago Sun-Times / Pioneer Press website where you can also view her “MOAS” video series. Beth is an “ivoice” contributor to NBC Universal iVillage where she reports on stories that affect her community.

What are your best DIY gifts for Mother’s Day, girlfriend?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology where we’re connecting with over 27,000 women (we block guys!) and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration and great quotes. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Ten Ways to Spend Mother’s Day WITH Your Family | Girlfriend Advice from Lisa Holcomb

Judi — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:26:56 +0000

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs … since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

Everyone I know has their own twist on celebrating Mother’s Day. One friend is in a contest with her siblings to see who can call their mom first. (I’m not sure how this is good for their mom who has lost a lot of sleep over the years, but it’s tradition.) Another friend drives over to her mom’s to help with outdoor chores every year. Some of us live too far away to visit for a few hours and send multiple cards or gifts for Mother’s Day. My next door neighbor made it a tradition for her kids to help plant flowers around the house every year on Mother’s Day. Yet another friend banishes her family from her home and watches reality tv in bed all day.

Girlfriend Guru and mom LISA HOLCOMB has given a lot of thought to how she wants to spend Mother’s Day. While she’s happy to let the kids and dad do some of the cleaning up and heavy lifting, she looks forward to a day spent with her family (doing things she enjoys!).

I can hear some folks now. WHAT, spend Mother’s Day WITH my family? Isn’t Mother’s Day all about me? That’s what the media would like us to think. It’s what society wants us to think. But I think I want to spend Mother’s Day with my family.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll cherish a much needed nap Sunday afternoon. However, I don’t want the day to be just about me. I love spending time with my stinky boys and I want my family to know that I love and cherish being their mom/wife. I want them to understand that my being their mom is an honor for me. It’s not just about me, but about me being their mom.

That being said I’ve come up with ten things that families can do together with little effort from mom.

1. Have a Sunday afternoon picnic. Let your family plan it and don’t worry if it’s not perfect or just the way you would have planned it. They’ll feel good knowing they did it.

2. Catch a matinee or watch a movie at home. Mom’s choice of course. Curl up with some snacks and a good movie and enjoy. With a husband and four stinky boys at home I know it’s true love when they let me pick out the movie and actually watch it with me.

3. Go for a walk. If the weather is nice, then head outside for a walk. Just enjoy relaxing and being silly together.

4. Pick out flowers or plants WITH your family. I love plants. How about making it a family shopping trip and letting everyone in the family help pick out flowers/plants for mom?

5. Watch family videos. Do you have family videos that need to be dusted off and shown to the kids? My kids love to see videos of themselves when they were little. Laugh over some fond memories.

6. Go to a museum. Is there a museum that you’ve been wanting to see? Depending on the ages of your kids, you could spend the afternoon at a museum. I personally love children’s museums.

7. Bake cookies together. Cookies are yummy. ‘Nuff said. Let Dad and the kids do the cleanup.

8. Visit a nursing home. How many moms are in your local nursing home that won’t get a visit from anyone this mother’s day? Honor the day by having your children make home-made cards and taking them to the nursing home. Don’t just drop them off. Ask the staff who you can personally deliver the cards to and spend a few minutes visiting with the recipients. Trust me, you’ll make their day and instill something valuable in your children at the same time.

9. Have a game day/evening. Break out the board games and popcorn and let the games begin!

10. Have a tea party. This is actually something I know my eight and nine year old boys would really get into. My teenagers would do it for me but the whole tea party would probably be one silly outrageous event full of fun and laughter.

So, this Mother’s Day, let the dust settle, don’t worry about the cobwebs, and spend quality time WITH those who call you Mom. Oh, and sneak a much needed nap in.

LISA HOLCOMB lives near Austin, Texas with her husband and their four boys, ages 8-18. (Her oldest two children are married and have babies of their own.) She and her husband adopted their youngest two boys through the Texas foster care system. Lisa’s degree is in Child and Family Development and she is a strong advocate for family meal time. She is co-owner of www.BuildAMenu.com a site that helps people keep grocery budgets under control and bring families back to the dinner table.

What tips do you have for a great Mother’s Day?

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Showing the Love to Girlfriends Who Are Moms | Guest Blog, Susan Jackson

Girlfriendology — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:04:01 +0000

All mothers are working mothers. ~ Unknown

Showing the Love to Girlfriends Who Are Moms

Guest Blog by Susan Jackson
Mother’s Day can be kind of a mixed bag for moms. Sure, we love being recognized for all that we do for our families (which, let’s face it, is pretty much everything). But the way we’re recognized? It doesn’t always live up to our expectations or desires.Just ask any mother who’s received a blender or a vacuum for Mother’s Day. Or who ends up hosting her entire extended family for an elaborate Mother’s Day dinner. (“Whose idea was this, anyway?!” I have asked myself, more than once.)

This Mother’s Day, why not reach out to your girlfriends who are moms and tell them how much they rock? It doesn’t matter what their partners or kids choose to do. You, as a best friend, know very well how much effort and love your friends pour into their mothering each day.

Let your friends know you’ve noticed. You could do something as simple as sending her a card or posting a photo on her Facebook timeline. Or go the extra mile and give her a gift she’ll actually use and love.

My mom happens to be one of my best girlfriends, so last year I gave her a Purse Perfector purse organizer as my gift of love and appreciation. She had so many stylish, cute purses, but didn’t use them enough because switching between them was a pain. Now she keeps all of her essentials organized in her Purse Perfector, and can use a different handbag whenever she wants. In other words, I gave her a gift that showed I knew her well, and wanted to make her daily life a little nicer.

This year, I sent Mother’s Day cards to my favorite mom friends. On the front was a funny cartoon about “Bad Moms,” and on the inside I wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day, from one ‘Bad Mom’ to another” along with a personal note — explaining that, of course, I think she’s a great mom and friend.

Whatever you do, I guarantee your girlfriends who are moms will be thrilled that you recognized their maternal magnificence. There’s simply no such thing as too much love on Mother’s Day.

Susan Wenner Jackson is the mother of two, and blogs at Working Moms Against Guilt.

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How to Lower Your Car Insurance Bill | Girlfriend Advice from Financial Guru Miata Edoga

Judi — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:29:30 +0000

Aren’t you glad we have girlfriends – to help us learn the things we need to know? (I am!)

“Let’s go shopping for car insurance” – not a phrase that would cause most of us to jump off the couch, grab a purse, and head out for a day of fun with a friend.

Girlfriend Guru and financial expert MIATA EDOGA shares greatest reason of all for shopping for car insurance— having more money to spend with girlfriends!

If your budget’s tight there are two places I always have people look for money: taxes and insurance. Often by putting a good tax strategy together or by shopping insurance policies we can find surprising amounts of money. That insurance commercial that says “I saved money on my car insurance” has it right. It happens every day.

Here are Five Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance Bill:

1)    Shop around after your birthday. A friend of mine is an Allstate agent. He told me to shop your car insurance every few years because each company specializes in a different set of people. While one might like people ages 25-29, another may cater to age 30-35. On your birthday the best fit may change.

2)    Combine coverages. If you have renter’s insurance or homeowner’s coverage, ask about better rates if you have both through the same insurer. Even if individually the prices are higher, an insurance company might give you a better deal if they hold both together.

3)    Check organizations for discounts. AARP, honor societies, unions, discount shopping clubs….they’re just a few groups that offer discounted rates on many everyday needs. Ask the organization you belong to if they have any insurance affiliations.

4)    Meet with your agent about policy discounts. A friend has twins who are 16 years old….ouch! He receives a discount because his children are all “A” students. You may qualify for, among others, a safe driver or low mileage discount. Agents of each company know what discounts fit your particular situation.

5)    Sign up for automatic payments. Some insurance companies give discounts when you autopay your bill. They know when to expect funds from you, and you receive a discount for always paying on time. Everyone wins!

By spending a few minutes on auto coverage, you may find that you’re overpaying, even if you’re with a low-cost insurance company. Wouldn’t you rather spend that money on a lunch out with girlfriends?

MIATA EDOGA is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, a 10-year old company committed to utilizing humor, inspiration & lots of love to give individuals around the world the necessary tools to thrive financially, while keeping focus on the things they treasure most. Visit the Abundance Bound Facebook Page for your free copy of Financial Success for the Creative Soul!

What are your tips for saving money, girlfriend?

Thanks Miata and thanks for being one of our Girlfriend Gurus! Check out her girlfriend advice on saving money on your next getaway/trip and financial success/money advice.

And our fave insurance quote from one of our favorite Chick Flicks:

“Face it girls. I’m older and I have more insurance.”

Fannie Flagg, Fried Green Tomatoes

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

Girlfriends in Business – What’s Your Business Strategy? | Crystal Collins

Girlfriendology — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:56:29 +0000

“All lasting business is built on friendship.”

Alfred A. Montapert

“Today, more women are breaking free from the traditional, gender-specific roles and venturing into the business world. Not only are they holding high corporate positions but they are also successful women entrepreneurs who own almost half of all businesses in the United States.” (Per Go4Funding)

I love how women collaborate, how we share ideas and support each other. I know I’ve been blessed by girlfriends who have shared their ‘women’s wisdom’ and helped me make decisions, discover new solutions and, as a result, grow my business. (Personally, I couldn’t lead Girlfriendology without amazing women like Judi, Joanne, Julie – and other friends whose names may or may not start with a ‘J’!)

Girlfriend CRYSTAL COLLINS, co-creator of the Marketing Calendar Blueprint, also aka: The Thrifty Mama and part of the Savvy Blogging awesome bloggers, has some great advice for women entrepreneurs – it involves having a business strategy, not just ‘hoping’ our business will happen and become profitable. She asks the (possibly) tough question of women entrepreneurs: ‘What’s Your Business Strategy?’ LISTEN IN as we talk with Crystal about our Marketing Calendar and Business Strategy!

Girlfriends in Business – What’s Your Business Strategy?

I recently had a business discussion with a room full of people and posed the question: What is your 3-5 year plan for your business? The shocking thing to me was that not a single person in the room had one … a plan that is. They all had businesses, yet no plan. I was baffled. I was also a little worried.

Most of these people are very dear to me and I’ve become great friends and colleagues with them. Without a plan, they might as well be throwing darts in the dark. That sounds like a hazardous activity for a girlfriend that is depending financially on her business.

One of the most important things about owning your own business, is knowing what you need to do next. If you fail to plan, then you might as well plan to fail. Here are some items you should be thinking about with your business so that you are never sacrificing a girl’s night out for your business.

1. Where do you want your business/brand to be in 3-5 years?

2. Will you be launching any products/books, and when are the dates for those? If you are doing this, how can you break up your book/product into small pieces to provide for your audience’s needs in the coming years?

3. How do you plan to utilize social media for your business?

4. How do monthly, yearly, seasonal and cultural trends fit into your business?

5. What tools should you be using to market yourself and your business?

These are all important questions that every business owner should be asking. Having a good plan in place is not only important for your success, but also important for your life. Don’t overwork yourself! Having a plan laid out alleviates the stress of “what do I do next?” It also means you are always talking about “what’s hot,” and not talking about pumpkin pies in the middle of Summer.

CRYSTAL COLLINS is the co-creator of the Marketing Calendar Blueprint. If you feel like you never really make any headway with your business and are just being swallowed up by everything that vies for your attention, it’s time to get focused and work smarter. Order the Marketing Calendar Blueprint.

What Girlfriend Advice do you have for other Women Entrepreneurs?

LISTEN IN as we talk with Crystal about our Marketing Calendar and Business Strategy!

SIGN UP for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology where we’re connecting with over 28,000 women (we block guys!) and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration and great quotes. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Some Things You Can Only Get from an Old Girlfriend | Friendship Thoughts from Guru Amanda Whitworth

Judi — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:24:29 +0000

“True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.”
- Charles Caleb Colton

Do you remember the song “Make new friends, but keep the old…?” We know how important friendship are, how much they mean to our everyday life. When we move or change jobs we promise we’ll stay the wonderful friends we’ve always been. And sometimes, we do.

But sometimes it is hard to keep up old friendships as we work to get established in our new city, new job, new routine. Girlfriend Guru AMANDA WHITWORTH shares some of her stories about the importance of keeping up with those friends who’ve known us forever. We hope you’ll share your tips for keeping in touch, too.

Almost a year ago I moved from Seattle to a little town about 45 minutes south of Portland to be with my now fiancé. In doing so, I left behind my whole support system in pursuit of my happily ever after with him. As happy as I was with him, as time went by I began to realize there was something missing in my life; something big, and something very important: friends.

When I first moved down to my new home I got completely wrapped up in my new life and told myself that this was my home now and I needed to make new friends. It wasn’t that I didn’t love and cherish my old girlfriends, but this is where my life was now and it was important for me to make those connections here.

As time went on and I slowly met some new friends, I realized there was still something pretty big missing from my life. There was still a part of me that felt empty and lost until one day I had an hour long conversation with my best friend and I was quickly reminded what it was. There are something’s you can only get from an old girlfriend.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my new girlfriends. They are kind and sweet and bring something great to my life, but it’s different than what I get from my old friends and that is what makes friendships so wonderful. You get something unique from each and every one of them.

What I was missing was that familiarity and the known. The casual yet deep conversation that flows effortlessly because you think you already know everything about them yet you find yourself constantly learning more.

The inside jokes we’ve had since elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and of course throughout our adventurous twenties. The freedom to let down your guard and just be because that’s who they already know.

Those were the things I was missing and as much as I told myself I needed to move on and let that part go, the more I felt the emptiness from not having them in my life.

We all grow up, move away, marry, meet new friends but there is always room for the old ones because honestly, there are something’s you can only get from an old girlfriend.

So what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and call her today.

AMANDA WHITWORTH is the gal behind Bullfrogs and Bulldogs. Bullfrogs and Bulldogs is the story of her life on the family vineyard and finding her way from her former life as a city girl to her new one in the country. Join her as she discusses life on the farm, DIY projects around her lovely 1970 home, fun vegan and gluten free recipes, and all things pertaining to farm life! She is also on Facebook and Twitter.

How do you stay in touch with old girlfriends? What tips do you have for keeping your friendship alive?

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Ever wanted to be ‘her?’ | Girlfriend Advice Needed for Guru Arlett R. Hartie

Judi — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:07:45 +0000

To speak painful truth through loving words – that is friendship.

Henry Ward Beecher

It takes a real friend to speak the truth. Sometimes the truth is painful to admit and maybe even to hear. But, as friends, we’re still there for each other. We weigh the truth through eyes of love and admiration, we listen with acceptance and support.

Girlfriend Guru, ARLETT R. HARTIE, author Chasing Joy, reminds us that sometimes, being honest is hard – to even accept yourself and admit to a friend. In this blog post, she asks for help – not to be perfect, but to keep striving to be her best. And that’s something we can all use a little help with, right girlfriend?

I know being a girlfriend guru I’m supposed to be brilliant and all knowing regarding all things girlfriendship related. Well, part of being brilliant and all knowing is knowing when you can benefit from a little advice.

Now I think I know some of the answers to this question but I’d love to hear what my girlfriends have to say. So here it is… (wait for it)… How do you NOT be a hater???

Now I am definitely not a hater but I am human and from time to time we are thrust into situations where we are bearing witness to someone getting what we want. While we may be so happy for them, we are also fighting an internal battle to keep from turning into that monster, the green-eyed hater.

I suppose you are wondering why I need advice on how not to be a hater. Have you heard the phrase always a bridesmaid but never a bride? Well that’s not quite me. But I am a bridesmaid. I am actually very, very honored to have been asked and I am thrilled for the bride. However, there is that little voice inside saying ‘but I want to get married.’ I keep shoving a sock in her mouth but she won’t shut up. I also am surrounded by moms, new moms, seasoned moms, and soon-to-be moms. No matter how many times I take the batteries out of my biological clock it manages to start ticking again. This thing must be solar powered

Basically, I desire a type of family life that I don’t have right now as a single (and looking) woman. While I do make the best of being single and greatly enjoy not having to explain my actions, finances, and whereabouts, I definitely look forward to being a wife and mom. I look forward to not sleeping alone and seeing everything new and exciting through the eyes of my future children.

As I cheer on my friends as they move into and through these stages of life, I cheer them on with one hand while holding down the green-eyed hater monster with the other. So help this guru out. Be honest, we are all capable of multiple emotions at the same time. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has struggled with this mix of emotions.

How do you do it?

How do you keep from being a hater when your girlfriends get a promotions when you get reprimanded, get engaged while you go on bad date after bad date, get pregnant while you struggle to conceive? We all can’t be up at the same time. How do you handle it when it is their turn to be up? How do you NOT be a hater?

ARLETT R HARTIE is the author of the blog Chasing Joy. Arlett’s writing focuses on her efforts to find happiness after a rough time in her life, and hold on to it through all of life’s ups and downs. She writes about all things related to joy, positivity, and gratitude. She is a daughter, sister, auntie, and Girlfriend. You can also find Arlett on Pinterest.

How do you keep your attitude positive when life comes at your from all directions? What’s your advice (aka: loving words) for Arlett?

Girlfriendology to speak painful truth, friendship quote

THANKS ARLETT for being so honest and for sharing your great girlfriend wisdom. Check out Arlett’s previous guest blogs:

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Here’s to your Health | Girlfriends & National Women’s Health Month

Girlfriendology — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:42:17 +0000

“Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don’t have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.”
Michelle Obama

How’s your Health Girlfriend? (Your Friends Care!)

It’s National Women’s Health Month, and National Women’s Health Week (May 13-19). The official description shares:

National Women’s Health Week is a week-long health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2012 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority.

This week and every day, we women have to look out for each other. It’s what we do – right? And, as in the top quote, “We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.”

This week your challenge is to do that. Do something to be a little healthier - go for a walk with a girlfriend, cut back on soda and sugar, snack on fruit, take a yoga class with a friend – and encourage your girlfriend(s) to do the same. Let’s look out for each other. Let’s make our own health a priority and to inspire our friends to do the same.

Let’s celebrate Women and Women’s Health every day – so we have more days to spend with our friends! (And for exercise inspiration, remember …)

“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping people on the couch”
(unknown)

Girlfriend Advice, Insights and Inspiration

Girlfriend Advice on giving your Friend Difficult News – Shared by guest blogger MARINA SBROCHI, author of ‘Stop Looking for a Husband: Find the Love of your Life“
Keep the Light of Your Friendship Alive – Guest Blog by SARAH OXLEY
Naming our Girlfriends – by Girlfriend Guru RACHEL AWES
The Eyes Have It – Make-up, Allergies and Girlfriend Advice
The Journey – Girlfriend Advice from Girlfriend Guru JENNIFER HALL
Table Talk / Conversations Starters for Families – Guest blog by LISA HOLCOMB

“I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don’t find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I’ve never had a problem with the way I look. I’d rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.”
Adele

Back to women’s health for a quick moment, we want our friends to live healthy, happy, long lives. But we also understand that being healthy doesn’t translate into a certain dress sizes. Why not call up your friends for lunch this week? Or plan a dinner for your BFFs to spend some quality time laughing and sharing – that definitely lowers stress! Start a book club, get a group of Moms together, have conversations to women you see frequently at the coffee shop or gym.

Be healthy Girlfriend! You’re loved and your friends want you to live a long, healthy life!

SIGN UP for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

And for our SHOE-SHOPPING Sista’s …

Girlfriend Shoes of the Day – Wedge Sandals -

Steve Madden Wedge Sandal – in Coral, Khaki, Black and Natural

Betsey Johnson Heels – Iconnn

Michael Antonio Baker Knee-High Boots

Mary Jane Pumps with Velvet Trim

Reebok Walking Shoes

Giving a Friend Difficult News | Girlfriend Advice on Sharing Your Opinion from Marina Sbrochi

Judi — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:45:11 +0000

“It’s what friends do for each other. We bear witness to the bad and the good in one another’s lives.” –Linda Steele

None of us really like to deliver bad news. Whether it’s something as simple as “the pizza won’t be here for ANOTHER 20 minutes,” something potentially embarrassing “Quick, turn around! Your skirt is stuck in your undies!” or something you don’t want to admit “um, who owns the green Chevy I just backed into?” almost all of us would rather have a bad mani-pedi than make our girlfriend unhappy or uncomfortable.

Guest blogger MARINA SBROCHI recognizes that there are times when we should keep our opinions to ourselves and times when we are friendship-obligated to tell our friends what we think. Trying to find the balance is often difficult. Before beginning any difficult conversation, think about the pros and cons of speaking up and keeping quiet. Whatever you decide, make sure you are there for your friends—even if you don’t always agree with their choices.

It’s a tough scenario being the bearer of bad news. Your girlfriend finally meets a guy she likes. She really likes him. One problem. As her friend, you don’t. It’s a rough place to be in. How do you tell her?

First, you have to sit back and think about why you don’t like her guy. Be honest about it. Maybe you feel slighted because you have gotten so used to having her be available 24/7 for fun and you have always been able to count on her as your Saturday night wing woman. Now that she has this new guy and she is suddenly busy it makes you feel left out. If this is the case, well, perhaps you are being a bit selfish.

Let’s take the other end of the spectrum. She finds her new guy and you want her to be happy. But this guy isn’t quite what he seems to be. You can see through his slick words and shady dealings. You know he isn’t quite as into her as she is into him. Perhaps he treats her like an object and not the wonderful person that she really is. Your urge is to tell him off and forbid them to see each other! However, you can’t quite do that. She’s a grown woman.

You have to tread lightly here. You don’t want to risk offending your friend and treating her like a child. At the same time, you hate to see her make a mistake with a guy that clearly does not have her best interests in mind. What to do?

Operation Tactful Suggestion

-          Schedule a lunch with your friend.

-          Ask her to tell you what she likes most about her boyfriend.

-          Have her tell you what she doesn’t like about him.

-          Ask her if she sees herself with him in the next six months.

Now listen to all of her answers. Keep your projections of her boyfriend out of it. If she addresses some of the same concerns you have, you have an opportunity to open the conversation right there. Reassure her that you will stand by her. Tell her how much you want her to be happy. Ask her if she wants this type of behavior in a relationship for herself. Perhaps in just talking with you – she might see it on her own, with your help.

Remember, if he really is a heel, a great girlfriend will always be waiting for her friend to return.

MARINA SBROCHI grew up in Dublin, Ohio and attended the Ohio State University. She is the IPPY Award winning author of Stop Looking for a Husband: Find the Love of Your Life. She is also a dating coach in Dallas, Texas. You can find more on her @ www.stoplookingforahusband.com

What are your tips for gracefully having a difficult conversation with a girlfriend?

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Keeping The Light Of Friendship Alive | Guest Blogger Sarah Oxley

Judi — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:01:19 +0000

Friendship isn’t a big thing — it’s a million little things. – Unknown

You probably have the type of life where you have plenty of time for all the things you want to do, right? Yes, we’re rolling on the floor laughing at that idea too!

We would all love to have more time in our busy lives. Sometimes it’s hard to make time for our oh so important girlfriends, isn’t it? Guest blogger SARAH OXLEY reminds us that we have to find time to get together. And she share some great ideas about making girlfriend get togethers fit into our crazy schedules.

Having a close girlfriend is a great thing, but—let’s face it—no matter how much we want to make time for each other, life often gets in the way. One way to keep the light of friendship alive is to arrange regular meetings. You needn’t have a fixed date, but make sure that there’s at least one week in the month in which you will arrange to meet up.

But don’t just do the same thing. Having a nice chat at a coffee house is great, but your friendship is based on common interests, too, so why not explore these interests together. When you meet up, plan an activity you can do together. Here are some ideas:

Upcycling Fun

‘Upcycling’ is the newest craft trend. Not only is it really useful to turn an everyday object into something completely different, but it’s also great fun and gets your creativity flowing. If you’re both keen crafters then why not enjoy some craft time together? You can split the costs of material, and take it in turns to create an item for each girlfriend’s household. An upcycling project would, for example, be turning wooden shutters into a vintage style bedside cabinet, or transforming old wine bottles into charming light features.

Girls Night In

Send the husband out to watch a football game or take the kids to the cinema, and get the girlfriend or girlfriends over for a well-deserved girls’ night in. We’re talking your favorite movies (chick-flicks are a must, but not the only genre on the list), delicious snacks (a mix of healthy and unhealthy ones livens up the party), good friends, and a fun yet chilled night.

Girls Night Out

If you’re at that stage when you just need to get out of the house and let your hair down, then call up your best girls and have a night out on the town. Target places with good music, where you all feel comfortable, and make sure to dance, a lot. Hubbies are all well and good, but no-one gets their groove on quite like a girlfriend. Dress up and have fun. You’ll have new found energy after this fun night.

Get The Kids Involved

There will be times when you either can’t get away from family for a few hours, or even want to get away, so why not get them involved, too. Plan a trip to the park together, and while the kids are playing, have a good chat. Take a bat and a baseball with you, and all have a fun game together. The kids will love you both getting involved and I guarantee you will love it, too. If baseball isn’t your thing, consider playing tag, catch, or hide and seek. Be sure that you’re all active and doing something together.

SARAH OXLEY works with a number of companies including shuttersdirect. She would like to thank her girlfriends for listening when she needed to rant, for not laughing when she cried at silly movies, and for laughing when she made a fool of herself on the dance floor. Here’s to more good times together!

How do you keep up with friends?

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Naming our Girlfriends | Insight from Guru Rachel Awes

Judi — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:23:21 +0000

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Do you have a nickname? A special name that you were given by a friend?

In college, my girlfriend Shelley started us all out making our names silly (there’s a long story about Jimmy Hong and a toy drum, but we won’t go into that!). My roommate Barb was addressed as Barbalouba and Shelley called me Debbalouba – our formal names were when the ‘Hong’ was added as our last names. Barb wrangled out of the nickname but, for me, it stuck. Soon I was ‘Debba’ all over campus and that name stuck.

Another college friend, Dana, loved to say my name – and I loved to hear it from her. When she called me, my name took on additional syllables. It was a celebration. A song. A inside joke. A verbal hug. Debbaaaaaaaah! – as only Dane could say it.

Girlfriend Guru (and fabulous artist) RACHEL AWES reminds us how special it is to have nicknames for our girlfriends.

A lot of us begin by playing with dolls and naming them. Such naming cemented these relationships, and the experiences with these dear beings were numerous. We also find such loveliness if we have children. I am still amazed that our sons recognize when others call them by name. In a name, there is an acknowledgement of existence and maybe too of worth.

Of course, other things are sometimes named too. Cars and ships and stars. I have done this too. My green bicycle is “May” and red guitar is “Amy.” Once named, these special items seem to become even more special. It is also implied that they were special enough to begin with that I wanted to name them.

Then there is the land of girlfriends. I don’t know how it’s happened, but my friend Karen and I have dropped the vowels in our names and our emails have become Dear KRN and Dear RCHL. My friend Annie is completely Bananie to me. I have another who I call “Flower Poetry” because her first name is Terace and last name is a famous poet’s name. Others have a naming of sorts, like one friend and I call each other “dearest deer” and another friend is my otter friend (swimming playfully in the deeps together). Not every lovely friend has a different name, but I can hear my tone when I think the name “Sarahhhh” as soft and loving and thankful for how heaven-sent she is.

I think my favorite name I’ve been called is “Spring” because it resonates strongly with my inner being. I love the color green and new life and all the poetry of the season and it is with me throughout the year. What a great gift it is to be seen and spoken and loved.

So if it occurs to you, offer up a new name to a girlfriend and celebrate her loveliness with the ABC’s that have been given you.

RACHEL AWES is a psychologist, art playgroundist, writer, wife, mother & friend, who loves listening to the beauty in people. You can see more of her art or her artistic thoughts on Pinterest. You can also read more of her work on her blog

What are your names for your girlfriends? How do you show them that they’re special to you? (Share in the comments – thanks!)

And check out Rachel’s other FABULOUS blogs (and her gorgeous art):

Love keeps Lifting me Higher – Experiencing Girlfriend Gratitude
Timing Matters – A Girlfriend’s perfect timing
The Power of a Girlfriend’s Kindness – Prayer that all friends feel loved
A Year of Great Girlfriend Intentions – A great year of friends and friendships
The Art of Girlfriends – How friends inspire us (& we inspire friends, like Rachel does)
Playdates with Girlfriends – Great things to plan in 2012!
Girlfriend Love Letters – Write one to your BFFs!
Girlfriend Gift Ideas - Creative ways to show your friendship

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The Eyes Have It :) | Allegra, CVS, Spring Make-up #ClearBeauty

Girlfriendology — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:14:55 +0000

What’s Your Spring Beauty regimen? What Spring Beauty trends are you seeing?

Spring has sprung, which in my region means allergies have too. We’re all sniffing and squinting – it’s a lovely sight, let me tell ya.

So, when asked about what Spring Beauty Girlfriend Advice I could offer, I knew the old allergies needed to be tamed to be able to keep mascara on my lashes and not all around my eyes. (I have a tendency of not looking at myself in the mirror a second time to make sure I look okay – gotta get better at that! I’ve gone out with some really strange make-up looks!)

The fine friends at Collective Bias (see below) invited me to explore ways to prepare and shop for Spring Beauty. And, the folks at Allegra invited me to CVS to explore the make-up aisle now without my make-up-impairing allergy issues.

To prep for my CVS Spring Beauty shopping, I first visited a few websites to note make-up trends for Spring 2012. HarpersBazaar.com shared these new trends: Modern Cat Eyes, Power Brows, Extreme Smoky Eyes, Sporty Cheeks, White Silver Metallics, and more. Yahoo.com published ideas for Spring 2012 make-up trends on a budget – including Reds (also noted by Harpers), Glow Glamorously and Dramatic Navy Eyes. They recommend, to keep new make-up from costing too much, to use vouchers online (and I often use RetailMeNot.com). The Fashion Spot notes these 2012 Make-up Trends: Heavy Brows, Healthy Skin (both on Harpers list), Pops of Bold Color and Color on Color. (See all the photos on this Google+ Album.)

Once at my local CVS, I walked the Make-up Aisle looking for a new Spring 2012 Make-up look. Now that my eyes won’t be crying off my mascara, I opted for the non-waterproof Mabelline Define-a-Lash mascara and some understated False Eyelashes. (Didn’t want to look like I had fuzzy caterpillars on my eyes – just a little extra length and fullness to make my eyes stand out more.) I added some CVS anti-aging lotion (on sale – buy two get one free) and even some temporary hair dye (what the heck, right? I can make really RED strands in my hair that will shampoo out once I wash it).

So, I’m all set for Spring 2012 – thanks to Allegra and CVS for making sure ‘My Eyes Have It’ and draw attention for the RIGHT reason, not because they’re all red and weapy.

Check out The Allergy Makeover to enter to win a $50 CVS Gift Card from Allegra!

Here’s more info on Allegra: http://www.allegra.com Follow them on Twitter @AllegraOTC and Facebook AllegraOTC. Check out this allergy makeover game.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric As always on Girlfriendology, we ONLY recommend things that we would share with a girlfriend!

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

The Journey | Girlfriend Advice from Guru Jennifer Hall

Judi — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:55:23 +0000

Friends are kisses blown to us by angels.

~Author Unknown

Our relationships are far more important than the dishes or a TV show.

Jennifer Hall

A year from now, will you remember spending the evening watching Dancing with the Stars or a Real Housewives marathon? Probably not, right? How often do we spend time on little things and fill up our schedule with To Do’s and ’stuff’?

Thankfully we have Girlfriend Guru JENNIFER HALL to remind us of what’s really important … spending this journey called life with the important people who bless us with their friendship and support.

Life is a journey. We all know this, right?

We should always be learning, growing, changing, adapting … walking our paths.

I celebrated my birthday this month and received the most perfect greeting card from one of my best friends:

I think it’s true what they say

Life really is a journey -

and it’s not always easy to know

which maps to trust

or what to pack for the trip.

But whatever the weather,

wherever the road lads,

I think the best possible

traveling advice would be this:

Bring a Friend.

by Keely Chace

Bring a friend. Absolutely!

How can we possibly survive the journey without friends?

Let’s face it, life can be tough. There are so many pitfalls, road blocks, hills, and valleys. Let’s see, what other clichés can I throw in here? Curve balls, detours, CHANGES. Personally, my life is a roller coaster!

We need our friends to help us navigate life. And they need us too.

We need to support one another. Hold and lift each other. Have the other’s back. Stand in their corner and face the world together. Be each other’s CONSTANT.

We leave our parents. Our kids leave us. Lovers can come and go. But friends? Good friends are forever. They can be there through your ENTIRE life, experiencing ALL of it with you.

We need to treasure and nurture our friendships because we do NOT want to tackle the journey alone.

How do we do this? I’m glad you asked!

Put in some effort. Don’t make excuses. You DO have the time. Our relationships are far more important than the dishes or a TV show. I happen to have some of my best phone conversations while doing chores and I love to text my friend while we watch the same TV show.

These are little things. When it comes to the big stuff, show up. I’m not saying you have to completely disrupt your own life to be there for a friend. I am saying that you should take an honest look at what you CAN do, and make it happen.

And my goodness, friendship is definitely not all about the serious stuff! Pretty sure I laugh the hardest with my friends.

So I’m just saying, bring your friends along for the journey. I think if you do, everything else will fall into place.

JENNIFER HALL, aka: Just Jennifer, is a SAHM of a daughter and a son, married to a diabetic on dialysis. She enjoys knitting, scrapbooking, reading, and TV. She’s visually impaired and describes herself as anxious, traumatized, dorky, funny, real, and says her “life is a roller coaster and I’m blogging my way through it all!” As an only child, her Girlfriends are like sisters to her. She believes in learning, growing, living, loving, and laughing. She is grateful.

How do you keep up with your friends along life’s journey?

Thanks Girlfriend Guru JENNIFER HALL - we <3 you and your great girlfriend advice/posts! Check out these great posts by Jennifer:

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Favorite Girlfriend Gifts on Pinterest | What would you love to give/receive?

Girlfriendology — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:58:20 +0000

The greatest gift is a portion of thyself. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Giving handmade and/or thoughtful gifts is such a great way to show a friend how much her friendship means to you.

We women know this – a personalized present is much better than receiving an expected gift. We love to be thoughtfully surprised with a gift that says ‘You’re special to me. You deserve a special gift.’

Pinterest has inspired lots of creative, crafty and even DIY gifts that are perfect for girlfriend gifts – everything from jewelry to home accessories, coffee gifts to chocolate, books to bags – and anything else that might brighten a girlfriend’s birthday, holiday or just turn an everyday into a special day. (What Etsy finds would you love to give a friend? What creative blog posts can you share to inspire others? NOTE: our Fave Etsy Finds Pinterest Board and our Pinterest Pinboard of Girlfriend Gifts.)

Giving handmade and/or thoughtful gifts is a wonderful way to show a friend how special her friendship is to you (or just finding that one perfect thing to make her day – something no one else would know to give her that she’ll love!). Share your favorite girlfriend gifts to give or receive – Etsy handmade gifts, calming gifts, chocolate gifts, gifts of gratitude, blog posts of gifts you’ve given/made, even books/etc. that you know a friend would love to receive. INSPIRE others to give great girlfriend gifts!

We’ve added some of our favorites below and we welcome you to share yours. What gifts would you love to give to or receive from a girlfriend? What presents would make your day if a friend made or gave them to you? What inspires you to give better girlfriend gifts? Share and inspire!

Table Talk: Five Conversation Starters for Dinner Time | Family Advice from Guru Lisa Holcomb

Judi — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:45:21 +0000

Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

There are days when getting everyone in the family fed is a piece of cake (or chicken or something). There are other days when it seems impossible to feed ourselves much less anyone else–pulling out a box of Cheerios and a spoon becomes almost more than we can handle.

Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your family or a group of girlfriends, we all like to save time and money. Girlfriend Guru LISA HOLCOMB shares her real-life, practical women’s wisdom (aka: girlfriend advice) about meal preparation.

When you think of happy families sitting around the table eating dinner do you conjure up thoughts of “Leave it to Beaver” or some other old sitcom? The mother walking around in her apron, high heels, and pearls with a perfectly set table, perfect dinner, and perfect family all sitting at the table. Well, let’s get real please. I know that’s sure not me. Although, I do have a bit of an apron fetish.

I’m usually doing good to get all four of my boys and my husband to the table in the evening. Not that they don’t want to eat, just our busy schedules can get in the way. However, we do try to make it a priority to eat dinner together as a family as many nights during the week as possible. Some nights are harder than others. Some nights we’re not all at home. Still, we make it a priority as much as we can.

Over the past few years I’ve been following some research on the benefits of families eating together. It really is amazing what a difference a positive meal time can make in children and families. The studies show that children who dine with the family:

eat more fruits and vegetables

are happier

are better adjusted

are more socially adept

get better grades

are less likely to smoke, abuse drugs, or alcohol

are less likely to suffer from eating disorders, obesity, or depression

Kids of all ages benefit from family meal time together. Teens and tweens need the family table time. They need the positive atmosphere and conversation that should take place at the table. They need to be reminded that they are valued and loved. Our two youngest children were adopted from the Texas foster care system and its amazing how much healing can be done around the kitchen table eating a meal together and bonding. Families who eat together share values together.

Need some conversation starters for dinner time? Here are just a few fun ones:

If you couldn’t watch TV or go online for a month, how would you spend that time?

If you could have any superpower, which would you choose? (This one is a regular topic at our table.)

How can you tell someone you love them without using words?

If you could be a famous person for a week, who would you be and why?

If you could trade places with your parents for a day, how would you do things differently?

Some days it can seem like such a hassle to get dinner on the table. The other evening I was arriving home with three of my four boys. It was a little after 7:00 pm and my oldest son and husband had recently arrived home. It was total chaos, so I was thankful that I had taken the time to put dinner in the slow cooker early that day, even though I didn’t feel like it at the time. Within a few minutes we were able to sit down and wind down together as a family over dinner.

Seeing what I playfully call “my stinky boys” come together and enjoy each other’s company over dinner made it all worthwhile. What are you and your family having for dinner tonight? Whatever it is, enjoy it with your family.

LISA HOLCOMB lives near Austin, Texas with her husband and their four boys, ages 8-18. She and her husband adopted their youngest two boys through the foster care system. Lisa’s degree is in Child and Family Development and she is a strong advocate for family meal time. She is co-owner of a menu planning website, www.BuildAMenu.com, that helps families keep their grocery budget under control and bring families back to the dinner table.

What do you talk about at dinner, girlfriend?

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How have your Girlfriends influenced your Life? | Sandra Lee, Girlfriend Gurus, Guest Bloggers

Girlfriendology — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:42:21 +0000

“I have thought a sufficient measure of civilization is the influence of good women.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

How have your Girlfriends influenced your life? How do they impact what you like, think, do?

I had the honor of attending the launch of the Sandra by Sandra Lee home collection in New York City with the Sears and Kmart teams. I’ll cover more about the trip and the cool products in an upcoming blog this week but I have to share the overall experience of meeting Sandra Lee.

First a little about Sandra – Per Amazon: “Sandra Lee has a passion for simple solutions that create dramatic results in all areas of home life. She is editor-in-chief of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade magazine, the host of two highly rated television shows (the multi-Emmy-nominated Semi-Homemade Cooking and Sandra’s Money Saving Meals), as well as a New York Times bestselling author of 17 books.”

First impression – Sandra Lee is AMAZING — and appreciates her girlfriends.

She recognized me as soon as I approached the ‘red carpet’ for our photo together. Yes! She recognized ME – and I don’t even have my photo on our Girlfriendology avatar (and I didn’t have an orange gerbera daisy on). Then, she spent a couple hours talking to all the bloggers there. She had read our blogs and asked us questions like why I founded Girlfriendology (which the short story is my friend influenced me to inspire women to support women). Her goal with her books and products, she said, meet her qualifier of the ‘three A’s’ – aspirational attainable, and affordable.

You get the attainable (available at Sears, Sears.com, Kmart and Kmart.com) and the affordable (great pricing – go check it out!) – but what’s aspirational about the products that Sandra showed us? Sandra showed us her new line of home goods (from blenders to baking sheets, tea towels to kitchen tongs, pots to pans – available at Sears and Kmart). Many have special features to make them multi-purpose – like the potato-masher that also acts as a whisk and a bowl scraper. (Pretty cool, right?!) I’d say those are definitely aspirational – they’d even inspire me to cook or bake! Then she shared the ‘influence of girlfriends’ part.

Sandra shared she creates and designs things for her girlfriend who lives in Wisconsin. Every recipe, decorating tip, kitchen product, everything – she asks herself: “Would my girlfriend (in Wisconsin) like/use/do this?” Her girlfriend(s) influence her creativity and even the products that she has designed to make life at home and, especially in the kitchen, better, easier and possibly even more fun.

How do your girlfriend influence you? Do you do things differently because your girlfriends? It’s a great standard to set, isn’t it? What would make life easier for a friend? If you can create things for that, I’d say your friends (like Sandra’s girlfriends) are very lucky and influential.

Valid on Sears.com for $5 off any $15+ purchase of Sandra by Sandra Lee product sold by Sears through 5/26/2012. Enter coupon code BYSANDRALEE at checkout. You can start browsing at http://bit.ly/bysandralee.

Other women of Influence … Girlfriend Gurus and Guest Bloggers

We’re really blessed at Girlfriendology to have wonderful women (especially our Girlfriend Gurus and Guest Bloggers) to offer their women’s wisdom. And, they just might influence you to save money, be there for your friends, inspire you to make yummy treats and feel good about how you look.

Five ways to Save Money at the Gas Pump – by Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga
Helping Friends Move Forward / Empower Women – by Girlfriend Guru Lisa Sarick
How to Make Oreo Pops / Recipes – by the Faux Diet Queen
Smaller Breasts Instantly – by our Lingerie Girlfriend Guru Miss Kitty Plum

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Five Ways to Save Money at the Gas Pump | Girlfriend Advice from Guru Miata Edoga

Judi — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:57:15 +0000

Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
Samuel Butler

Have you noticed how the price of gasoline is crazy? Of course you have! And unless you are lucky enough to live within walking distance of your job, your family, your grocery store, and your friends, you’re probably paying more attention to how much gas you use.

Abundance Girlfriend Guru MIATA EDOGA share really useful tips for using your financial resources well (we’re so glad she’s part of our community!). This week she tells us how to make stopping to to fill up the car less painful.

Unless you’ve been living on moon, it’s been impossible to ignore that refilling your gas tank now costs an arm AND a leg.

You’ve probably heard the advice to inflate your tires appropriately and to drive with your windows up and the air conditioner off. Huh? It’s nice outside! I want my windows down! …and by the way…the advice about tires…that’s great for both tire longevity and your safety, but does little to help increase your fuel mileage.

So what should we do?

1) Find apps to seek out low-priced gas. My friend’s mother is 82 years old. She receives a text every day telling her where the cheapest gas in her town can be found. There are tons of apps and free services that do this. Don’t tell me you aren’t tech savvy: if she can do it, so can you.

2) Consider riding a bike or walking. Do you know that people use a car for over 80 percent of all trips under a mile? Biking and walking are healthy and save you money on fuel costs.

3) Accelerate slowly. Jamming on the gas pedal to fly by that annoying slow truck? Your engine responds by flooding more gas through the system, which is much more inefficient than a slow, steady approach.

4) Put your car on a diet. Stay up to date on your auto’s maintenance schedule and clean out the back seat and trunk. Anything heavy is just more weight that the car engine has to pull. Less weight means less pain at the service station.

5) Use cash-back reward cards. If you can’t handle credit cards responsibly, consider this the “Four Ways to Save at the Gas Pump” and ignore this advice. Otherwise, invest in a card that pays you back for trips to the pump.

These tips won’t make you giggle at the pump, but they will keep a few dollars in your pocket to drop into savings or use on your next outing with friends.

MIATA EDOGA is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, a 10-year old company committed to utilizing humor, inspiration, and lots of love to give individuals around the world the necessary tools to thrive financially, while keeping focus on the things they treasure most. Visit the Abundance Bound Facebook Page for your free copy of Financial Success for the Creative Soul!

What are your tips for saving money? And saving money on gasoline, girlfriend?

Thanks Miata and thanks for being one of our Girlfriend Gurus! Check out her girlfriend advice on financial success and saving money on your next getaway/trip.

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Helping Girlfriends Move Forward | Friendship Advice from Lisa Sarick

Judi — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:25:55 +0000

“My friends are my estate.”—Emily Dickinson

The best of friends are the friends who read our minds, right girlfriend? The ones who remember the important stuff and remind us when we lose perspective. The one ones who somehow know just when to call or send a text to make us smile. The ones who listen when we’re having a tough day, but then help us move to a better place.

Girlfriend Guru LISA SARICK reminds us about the importance of being there for our BFFs—for when they need yell and scream and exaggerate, and for when they need to heal and find a way to move forward.

I know we want to call a girlfriend up when times get tough, when we’re having a meltdown, when our husbands are driving us crazy – at least, I do!

And when we are the receiver of that call we want to empathize and say, “Oh, I know, that sucks.” And “I understand completely. I can relate.” At least, I do.

And part of me wants that when I am the one reaching out. I want the validation, the sense of being heard and understood.

BUT… how helpful is that really? Does my well-intentioned friend validating my feelings only perpetuate my story—prolonging my suffering and helping me to set my miserable fate in stone? Sometimes, yes.

I am aware of another part of me that wants…

to be happy

to let go of my story

to not perceive myself as a victim

to find a more loving perspective

to forgive

to laugh at myself

to own my power to create joy

and to choose love

I am fortunate to have girlfriends that I can call and say, “Ok, I want you to give me one minute to bitch about this and then stop me.” And they will. Then they will ask me what I am learning, or what do I need to do for myself, or they will just make me laugh at the workings of my mind.

I know we need to see and accept reality. The situation may be serious and a reality check may be in order for a girlfriend when they call (i.e., “That sounds serious, go to the doctor!” or “Leave him, and get somewhere safe.”) And then, as women, let’s empower one another.

Let’s see the strength and potential in one another… and call that forth, perpetuate that, and set THAT in stone.

LISA SARICK (A.K.A. Rev. Lisa) is an Interfaith Minister, Yoga Instructor, and Spiritual Guide. She guides people seeking peace to go beyond the limits of their minds to the freedom of their spirit. She holds 1-on-1 sessions, officiates ceremonies, and founded Moon Circle, an online gathering for women friends. Her home on the web is LisaSarick.com.

How do you help your girlfriends move forward when they call?

Thanks LISA! And thanks for sharing these other Girlfriend Guru blog posts:

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How to Make Oreo Pops | Recipe from the Faux Diet Queen

Judi — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:01:31 +0000

Chocolate is the answer. Who cares what the question is. ~Author Unknown

When was the last time you had to pull off a last minute project? (For many of us, it was about five minutes ago, right Girlfriend?) Sometimes those down-to-the-wire efforts yield surprisingly wonderful results. At other times, the cookie crumbles when we don’t quite get it right.

The Faux Diet Queen had one of those last minute gotta-do-it events and–not surprisingly–it did not go as smoothly as she might have hoped. Also not surprisingly, she found herself laughing at the whole thing. We hope you’ll laugh along.

The Faux Diet Queen (or as we affectionately call her, FDQ) has agreed to share her latest (and last) weight loss journey with us as a regular feature at Girlfriendology. We hope you’ll join us to cheer her on, nudge her back on track when she strays, and generally giggle along.

First of all, I should clarify. This isn’t really a “how-to.” It’s actually more of a “how not to.” Because there were some very clear Flaws In My Plan.

But let me start at the beginning.

Did I tell you I’ve decided to go on a sugar-free diet? Not easy, but I last week I decided I was ready. Seriously. Stop laughing.

About three hours after I made this momentous decision, one of the kids announced that she HAD to bring something for the soccer team Saturday morning. “Huh?” The Child rolled her eyes and explained slowly, “It’s my birthday. I have to bring something. Everyone Does.”

Not wanting to fly in the face of “Everyone Does” and cause my kid to lose social standing for the remainder of her high school years, I mentally shrugged and decided to make Oreo Pops. I’d seen the idea on Pinterest and figured it couldn’t be that hard. I thought about looking up a recipe, but that seemed like a waste of time and effort.

The best laid plans…

So here is what actually happened:

Step 1. Buy lollipop sticks (check), white melty candy things (check), blue sprinkles (the team’s colors are blue and white. Check), and Oreos (check).

Manage not to eat any of the Oreos before getting home. Celebrate by having an Oreo. Begin to suspect there might be a Flaw In The Plan.

Shoo everyone out of the kitchen.

Step 2. Cut slits in the bottom of six zillion paper cups because it seems like a Brilliant Way to stand up the cookie pops while the melty stuff sets up. Smile with pride at the sheer genius of this plan.

Step 3. Put the sticks into the Oreos. Attempt to put sticks into the Oreos. Realize that Regular Oreos are not thick enough. Wish you had gotten Double Stuff. Eat an Oreo while contemplating the situation.

Move the cookie part around and get one cookie on a stick. Smile with pride at this accomplishment. Attempt another. Break cookie. Eat the cookie to destroy the evidence.

Step 4. Melt the dipping candy. Dip first cookie into melted candy. Watch as cookie plops off stick into the candy. Begin to suspect there are Serious Flaws In The Plan. Teach dog several four letter words.

Carefully scoop candy over the next cookie. Crow with delight at the candy-coated Oreo. Put into the bottom of a Dixie cup. Watch as the whole thing falls over. Begin writing a blog called “A Flaw In The Plan” in your head. Allow kid to eat the evidence. Feel insanely virtuous at not eating that particular Oreo.

Step 5. Figure out complicated methodology for standing up the cookie pops by using a highball glass.

Step 6. Figure out an easy way of knocking over all the pops when you accidentally move one.

Step 7. Eventually produce enough cookie pops for the team.

For Next Time: Would I do this again? Absolutely. Would I do it differently? Absolutely. For starters, I’d use Double Stuff Oreos. I don’t think I’d use popsicle sticks the way some pictures show because I really like the look of lollipop sticks. But I would definitely first use a little of the melted candy or chocolate to “glue” the cookie to the stick and wait to dunk the whole thing until after the “glue” part dried. (If you’ve ever made these, I’d seriously appreciate your tips and tricks!)

Fun facts about Oreo: On March 6, 2012, Oreo turned 100 years old. The Faux Diet Queen and Girlfriendology are planning a belated celebration. Hope you’ll join us, girlfriend!

The Faux Diet Queen is a Girlfriend and a Half, trying to find her Skinny Self. When she is not recording her weight loss journey from an Oreo Cookie Pop induced sugar coma, she is constantly on the search for ways to improve the trip back to her smaller jeans. You can generally find her here on Girlfriendology.com on Fridays.

We want to know: How should we celebrate Oreo’s 100th birthday? We want your ideas, girlfriend (because we know you are smart and creative!).

Girlfriendology / Debba here: We love our girlfriends no matter what size jeans they wear or what the scales tell them if they’re brave enough to get on them. (Something I personally avoid like the plague.) But, we also want our girlfriends to be around and healthy for a long time. We’re sharing this journey that our girlfriend, FDQ (the FAB Faux Diet Queen) because it’s what girlfriends do – we go through life and diet together (and shoe shopping, and highs and lows …). Join us on her journey to fitness and good health. We’re excited for her to motivate and inspire us all!

Here’s some more Faux Diet Queen ‘adventures.’ Stop back next Friday for the next installment!

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Smaller Bust Instantly! | Girlfriend Advice from Lingerie Guru Miss Kitty Plum

Judi — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:26:51 +0000

I wanted to be the first woman to burn her bra, but it would have taken the fire department four days to put it out. ~Dolly Parton

We always seem to want what we don’t have. My friend Jana has straight hair and would give anything for curls (or even a wave). Lyndsey has lots of gorgeous curls and spends hours trying to flat iron her hair until it is stick straight.

Many of us feel that way about our bodies. If we’re short, we want to be taller; if we’re tall, we feel having a few less inches would be ideal. If we’re flat chested, we continually look for ways to enhance our bust line. If we’re well-endowed, we wish corsets were back in style.

NOTE: Almost all of us do this. We want you to know that we love all our girlfriends no matter what size or shape they are. We also want you to know that all of us are working hard to learn to love our bodies the way they are.

This month, lingerie Girlfriend Guru MISS KITTY PLUM talks about ways to deal with a Dolly Parton-like endowment.

Reduce your bust by inches, no surgery, and no dieting required!

Wow! For busty beauties who struggle to find tops and dresses that don’t strain with challenge of keeping their assets contained this can sound like a miracle solution. No more reaching for the safety pins to stop your shirts gaping and revealing a glimpse of your lacy décolletage. So what is it?

THE MINIMIZER (To be said in an action trailer voice-over way)

You know the saying, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is…. well the minimizer bra is just that. The bra is designed to reduce the circumference of your chest and it does this by squishing it down. The boobs are compressed to give the illusion that you aren’t as full busted. This means you lose the definition of two breasts and your chest takes on the appearance of a spare tire, not very attractive! Not only does it not look great having your boobs squished down, it can be really uncomfortable; your breasts are meant to be on your chest not pushed under your armpits. I hear a lot of women complain of their boobs being in the way because they aren’t being positioned front and center.

So what can you do? Not ever wear a shirt again because you can’t find any that will button up? Have to have every dress altered so it fits around the bust without drowning the rest of your frame? However much you love your boobs, the inconvenience of not being able just to pop in a shop and pick up a cute little top for your Saturday night out is so frustrating.

If you are finding it a mission to find clothes that fit the first step is to make sure you are wearing the right size bra, even having to move up a cup size it can actually make your bust look smaller and make sure it sits where it should.

Also look for brands that make curvy clothes. Pepperberry is the new clothing brand from the large cup specialists Bravissimo. They produces a wide range for curvy to super curvy girls. It is a UK site but they do ship to the USA. There is also the US site Carissa Rose that offers well endowed and really endowed options.

If you have had a different experience with minimizer bras please let me know, maybe there is one out there that does the job. Tell us about your experiences.

Do you know of any other places that sell clothing for voluptuous women? Please pop any suggestions and comments below.

Miss Kitty Plum is a dedicated lover of lingerie. She is a professional bra fitter and co-owns Plums Lingerie, a specialty boutique that stocks lingerie for every woman. She also runs #Lingeriechat on Twitter every Sunday where lingerie fans get together to chat through everything and anything lingerie related. Follow her on Twitter @plumslingerie.

What are your tips and tricks for accentuating the positive and minimizing the negative?

Here are some of Miss Kitty Plum’s awesome Girlfriend Guru blog posts:

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Girlfriend Advice | Erma Bombeck, Sandra Lee & Girlfriend Gurus

Girlfriendology — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:47:38 +0000

“When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.”
Erma Bombeck

Advice … it’s what we women give, offer, listen to or ignore! But the root of all (sincere!) advice, is the desire to do or say whatever we can to be there for another women. It’s our way of sharing what we’ve learned, the insight we alone have and the hope that we can do something to make your life better.

On Girlfriendology, we share women’s wisdom, aka: girlfriend advice, among our fabulous female friends. We have guest blogs and Girlfriend Gurus who share their girlfriend advice on everything from saving money to saving time, from a funny approach to dieting to serious info on getting fit, from selling our home to buying a bra, and on to lots of ways to be a better friend.

Erma Bombeck is the beloved ‘giver of great girlfriend advice.’ Her wisdom still reminds us …

“Insanity is hereditary. You can catch it from your kids.”
“The only reason I would take up jogging is so I could hear heavy breathing again.”
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”
“In general, my children refused to eat anything that hadn’t danced on TV.”
“Seize the moment. Think of all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.”

I had the honor of speaking at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop this past week. It was a touching, inspiring and very, VERY funny event with very, VERY funny people who loved her – like we all did. (Her family also attends as do some ‘big writers’ who speak/attend to honor this amazing woman.)

More Girlfriend Advice – From celebrity designer/writer SANDRA LEE

I’m also honored and excited to take in the girlfriend advice from the internationally-acclaimed home and food expert, as well as best-selling author of 25 books, producer/star of award-winning shows, etc. AKA: celebrity girlfriend advice from SANDRA LEE. (shown above)

I’ll join several other bloggers (including my girlfriend Zippy – yeah!) in NYC this week as we get to hang out with Sandra. We’ll visit a SEARS store for a tour including her new home collections, have brunch with her (great for getting girlfriend advice!), then have a day-long workshop where together we’ll learn about entertaining, tablescaping, Semi-Homemade Cooking and even some ‘cocktailing.’ Watch for my tweets and Facebook updates with #BySandraLee.

More Girlfriend Advice on Girlfriendology

Improve your Energy – Advice on FUN from Girlfriend Guru Jessica Drummond
5 Reasons to Eat Chocolate Everyday – Love this advice from Christy Hovland
Advice for Moms of College-Bound Kids – Great girlfriend advice from author Nancy Berk
Meeting New Friends on the Internet – A true story by Natali Carrera
How to have Financial Success – Great money advice from Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga

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Improve your Energy | Advice on Fun from Girlfriend Guru Jessica Drummond

Judi — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:49:03 +0000

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” Oprah Winfrey

What are YOU passionate about girlfriend? What energizes you? Makes you smile? Is actually FUN?

Girlfriend Guru and Guest blogger JESSICA DRUMMOND knows that Oprah is right – Passion is energy! Jessica is a women’s hormone health expert and shares how: having fun is very important to having great energy, great health, and ultimately to having success in your work. Enjoy …

Enjoy your life!

As I sat down to write about how fun is so important to your energy, your hormone levels, and your blood sugar balance, I was having trouble remembering the last time I had a great time myself.

What is fun?

I define fun in a few different ways. Sidesplitting, you can barely catch your breath laughter is my favorite definition of fun. But, I also love being in such a flow of creativity and service that I don’t notice the passage of time. On the other hand, it’s equally as fun to feel time slow as I am fully absorbed in something of beauty or when I get to witness a miracle.

Actually, I have armfuls of fun in my life. And, it’s nice to stop every once in awhile and be thoroughly grateful for all of it.

For example, the last time I remember laughing so hard that I could barely breathe was when my husband and I went on a date night (to the actual movies!) to see the movie, Date Night. (Forgive the ridiculous irony!) That movie was so funny.

I also have the pleasure of walking my daughter to school every day in the company of fresh tulips, my favorite flower. Feel free to send them to me for any occasion. Fortunately, this is one of those things that my husband always remembers.

Purple And Yellow Tulips by Petr Kratochvil

I love looking at art. As a child, I always enjoyed visiting the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. near where I grew up. And I still remember my favorite series of paintings. I could stare at them endlessly, even at 12 years old… The Voyage of Life Series by Thomas Cole. I love those works of art. And, I had an equally fun time sometime in my teens racing through the Met in New York, making fun of all of the art with my best friend, and trying to figure out which guy in our high school was represented by each of the portraits.

I guess my point is that having fun is very important to having great energy, great health, and ultimately to having success in your work. Enjoying your work is the best way to be great at it. But, when you are struggling with your work, with your energy, or with your health, simply stop and look around to realize how much fun you’re having anyway. You might be surprised, and then you get to feel lucky too.

JESSICA DRUMMOND, MPT, CHC, helps women to naturally balance their hormones in order to double their energy, calm their nerves, regain their focus, and finally get a good night sleep! She was educated at UVA, Emory University, IIN, Duke Integrative Medicine, and is currently a doctoral student in holistic nutrition at Hawthorn University. To learn more about her current programs, sign up for her free, weekly newsletter at jessicadrummond.com. You can also find her on Pinterest.

What are YOU passionate about? How do you get more energy into your life, girlfriend?

Thanks Jessica for sharing this great girlfriend advice! Other great guest posts by Jessica:

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Words, Women & Wit | The Erma Bombeck Sisterhood #EBWW

Girlfriendology — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:29:08 +0000

It does – “It takes a lot of courage to share your dreams with someone else.” Erma Bombeck

For the past two days I’ve had the honor of attending (and speaking at) the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop, a bi-annual conference for humor writers in Dayton OH. Attended largely by funny females, this gathering of creative, talented and generous writers proved to be a sisterhood brought together by a wonderful woman who unfortunately is no longer with us. (With us though, among the illustrious and successful authors/writers, was her dear family – the Bombecks each expressing their appreciation for keeping her memory and humor alive.)

There something about being around writers that makes me want to be one. (Yes, I blog but its not the art form that flows from the lips and finger tips of these amazing authors and writers, like …)

Ilene Beckerman got her first book deal when she was almost 60. She shared that as long as you have your health, growing old is a wonderful experience. You don’t care what others think so much and you value what’s important. She talked about the amazing sisterhood of women – something she apologizes to the few men in attendance that they couldn’t experience. She noted that we women go through stages of M’s – menstruation, marriage, becoming a m0m, a mother-in-law, and menopause. That we have each other through these transitions – and again how fortunate we are to be women and writers. And she shared: “We have much in common, just because we are women.”

Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize Winning writer who told funny stories of her mother – who, at 4′11″ thought her bee-hive hair-do made her look taller and who lovingly cared for families in hospice (and was credited with people living longer/better when in her care). She encouraged writers to enjoy the writing experience (“Strong writing always rises to the top”), to find their own way toward their dreams, and that they can never give back enough.

And the wonderful women writers (and a few great guys too) who I met and who were kind enough to befriend the unfunny geek at the conference (and give me kind feedback on my two social media sessions). THANKS for inspiring me, making me laugh and welcoming me into this funny family of writers.

And THANKS to ERMA,the Bombeck Family and the organizers of the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop for making this special event happen (and for inviting me to participate as a speaker – so honored!). Thanks for giving us the opportunity to safely and with laughter and support, to share our dreams with each other. Erma would be proud.

p.s. We LOVE guest blogs by wonderful women writers here at Girlfriendology! Would love to promote/publish some of our new #EBWW girlfriends!

Girlfriend Advice by Erma

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Five Reasons to Eat Chocolate Every Day | Insight from Guru Christy Hovland

Judi — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:20:03 +0000

Save the Earth! It’s the only planet with Chocolate!

Good friends can disagree about lots of things and still be really good friends. Different taste in music, clothes, TV programs…the list of things we might not agree about goes on and on. But very few people really disagree about chocolate. Even people who don’t adore the gooey goodness of really well made chocolate generally just say they don’t like it, not that it is bad.

Chocolatier and Girlfriend Guru CHRISTY HOVLAND loves chocolate. She loves talking about it, blogging about it, making it, and indulging herself and her girlfriends. Today, she shares five reasons to eat chocolate (as if we really needed a reason!). Now if we could just figure out how to give samples through the internet…

Let’s be honest here girlfriends, I think the majority of us would like to eat chocolate daily. I’m not talking about waxy faux-chocolate, I’m talking about melt in your mouth chocolate that sits on your tongue and dissolves into a puddle of epicurean delight. I’m talking about one of the reasons that planet Earth is so awesome – besides Ryan Reynolds and white wine.

Reason number one – Chocolate boosts your mood. Chocolate is a proven mood booster. In the chaos of children, jobs, piles of laundry, and toilets that refuse to clean themselves, chocolate is known to provide an immediate boost to mood. Feeling down? Grab that bag of chocolate chips – or even better chocolate covered potato chips. Yes, they’re that good. (I think my best friend – a fitness trainer and nutritionist – just shuddered.)

Photo by Kel J Photography

Reason number two – Chocolate eaters are thinner. While I’ve always believed that chocolate has a tendency to make my clothes shrink, a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that healthy people who eat chocolate daily are actually thinner. The subjects of the study that were thinner apparently worked out 3.6 times a week – so grab that chocolate bar and hit the gym. (Okay, BFF is now relaxing. I got that gym mention in. Phew.)

Reason number three – Chocolate milk is perfect post-workout. Once you hit the gym your body is ready to utilize those amino acids to repair muscles. Fitness trainers will encourage you to enjoy a post-workout shake, and studies are showing that chocolate milk (made with skim milk) fits the bill. I, personally, enjoy mine steamed with a shot of espresso from the local coffee shop.

Reason number four – Flavinoids and antioxidants. Dark chocolate is FULL of these and I keep reading about how they are super healthy. They help with your heart health and can even help to prevent a stroke. Yup, there are studies that are showing that a bit of dark chocolate with flavonoids intact each day will help with your cardiovascular health.

Reason number five – People will like you better if you give them chocolate. It’s true. My friendship base has multiplied dramatically since I started my job as a professional chocolate pusher. I’d like to believe it’s because I’m so awesome, but I’m nearly certain it’s because of the free samples. If your friend calls and is down, take her some chocolate. If she’s a good friend then someday, she’ll repay the favor. Win-win.

The chocolate covered epilogue.

In an effort at full disclosure, dark chocolate is really what you’re supposed to have. I know, I know – I’m a milk chocolate girl too. But along with that cacao, milk chocolate has a lot more sugar than its dark chocolate sister. So, save milk for those essential PMS moments when nothing else will do.

CHRISTY HOVLAND is a professional chocolatier and owner of Cherry Street Chocolates. After years of owning her own award-winning marketing consulting firm, Christy decided it was time to follow her passion and her love of all things chocolate. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband (Steve), two children (Britton and Ella), a dog (Lacey), two cats (Misty and Spit) and a frog. You can also find her at the Chocolate Inspires blog.

What is your favorite time to eat chocolate, girlfriend?

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College-Bound Advice for Girlfriends | Guest Blog by Nancy Berk

Girlfriendology — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:09:37 +0000

No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. – Francois Mauriac

I love my college girlfriends. So many years since graduation, Barb, Deana, Rhonda, Kleta and so many other are still in my life and will be my life-long friends. The friendship quote above is so true – these friends crossed the path of my destiny and left marks on it/me forever. And, for that, I am forever grateful.

For many girlfriends, their children are headed to college and to a stage in their life where their destiny will be influenced by the friends they make, the classes they take, their professors and experiences. Entering this new phase of motherhood, that of watching your child become independent and influenced by others, can be a challenge. This is especially true when it comes to hoping your child makes wise decisions – like where to go to school, what to study and making those life-long friends.

Fortunately we’ve got some great girlfriend advice from NANCY BERK in this Girlfriendology guest blog. Nancy ‘wrote the book on this topic’ and we’re thrilled that she generously shared that info and insight with us. (As a side note, I’m thrilled to meet Nancy this weekend at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop. She’s one of the speakers also and I’m sure we’ll all learn a lot from her!)

College-Bound Advice For Girlfriends, by Nancy Berk

This year over three million families will be facing college-bound journeys. It can be a nerve wracking, costly, and time consuming process. How can you keep girlfriends of college-bound teens from bouncing off the walls? Below are 5 tips that might get you the BFF of The Year Award.

1. Share Your List of Great Schools and Stories – Parents and teens need to know that there are plenty of great fits when it comes to colleges. Share your finds and connections. Tell tales of success and stories about friends who didn’t get into their first choice but rocked the corporate world. You’ll contribute to a realistic world view and options.

2. Go on a College Visit – It’s exhausting hauling your kids from college to college. Be a hero and offer to go along for the ride. Better yet, pinch hit for a parent. There’s a special place in heaven for people like you. Road Trip!

3. Brainstorm or Proofread – Some parents aren’t good at this and others are too burned out to make it happen. Be the proofreading girlfriend, but only if you can live without Spellcheck. Identify your forté and offer to brainstorm with parents and teens on college options, essay ideas, and volunteer opportunities.

4. Create a No College Zone – It’s easy for households to become so consumed with college that everyone is spun into a frenzy. Suggest banning the topic for an evening of girlfriend fun, a spa day, or a coffee break without any reference to higher education. It could be the breather everyone needs to reclaim their sanity.

5. Celebrate Student Success – When your girlfriend’s child gets into college, celebrate with her. Be as excited about her child’s success as you would be for your own. On the road to college, there’s room for everyone’s happiness!

What girlfriend advice do you have for moms of college bound students? How were you able to help your kids transition into the university life?

NANCY BERK, Ph.D. is the author of College Bound and Gagged: How to Help Your Kid Get Into a Great College Without Losing Your Savings, Relationship, and Mind. An accomplished psychologist, speaker and award-winning lifestyle humorist, she is a former full-time university professor, and the mom of a college graduate and college freshman. Follow her on Twitter and check out her College Bound & Gagged Humor Blog here.

Thanks Nancy for sharing your girlfriend advice on kids and college in this guest blog.

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Meeting New Friends on the Internet | True Story from Natali Carrera

Judi — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:03:33 +0000

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, & one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Do you remember where you met your BFF? Was it in school, at work, through another friend? Sometimes, meeting a girlfriend who is destined to play a big role in your life is a memorable moment; other times we try to look back and reconstruct the meeting and only have a general idea of the first time we were introduced.

Girlfriend and guest blogger NATALI CARRERA met some of her best girlfriends in a way that was unthinkable as little as 20 years ago—online. Have you met new people through chat rooms or social media? We want to hear your story too girlfriend!

I’ve met some of my closest friends on the planet on the internet. Yup. It’s true.

I remember being a sophomore in high school when AOL’s internet chat rooms were all the rage. You’d log in, respond with your a/s/l (oh c’mon, you know you remember — age, sex, location?) and start chatting away. You’d be a bit bolder because you were talking with strangers who didn’t know you personally and it was fun and exhilarating to be whoever you felt like being. Even though I was pretty much a nerdy chick at school, in the chat rooms, boys didn’t know that and they would actually flirt with me. It felt like a pretty big deal.

Fast forward to my adult life, I never really expected to make female friends on the internet. Why would I need to use the internet to make friends? I have friends in “real life,” here in town. I was a happily married young person, getting ready to start a family; I didn’t need to go searching for friends on the web.

Then, one day I was browsing a baby names website (nope, wasn’t even pregnant, but I’m type-A and a planner — it’s how I roll) and I stumbled upon a forum within the site. People were conversing about their favorite names, how they went with the names of their other children, the family surname, the meanings of names, and pretty much anything else you could think of having to do with a name. Not only were there conversations about names though, there were also conversations about pregnancy, being a new mom, trying to become pregnant, infertility, raising children, and other non-child related topics. I found myself intrigued and began reading. I became intrigued enough I decided to create an account in order to respond to some interesting conversations. I started noticing I liked what select users had to say, related more with some than others and began forming actual friendship-like bonds with people I’d never met. It was so much fun to log onto the computer and come back to find answers to my questions, encouraging responses to my struggles and learn more about the lives of my new friends.

After conversing on the name board for about six months, those of us that found ourselves having recurrent conversations and having bonded decided to create our own, smaller online forum that would be private, so we could continue to support one another through the personal process of starting and raising a family. Little did I know my participation in this forum would bond me with a group of women that I consider to be some of my closest friends—like family. These women have been there for me through trying to become pregnant, three miscarriages, the birth of my son, and learning to be a mother. We’ve shared our hopes for our lives, our families, and our concerns. I honestly don’t know if I’d be the same person I am now without them—the way we are there for one another is just downright amazing to me. Though I rarely get to see them in person, thanks to technology and apps, I now have access to my friends on my phone where ever I am.

After nearly seven years of being close friends with this amazing women, our husbands all still seem to have adopted the same running joke “oh, are you talking to your pretend friends?” or “are you talking the women from the internet world?” or similar. And, I’ll admit though we’ve had multiple in person meet-ups now, which mind you, require some of us getting on a plane and flying across the country, some of our older family members still seem apprehensive because we met online. But, when you’ve shared most aspects of your life with someone for years and them with you – you know when a friendship is real.

If you’d have asked 15-year-old me if I thought I’d meet some of my most amazing female friends on the internet, I’d have probably raised an eyebrow at you and asked, “why would I go online to meet girl friends?” But at 15, I wouldn’t have had a clue what amazing friendships can be formed outside of “real life.”

NATALI CARRERA is a married, full-time working mom to one soon-to-be kindergartner, and web writer for Central California’s leading women’s website, The Full Moxie. She may or may not be addicted to going to Target. She’s a lover of cooking, all things girly and vintage, and is an often successful extreme bargain hunter. Additionally, she’s a big fan of people, organization, and do-it-yourself projects.

Tell us about meeting your BFFs–we love hearing those stories!

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Financial Success | Money Advice from Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga

Judi — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:24:17 +0000

“Money, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.” – Helen Gurley Brown

One of the ‘most valuable’ things about girlfriends … that they share women’s wisdom and great girlfriend advice. This is especially helpful when it’s on a serious topic that we may or may not be good at. Unfortunately, when it comes to this topic – MONEY, many of us have ‘poor’ skills at managing it!

Thankfully, we’ve got the girlfriend to help! Meet MIATA EDOGA. She’s our Girlfriend Guru of Abundance – and wouldn’t you like your financial status to be ‘abundance’?! Here’s her girlfriend advice on

Some days the worst part of surfing online is watching all the fun other people are having, while you’re stuck at home because you have no money.

In my time coaching people on their financial challenges, I’ve found only two issues:

Either you don’t make enough money or you spend too much.

Simple, isn’t it?

Today, I’d like to focus on spending.

I’ll also try to walk you through better spending habits without uttering that ugly B word.

You know the one. It rhymes with “Rhudget.”

If you’re spending too much money, it’s often because of one little mistake committed by 99 percent of people I’ve met who earn money.

Literally everyone I’ve met except one person made this mistake.

Once they fixed it, money usually began building up in savings….automatically.

That’s right!

You didn’t have to “get disciplined.” You didn’t need to feed your wallet the “tough love” speech. None of that.

Here it is. It’s so simple, you’ll kick yourself.

Learn to use direct deposit effectively.

I know what you’re thinking: I already use direct deposit. I’m sure that most of you do. For the three of you who don’t know what direct deposit is, here’s the short course: you save money automatically from your pay check into an account you name. People like direct deposit because money automatically reaches their bank instead of being in their hot little hands.

If you’re like me, money in your hands equals money spent. Direct deposit almost solves that problem.

Unfortunately, all of you who use direct deposit may be missing the next piece of the strategy. This is where you turn losing into winning.

Try using direct deposit to a savings account instead of your checking account.

I can hear you already: I can’t do that. Then how do I reach my money?

Light bulb!

If you can’t reach your money, you can’t spend it.

The magic of direct depositing your pay check to a savings account is that you can then add up your expenses (see, I didn’t say the word that rhymes with rhudget) and use automatic transfers to pay yourself less than you earn.

With only a few minutes of work, money is automatically saved.

Later, when your friends are asking why you’re having so much fun while they’re just feeling frustrated and broke, you can smile and let them in on your secret. …and you won’t even have to quote me. What are girlfriends for?

MIATA EDOGA is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, a 10-year old company committed to utilizing humor, inspiration and lots of love to give individuals around the world the necessary tools to thrive financially, while keeping focus on the things they treasure most. Visit the Abundance Bound Facebook Page for your free copy of Financial Success for the Creative Soul!

Thanks Miata and thanks for being one of our Girlfriend Gurus! Check out her girlfriend advice on saving money on your next getaway/trip.

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LOL! Fun Friends, Silly Spring Stuff & Chocolate – Something for Every Girlfriend!

Girlfriendology — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:04:43 +0000

There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.
- Charles Dickens

What girlfriend makes you LOL? What silly stuff are you and your BFFs up to this Spring?

It’s a wild and wonderful Spring when you get the girls together for fun stuff! We love hearing your stories of Happy Hours, Girlfriend Trips you’re planning, funny friends who make you LOL, and how your friends are there for you – you rock Girlfriends!

Share your funny friend tales on our Facebook page and comments right here on Girlfriendology!

Fun Stuff Not to Miss on Girlfriendology …

Girlfriend Advice on the Price - by Real Estate Girlfriend Guru CATHY PERRY
The ‘Quiet Flower’ Friend – Guest blog by CELESTE BARNARD
FUN Colors to Brighten Up your Spring Wardrobe – great fashion advice from Guest Blogger and Stylist GWEN RICH
Girlfriend Advice on Spring Cleaning – by our friends at Mean Green Degreaser
Five Ways to Save on your next (Girlfriend) Getaway / Trip – by Abundance Guru MIATA EDOGA

Speaking of LOL … Did you LOVE Erma Bombeck?

I’m thrilled to be a speaker at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop in Dayton OH this weekend. It’s sold out and will no doubt have some of the funniest writers around there. (Yeah! Can’t wait!) Watch for one of them, the amazing Dr. Nancy Berk, to share her wit and wisdom this week on Girlfriendology!

Coming this Week on Girlfriendology …

Miss our first PINTEREST MARKETING WEBINAR? Check out Pinterest Webinar through SMMU – Social Media Marketing University! Our first webinar is Wednesday, April 18th 5pm ET – JOIN US!
Financial Friends – Try This Tip | Money Advice from Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga
I Met Some of My Best Girlfriends on the Internet | True Story from Natali Carrera
Five Reasons to Eat Chocolate Every Day | Insight from Guru Christy Hovland
And more!

Some of the FAB Friendship quotes and FUN videos on Facebook.com/Girlfriendology …

Look at all the Beauty in your life and … http://bit.ly/IIFEnO … Be Happy!
“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.” http://ow.ly/aigJF #Fashion Girlfriend Advice from @DonnaGamache
Cancel all meetings with the Negative Committee! http://bit.ly/GQPxw1 (Listen to your positive friends instead!)
“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.” #quote Henry Winkler http://ow.ly/9QNO
“Count your age with FRIENDS, not with years.” Anonymous #quote http://ow.ly/9Jl5S

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

Advice About the Price | Real Estate Girlfriend Guru Cathy Perry

Judi — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:24:32 +0000

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

Only hearts (and lots of friends!) can build a home. But inevitably the time comes to move, to sell your home, on your way to find your next residence and turn it into your home.

Real Estate Girlfriend Guru CATHY PERRY knows just how hard selling a home can be. This month, she shares how important it is to price a house correctly–and gives some tips on finding that price.

Now that the weather is warming up, so is the spring real estate market. If you’re thinking about selling your home, it’s critical to get the price right from the get-go. If you start out too high…just to test the waters…the majority of the buyers who would be interested at the right price won’t ever see your home in their internet searches and neither will their agents. Or the agent will see it, but won’t show it to the buyers because they aren’t preapproved for that much. And then once the home sits on the market for a while, even when the price comes down, the buyers are still going to try to get a deal, because now, the seller must be desperate to sell, right?

Here are some things to think about when working with your agent to set the price. First, the real market value of your home is what a willing buyer will pay for it, not what you need or want to get for it. Think about this – if you go into a retail store to buy a sofa that you know should sell for $1,500 because you have seen it in three other stores at that price, and the owner of the store tells you he wants $2,000 because he needs the extra money to pay the rent that month, are you going to pay the extra $500 because he needs it, or are you going to go back to one of the other stores and get it for $1,500? Yep, the real estate market works much the same way.

Be realistic about what your home has to offer. Your home is important to you, both emotionally and financially, so it’s pretty normal to think that your house is better than, or worth more, than the one that just sold around the corner. But is it really? One way to find out is to go to Sunday open houses in your neighborhood – check out the competition. Or ask your agent to spend a couple of hours with you touring the homes that she thinks are the closest comps to yours, and see how your home stacks up. Your agent should sit down with you and carefully go through a written CMA – Comparative Market Analysis – showing homes that are currently for sale, under contract, and sold in the last six months. A detailed comparison of the prices, home amenities, and time spent on the market will help you determine a pricing strategy that will work.

Don’t forget to think about the location of your home, which is something that you just can’t change. Do you have an extra-large lot or a pristine view that will help you command a premium price? Or do you need to deduct money because your home sits on a main street that brings traffic or noise concerns? Your agent can help walk you through the pros and cons of your home’s location, and the pros and cons of your neighborhood, school district, or city.

A little homework up front to set the price correctly can prevent the headache and heartache of multiple price drops and keeping the home ever ready for showings!

CATHY PERRY, our real estate guru, knows that buying or selling a home involves a lot more than looking at homes on the internet or putting a “for sale” sign in the yard. With a background as a wealth management executive and an interior design entrepreneur, Cathy brings it all together into a concierge model of real estate services designed to give her clients the highest level of service and expertise. You can find Cathy at her blog or her website.

Any real estate girlfriend advice YOU can share? DO!

Thanks Girlfriend Guru Cathy Perry for your other guest blogs:

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The Quiet Flower | Insight and Inspiration from Celeste Barnard

Judi — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:47:40 +0000

“Friends are like flowers. They fill the world with beauty.” Celeste Barnard

Sometimes pieces come along from a guest blogger that turn out to be a pretty big surprise. We’ll think we know how it will end, or whether we’ll love it or not, and wham! we wind up in a completely different place.

Today’s guest blog by Celeste Barnard is one of those wonderful surprises. We weren’t sure we were going to like it. Wrong! We don’t just like it, we love it. It is one of the quiet flowers in our life this week.

The Lord will sometimes get my attention when I’m out for a run. Anybody else? I like this. Well, except for when I’m not running. Today was no different. I was jogging along in the hot sun. Sweat dripping (I mean…dripping) off my face. I run past a tree with large white blossoms blooming throughout each branch. There is beautifully landscaped grass all around it. “Now that is beautiful,” I thought to myself.

Then as I run a little further, I see something purple in the tall, mangy, unkempt grass. It was a beautiful purple flower—almost hidden by the tall grass. Now, unlike the large white flowers woven throughout the tree branches, screaming, “Hey, look at me! I’m beautiful!” this little purple flower was hidden to anyone running by too fast. Yet, if you took the time to notice, she was really quite stunning.

Photo: Christina Davis Photography

Today, the Lord taught me something about friendship. There are always going to be people that are easier to be friends with. Their bubbly, outgoing appearance makes it easy to see their qualities. And that’s wonderful! But sometimes, if we can slow down just long enough, we will notice someone—the quiet flower. And if we give them the time, we will find out just how beautiful they truly are.

Many of these flowers often get overlooked. But I would ask today, who is right there in front of you that you sometimes run by and don’t even notice? She too is blooming just as the other flowers, yet often gets crowded out by the noise.

Today I encourage you to look for the hidden, quiet flower. Stop long enough to see her for who she is—in all of her splendor—one of God’s beautiful masterpieces.

CELESTE BARNARD is married with three children. She and her husband are Children’s Pastors and have been in ministry for over 16 years. She received her Practical theology degree from Christ For the Nations with a third year-advance study in Youth Ministry. She is currently a contributing author for Destiny in Bloom, an online magazine for women. She loves to encourage women with her speaking and writing. She also writes at celestebarnard.wordpress.com

How have you found the hidden flowers in your life?

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Fun Colors to Brighten Up Your Wardrobe | Spring Fashion Advice from Gwen Rich

Judi — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:25:08 +0000

I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn’t itch. ~Gilda Radner

My dog doesn’t care what I wear. As long as I’m willing to get all snuggly, he doesn’t care one bit bit whether I’m dressed in rags or sporting the latest fashions. However, my dog’s fashion sense isn’t a good enough yardstick when it comes to leaving the house and joining the real world. Then I want to pay as much attention to what looks good as I do to what feels good.

Have you ever stood in front of a closet full of clothes and lamented the fact that you have absolutely nothing to wear? Most of us feel that way on occasion–some of us feel that way pretty much every day.

Guest Blogger and Stylist GWEN RICH shares some great ideas for choosing clothes that are right on trend (we love great color in the spring) and that flatter our different body types.

As one season begins winding down and coming to a close, a new season emerges with new messages and possibilities. For most of us keeping up with the latest fashions and what to wear is a daunting and overwhelming task. What seems to work so well for the women on the TV or in the magazines doesn’t seem to be realistic or work for you and me. Why is that?

As an image-stylist I work with women who come in all different shapes and sizes. I find that the majority of women have no idea of what works for them specifically when it comes to their best colors, styles, and silhouettes. My philosophy is simple. Find out what works for you first. Then work with the trends that compliment your body type, coloring, and personality. Just like anything else there are fundamentals that apply to looking your best and developing a winning style. Looking and feeling good doesn’t have to be difficult. Women often make the process so much more painful than it needs to be.

Below are trends that I recommend for you this spring. One of the easiest places to start to update and add life to your wardrobe is with color.

CORAL: is the ultimate color of the season. Fresh, lively, and flattering hue that can be a great addition to brighten up your wardrobe for spring. First I recommend you pick a coral blouse, tunic, or sweater that can be paired with a neutral. Highlighting your upper body and toning down your lower half (top dressing) creates a pleasing look for you and your onlookers. Create interest up around the face! Add the right dose of color depending on your personality. Coral accessories are perfect if your personality is introverted. For those of you who are more confident with your color combinations, you can mix coral with other warmer, friendly colors such as hot pinks, reds, and yellows for an ensemble that screams “WOW.”

YELLOW: A bright color with contrast control. Combine bright yellow with black for a dramatic statement. This trend is for the dramatic woman. If the contrast level between your skin, hair, and eyes is high, then go for it. Everyone can wear the color yellow. It depends on the hue, value, and intensity. If it is too strong of a contrast, try a mellow yellow and pair with navy. This is a great look and you get more bang for you look by incorporating two trends in one, the color YELLOW and THE NAUTICAL LOOK.

FLORALS: This is for the feminine and romantic personality. Tip: floral patterns can increase ones apparent size. Choose a floral pattern that works with your scale and proportions. For example, if you are small and petite, then choose a floral pattern that is on a smaller scale. If you are taller and have a larger body frame, then choosing a floral in a larger pattern would be more appropriate.

BOHEMIAN INFLUENCES: Also known as “boho chic” is still gaining momentum from last year. Pull out your favorite pieces that worked for you last spring or summer and pair with the wider leg pant. Peasant tops and exotic prints are everywhere. This is a look for the free-spirited and casual dresser. Proceed with extreme caution for the workingwomen.

GWEN RICH is an AICI accredited Image-Stylist. Imagebygwen reaches out to women of all walks of life, ingeniously helping you benefit from a functioning wardrobe. Discover your personal style with a solution driven signature wardrobe system.

What are your favorite trends for spring? Do you change colors with the changing seasons?

Thanks Gwen for sharing your girlfriend fashion advice in this guest blog!

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Girlfriend Advice on Spring Cleaning | from our Friends at Mean Green (who are really NICE!)

Girlfriendology — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:36:47 +0000

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.

Phyllis Diller

Good Morning, start the coffee, put on your comfy clothes, crank the tunes and open the windows. It’s time for some serious spring cleaning, in-side and out.

Hopefully by now you’ve heard the words Mean Green enough that you have picked up a bottle. If not, go to MeanGreenDegreaser.com to print a coupon and get to a Wal-mart, Dollar General, Family Dollar or K-mart to get yours today. It’s the multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser that can be used in about every room of your home and definitely outside. With the coupon, you can get a bottle for under $2. Use it full strength for really dirty stuff. You can also make your Mean Green last longer by diluting with water for light cleaning. Mean Green isn’t for glass, chrome or aluminum because it contains soap and detergents.

Start in the kitchen, moving the refrigerator and other appliances to clean behind and beneath. This helps clear your home of dust and other allergens. It might also save some embarrassing moments should something go wrong and you need a repairman. Don’t forget range hoods, window seals, light fixtures, produce draws and sink drains. Take a few minutes to re-arrange some items in your space, this helps give the room a new and fresh feeling.

On to the bathroom, Mean Green can clean soap scum from the tub or shower. It can be used to clean shower curtains, toilets, tile and sinks.

Carpet or rug stains? Use Mean Green to clean those high traffic areas of your carpet. Again, you might want to dilute it with water a bit before treating the carpet. It’s simple, apply to the spot, let it sit for 10 minutes, rub gently and then rinse with clean water and blot with dry cloth.

The Grill, it’s the one time of year to take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Mean Green cuts through the grease making your job much easier. Spray it on, let it sit for a 10 minutes or so, but don’t allow it to dry. Scrub with a brush if necessary and rinse thoroughly.

Yes, Mean Green in the laundry room too. You can clean the inside of your wash machine, utility sinks, floors and baseboards. Pre-treat tough laundry stains like oily food stains, bicycle chain grease, and much more! It really can be used in most rooms of your home.

Here is a list of the unusual items to clean while in the mood; window seals, baseboards, ceiling fans, light fixtures, trash cans, filters, door mats, the inside of the wash machine.

Take advantage of these early spring days and get outside. Mean Green is excellent for cleaning patio furniture, vinyl siding, fences, decks, lawn and sports equipment. You may also have outside toys that could use a cleaning before little hands reach for them. You might want to pick up an extra bottle, because if it finds its way into the hands of the garage master, it’s not likely to return.

Tips for Serious Spring Cleaning:

1. I highly recommend making a list of all the rooms and tasks you want to accomplish. It’s feels good to check them off as you go.
2. Recruit a girlfriend, help each other. With the conversation of a bestie by your side, your spring cleaning will be done in a snap and you know there will be a few good laughs along the way. Each of you, pick a room and meet in the kitchen for a margarita. Who says this can’t be fun.
3. Plan it. Pick a day so you are not interrupted once you get started. This is also so you have all of your supplies ready.
4. Get the whole family involved. Assign tasks ahead of time.
5. Set a reward.

More girlfriend advice on cleaning:

BizStainFighter.com (NEW site!) has tips and promotion on clean laundry
Laundry tips and advice on clean clothes
Check out MeanGreenDegreaser.com for cleaning tips on all kinds of household mess – from deck furniture, to hard-to-clean stovetops, to oily clothes … so many uses!

Biz is owned by CR Brands who also have these other trusted cleaning solutions (and, by the way, manufactures in South Carolina, USA!):

Mean Green Degreaser – Mean Green Super Strength was launched in 1990 and has been the foundation for the Mean Green brand and associated line extensions. Mean Green is an affordable Household cleaning product. Other Mean Green products include Mildew Stain Destroyer, Bath, Tub, & Tile Cleaner, Daily Shower, and Orange Scented Cleaner. Mean Green is available in 40 oz, 32 oz and 20 oz sizes as well as refills. Mean Green is also available in Industrial sizes. Follow Mean Green on Facebook

And … Oxydol and Biz are the official laundry team for the Cincinnati Reds! Check out this fun video about this professional baseball team washes uniforms.

Check out their websites for more information as well as where you can purchase these great cleaning products!

THANKS Biz Stain Fighter and Mean Green (and Oxydol) for sponsoring Girlfriendology in 2012! We <3 working with you!

p.s. Check out Biz’s ’sister’ cleaner – MEAN GREEN and OXYDOL at Wal-greens! ESPECIALLY #Cincinnati #Dayton Girlfriends! www.oxydol.com & www.meangreendegreaser.com

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology where we’re connecting with over 27,000 women (we block guys!) and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Five Ways to Save Money On Your Next Getaway | Advice from Abundance Guru Miata Edoga

Judi — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:04:04 +0000

“If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.” Proverb

Some days ‘the Money Thing’ can seem like just too much. You reach in to your wallet for the ten you know was there – except it’s a one dollar bill. You face your bills realizing – once again – that there will be too much month left at the end of your money.

Abundance Guru MIATA EDOGA is here to help with all that. She is a whiz at finding little ways that add up to a big financial impact. After all, couldn’t we all use a little more of that?

You’ve been working hard…maybe too hard…and it’s time for a break. Whether you’re dreaming about a short weekend trip or a longer sabbatical from real life, it makes sense to recharge your batteries. A vacation is a great way to stay fresh in the office, school, or with family and friends at home.

At the same time, you should avoid needing to recharge your wallet when you return home.

Vacations are about experiences, so I won’t convince you to stay close to home. Go! Enjoy! I recently visited Southeast Asia with my family and it was the adventure of a lifetime. Here are some tips to save money on your trip:

1) Work from a travel plan. If you’re dreaming big, you’ll want to focus on spending money on memorable experiences. Map out your journey and include all highlights of your trip along the way. Leave some time for exploring and fun—don’t regiment the entire trip or you’ll be exhausted by the time you arrive back home.

Tip: List each vacation spot and how much money you’re budgeting. This will give you a guide to begin shrinking the amount you spend during your vacation.

2) Use discount sites. I first heard of Hotwire.com when on business to Indianapolis. I paid the convention rate at the hotel of $95. A friend in the room two doors down from me used Hotwire to secure a room at the same four-star hotel for $55.

By using sites like these for air, hotel, and rental cars, you could potentially slash huge dollars from your budget.

Tip: Check the official merchant sites to compare before purchasing a room or flight from a discounter. Often you won’t earn reward points and in some cases the discount site doesn’t cost any less money.

3) Pack a travel reward credit card. Before you squirm, I’ll agree: using a credit card isn’t a good idea if you’re going to have a balance. However, if you can pay off the balance each month, why not earn some free perks? Nearly every company offers good credit card perks. Find a card without an annual fee and points that match your lifestyle.

Tip: Check your credit report for free first before applying. Free credit reports are available through a government program at AnnualCreditReport.com.

4) Use travel books and sites. For a small price, a good travel guide is like insurance for your trip. You’ll find potential special deals, out-of-the-way restaurants and hotels which are a great value for the cost, and information on local customs and weather. Many books help you avoid pitfalls and tourist traps.

Tip: Use the travel guide to decide what you’d like to do, then consult the web for discounts at each location.

5) Sign up for reward programs. Even if you aren’t a frequent flier or hotel guest, these programs often throw free stays and bonus points at potential visitors. On some trips, I’ve earned free rooms and flights behaving exactly how I would have anyway without the reward program!

Tip: Double-dip point programs by also signing up for Upromise or iDine. You could earn reward points for both your credit card and these programs in a single meal!

MIATA EDOGA is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, a 10-year old company committed to utilizing humor, inspiration & lots of love to give individuals around the world the necessary tools to thrive financially, while keeping focus on the things they treasure most. Visit the Abundance Bound Facebook Page for your free copy of Financial Success for the Creative Soul!

How do you save money on your travels? What girlfriend advice do you have for saving money?

More girlfriend advice on money and traveling:

How to Save Money and Time – FREE eBook
Money Saving Laundry Tips
Saving Money and Paying it Forward - coupons and giving
Girlfriend Getaways – Great time for Girlfriend Bonding
5 Travel Accessories Every Girlfriend Needs

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

Your Best Spring Ever | It’s a Great Season for Girlfriend Advice

Girlfriendology — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:47:07 +0000

Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!” Robin Williams

Happy Spring Girlfriend! How’s your Spring so far? Did you know this could be your best Spring EVER?! How? Actually, there are a few things you can do to make it an amazing, fabulous, wonderful, memorable Spring. It’s a great thing you’re reading because it’s our ‘Have your best Spring edition of Girlfriendology Girlfriend Advice’ update.

Look for the clues to your Best Spring Ever below. They’re hidden in some of our girlfriend advice – look for the *’s below!

Last week on Girlfriendology …

The Girlfriend Discount (because that’s what we do!) – PINTEREST MARKETING WEBINAR – Coupon just for our girlfriends on this package of a 60-Minute Pinterest Marketing Webinar, 22-page transcript, 25-point Checklist and BONUS of 50 Pinable Board Ideas. Check out our Girlfriend Discount!
How to Keep a Sense of Humor with Work (or Life) – From Girlfriend Guru DONINA IFURUNG (* Think a sense of humor might help your Spring? It sure could! Read this post for great girlfriend advice!)
Being there for your Friend in the Good and Bad Times – Another fabulous post by Girlfriend Guru LINDA STEELE (Along with the awesome recipe for ‘Celebration Cookies’ – yummy!) (These cookies could turn a bad Spring day into a great Spring day. #justsaying)
Eating for the Holidays – The fab, funny Faux Diet Queen shares her ‘recipe’ for eating over a great Easter or Passover holiday weekend (Chocolate anyone?!) (Chocolate could make any day better!)
Favorite Pinterest Pins – What inspires you? And what would you want to share with a friend? This is our page to pin and tell
What to eat before you Work-out – Girlfriend Guru LISA McDANIEL BROWN helps us get healthy by working out then shares tons of great healthy girlfriend advice in our BlogTalkRadio show (Things like five things you can do TODAY to be healthier!) Part of her advice – Take a Walk! * Get out and enjoy the Spring, especially with a friend. You’ll be healthier and you’ll have a better Spring!)
Ten Stress-Busting Tips (from Mum!) – Lower your stress with this great girlfriend advice from LEYLA AL-SHARIF. What are your favorite lessons inspired by your mom?
Love Keeps Lifting me Higher – Grateful for Friends – By Girlfriend Guru RACHEL AWES, along with her inspiring art (We <3 Rachel!)
Joyful Advice on a Girlfriend Birthday – Make your/her day extra special (* A GREAT Birthday could totally make it a GREAT Spring!)

What’s coming this week on Girlfriendology?

Spring Cleaning – Expert girlfriend advice on how to clean everything from bathtubs, to rugs, to stoves and patio furniture
Spring Break – What if you and the girls went on your own Spring adventure? That just might REALLY make it your *Best Spring ever!
Five Ways to Save Money On Your Next Getaway | Advice from Abundance Guru Miata Edoga
Fun Colors to Brighten Up Your Wardrobe This Spring | Advice from Gwen Rich
The Quiet Flower | Insight and Inspiration from Celeste Barnard

What’s going on online on Facebook.com/Girlfriendology?

What’s your favorite Chick Flick? http://ow.ly/aa8ku <– Here’s some of ours. Invite a friend over to watch one!
Girlfriend Shoes of the Day – Betsey Johnson Heels – Iconnn
“When nothing is sure, everything is possible.” #quote Margaret Drabble http://ow.ly/9oXwD

Did you catch all the ways to have the BEST Spring Ever? Here’s the cheat sheet version: Have a sense of humor. Share a celebration (and cookies) with a friend. Take Walks (with friends). Spend time with your girlfriends. Be grateful.

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Keeping a Sense of Humor When Business or Life Gets On Your Nerves | Donina Ifurung

Judi — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:35:37 +0000

A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles. – Mignon McLaughlin

There are some days when everything seems to flow easily. There are other days when the sound of the stapler can be enough to send us over the edge. Sometimes we experience both on the same day!

It can be awfully difficult to pull back from wanting to scream at someone just for breathing or from wanting to break a stapler just because it’s doing it’s job. Girlfriend Guru DONINA IFURUNG reminds us that humor is a great way to diffuse tension, regain perspective, and make it through the moment.

For those of who don’t know, April is National Humor Month.

To commemorate National Humor Month, I won’t play an April Fool’s joke, but I will tell you that keeping a good sense of humor does your mind, your heart, and your business good.

Owning a business, heck, life is not a cake-walk. There is hard work from the start, and even when business begins to thrive and make some money, an entrepreneur must continue to nurture her baby and keep her growing, vibrant, and pressing forward.

Until you hit a rut or a stall or a snag.

I don’t believe that any business, big or small, has ever enjoyed smooth sailing from the get-go. Even with the most brilliant of business and marketing plans, at some point a company may hit a place of frustration. Whether it is getting the first customers through the door, attracting new clients, rolling out a new product, or hitting a new revenue level, stress levels can elevate.

Keeping a sense of humor is key to coping with being stuck or having a setback.

Keep in mind the benefits of humor (or laughter):

1. Realize that no set-back or stall is forever. Like tires stuck in mud, it seems like you won’t ever get unstuck. Perhaps you had a grand opening that turned out only your parents and your gardener. No reason to close shop and quit! Be a trooper and post the paltry turn-out on Facebook as a lesson in “how not to have a grand opening.” Poke fun at yourself. When you don’t take yourself too seriously, people (and customers) will be drawn to you.

2. Being an entrepreneur may require thick skin – but allow for a few ticklish moments. When the going gets tough, it is important to be able to bounce back and regroup. Allow yourself some levity by stepping back and having some fun. Enjoy a day at Disneyland, go bowling, or have a girls’ night out. Infusing some moments of delight and pleasure will help diffuse anxiety and stress, and will give you some clarity in order to refocus and get back to business.

3. Laugh at your mistakes and foibles now. Learn to laugh at some unforeseen mistakes. I’m not suggesting that you

(c) Can Stock Photo

dismiss and laugh off errors that have significant financial or legal repercussions. But some things may not be in your control. So if it is your first big event as an event planner, and you run out of the good wine, don’t turn on yourself or your staff. Fix the problem and move on. This will likely be a big lesson in better planning, and may become a humorous anecdote at the next team meeting. It is far better to laugh at a situation than to make a big scene that nobody will likely forget.

4. Humor always diffuses a tense situation. Comic relief in the midst of an embarrassing situation can offset any damage. I once had to address a group of college students regarding finding their passion. Because I thought I could “wing” it, in the middle of my ten-minute talk (yes, it was that short), I blanked out. And they all stared at me, and kept staring. After what seemed like an eternity, I said something like, “Wow, I should have taken my Gingko Biloba this morning,” which elicited some laughter, and totally eased the embarrassing moment. Laughter reminds us that we are only human.

5. Do something zany to get your sense of humor back! Maybe some of you are feeling too serious or don’t have a humor bone left. I suggest that you need to recapture your youth and do something silly – just to be silly! National Humor Month is not just relegated for April. Go to a carnival and ride the bumper cars. Do a cartwheel on your front lawn. Rally your adult friends and have a rousing game of tag. Just because you are an adult and/or a business owner does not mean you should always be serious. Fun has no age or status limits.

When business or life gets you down, gird yourself with a great sense of humor. It will keep your blood pressure from elevating, and help you regain your sense of purpose and mission in whatever you are facing.

So when you experience inevitable moments of unpleasantness, unleash your sense of humor, and let levity and laughter do their thing.

DONINA IFURUNG is the founder and owner of On High Heels, a boutique P.R. and Media Relations company catering to women entrepreneurs in beauty, fashion and luxury lifestyles. A self-described bookworm and scribe, she is like Cupid – creating a love connection between people and the media by writing snazzy pitches that turns heads. Though into fitness, Donina loves chocolate, wine, and (gasp!) shoes. She’s nuts for her adorable nephews and wants two boxer dogs.

What makes you laugh, girlfriend?

Check out these great guest blogs by girlfriend guru Donina Ifurung

The Single Girl’s Guide to Valentine’s Day
Be a Know it all! 5 Things Girls Should Know
Girls and the Art of Togetherness
Simple Holiday Entertaining Girlfriend Advice
Giving Big on a Small Budget – Holiday Advice. Thanks Donina! You rock, girlfriend!

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Friends being there in the Good and Bad Times | Girlfriend Guru Linda Steele, #CookieRecipe

Judi — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:45:40 +0000

It’s what friends do for each other. We bear witness to the bad & the good of one another’s lives.

Linda Steele

FRIENDS it’s what life is really all about. Recognizing and celebrating their achievements achievements. Being there to encourage them when things aren’t going so well. Friends give us support, a fresh perspective, a pat on the back or a genuine hug – that’s what friends do.

Girlfriend Guru LINDA STEELE is blessed with great girlfriends (like those she makes time for for their Lunch Club). She knows the ‘recipe’ for great times together is TIME. And using that time to be there through the good and bad

Bounce House, Out to Lunch, & Celebration Cookies

I had to move around plans for Lunch Club for April because the kids have three Friday’s off next month and I usually plan it for a Friday. But I wasn’t willing to forget about it entirely because making time to catch up with friends is so important to me.

One of the most fun things I’ve done with a friend recently was jump in the Pink Princess Castle I had delivered to our house for my Daughter’s last birthday. We jumped and we laughed. It was fun to let go and just have fun for awhile. We waited until all the guests left so we could have it all to ourselves. My daughters did the same thing early the morning of the party before the guests arrived.

Sometimes, life gets so busy, it seems like the fun stuff gets pushed aside first. It’s easy not to leave time for a little fun for ourselves or think we’re too old to do things we once loved to do. But we’re not. We’ve got to make time for our friends. No matter what life sends our way. And it seems like it’s really good for our soul to make time for being silly.

Another friend recently had a collection of her poems published and I attended a Poetry event where she read them at an event. I was proud of her because I knew she struggled with having the courage to get up in front of a crowd and read her work. She’s an excellent poet. But it still took courage for her to do it.

So instead of hosting regular Lunch Club at my house this month I decided to take her out to one of her favorite restaurants for lunch instead. I want to make sure I take the time to celebrate my friend’s accomplishments when I can, and I love it when my friends do the same in return. It’s what friends do for each other. We bear witness to the bad and the good of one another’s lives.

But I’m a big believer in offering food as gift so I also decided to bake a batch of my Celebration Cookies to wrap up and bring to the lunch. I came up with Celebration Cookies a couple of summers ago and published my recipe along with an article I wrote for Cape Cod Magazine. They’re yummy. In fact they’re my daughter Bella’s favorite.

I’m going to leave the recipe here for you in case you happen to have a friend that has something special to celebrate soon. You might want to give them a try and pass them on. (If you do make sure you tell her where you got the recipe from!) They’re a perfect combination of blueberries, cranberries, and white chocolate.

CELEBRATION COOKIES

photo by Cape Cod Magazine

1 2/3 cup flour

¾ tsp flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 ½ sticks butter, unsalted, softened

¾ cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 large egg

2 cups white chocolate chips

¾ cup dried cranberries

¾ cup dried blueberries

1)      Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2)      Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt in small bowl.

3)      Beat butter, brown sugar, sugar and vanilla in large mixer until creamy. Beat in egg.

4)      Gradually stir in then beat in flour mixture until all combined. Don’t over mix.

5)      Stir in chocolate and dried fruit and stir gently. Drop by large tablespoons onto baking sheets. Bake approximately 12 minutes.

LINDA STEELE knows how important maintaining supportive friendships are. She’s an avid baker, Professor, writer, and mom. Her first fun and personalized recipe collection called “Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen” can now be purchased in e-book form. She loves to inspire people to always share fun times with friends while eating good food. You are invited to like her on Facebook at Sweeter by the Beach and become a follower of her blog.

How do you make time in your busy life for your friends?

Thanks Linda! And check out her other great blog posts: Lunch Club/The Girlfriends (& Ganache recipe!), Girlfriend Chili Fest! And stop by Girlfriendology for more Friendship Quotes.

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Eating for the Holidays | Weight Loss Advice from the Faux Diet Queen

Judi — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:23:34 +0000

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends. Unknown

What are your plans for the weekend, girlfriend? Whatever your plans, with or without family, with or without holiday celebrations, we hope you’re gearing up for a great few days.

The Faux Diet Queen is planning a festive celebration. As she gets ready for her weekend, she has some (surprisingly logical) thoughts about eating during a holiday weekend.

It’s a holiday weekend. I know this because:

a)      The calendar says so
b)      I am baking up a storm
c)      We’re getting ready to go visit family
d)      My diet plans are laughing so hard they are shaking the entire kitchen.

Here’s the thing about holidays. For the most part, they involve food. In fact, they generally involve Really Good Food That You Don’t Get at Any Other Time of The Year.

There are plenty of people who have tried to tell me that there isn’t really any reason that Kit-Kats should taste better when they come out of a Trick-or-Treat bag, that I don’t need to indulge just because the calendar has fallen on a certain day. (Yeah, that makes me laugh pretty hard too. Everyone knows that there is something special about Halloween Candy.)

People have tried to convince me that there is no reason NOT to make Special New Year Appetizers in the middle of the summer. Leaving aside the question of whether or not the ingredients are available, I can’t figure out why they don’t understand that Special New Year Appetizers are meant to be eaten on New Year not the Fourth of July.

Nutritionists tell me there is no reason to dive headlong into holiday meals and eat like I haven’t been fed for a month. I have tried to explain that 1—that’s what holidays are for, and 2—it would offend whoever cooked if I didn’t eat Like I Meant It.

So whether you are celebrating Easter, or Passover, or the Start of Spring, or the Weekend, or any other occasion, let me share with you my Philosophy on Eating for the Holidays, Parts I, II, and III.

Go For It!

That’s Part I. Did you get all that? Want me to repeat it?

Go For It!

Ready for Part II?

Have Seconds! Of Everything. Including Dessert.

Part III

The thing about holidays is that they involve food, family, friends, celebration, and tradition. For many of us, the holiday just isn’t “right” without Grandma’s Homemade Apple Torte, or Matzoh Ball soup, or Chocolate Eggs.

So Enjoy. Celebrate the holiday the way you want to. Make the holiday meaningful. Make the visiting enjoyable.

It’s hard to know where we’ll be a year from now. But it’s easy to know that we can pick up the diet on Monday morning without having lost too much ground.

Besides, I firmly believe that foods eaten in celebration have no calories whatsoever. Please pass me a second third helping of Grandma’s Apple Torte.

The Faux Diet Queen is a Girlfriend and a Half, trying to find her Skinny Self. When she is not recording her weight loss journey from the bottom of a bag of chocolate chips, she is constantly on the search for ways to improve the trip back to her smaller jeans. This holiday weekend you can find her stuffing herself with wonderful food and rationalizing away all the calories.

Here’s some more Faux Diet Queen ‘adventures.’ Stop back next Friday for the next installment!

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Favorite Pinterest Pins of the Week | April 5, Pins you’d share with a Girlfriend

Girlfriendology — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:22:09 +0000

We LOVE Pinterest. You might have noticed. (:

Not only did we do this Pinterest Marketing Webinar (with a special Girlfriend Discount!) but we also have Pinterest boards on all kinds of things Girlfriends LOVE like:

Words for Girlfriends – great quotes and sayings
Funny Stuff! – like ‘Because Chocolate can’t get you pregnant’
Hearts & Love - great symbols of how much others mean to us
For our Foodie Friends – and gourmet girlfriends!
Girlfriend Gifts – fun stuff to give your fave friends
Girls gotta have SHOES – footwear fetish is fun!
DIY and Crafty Inspiration – amazing creativity that inspires things to make, ways to decorate, fun stuff!
Caffeine Happiness – coffee-inspired collection, fun caffeinated sayings and cool coffee ’stuff’
Always Time for Wine – from cool things to do with wine corks to fine wines that you have to share with a friend

AND, we have a NEW feature here on Girlfriendology:

Favorite Pinterest Pins of the Week

What did you pin or repin that you’d like to share with your girlfriends? Hilarious graphics, inspiring quotes, amazing outfits, awesome shoes, cool DIY projects – WHAT do you want to share? (And remember to go visit other pins and follow each other so we can share great Pinterest pins more and more!)

And, as a reminder, it’s always best to share the image source. (Recommend you share that in the original repin comment with a link if possible – here’s more on Pinterest from our girlfriend Liv Lane.)

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology where we’re connecting with over 26,000 women (we block guys!) and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration. (& our Pinterest Marketing site: Pinfriendology.com.) More Girlfriend Friendship Quotes. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Girlfriend Advice on Working Out | Lisa McDaniel Brown, BlogTalkRadio

Girlfriendology — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:44:51 +0000

“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everybody on the couch.”

Unknown

Who do you trust for advice – like on working out and what should or shouldn’t eat before hand? How about a Girlfriend Guru who knows health and fitness?

Health and Wellness Girlfriend guru LISA MCDANIEL BROWN shares her fabulous fitness advice on what to eat before working out. And, on our BlogTalkRadio show TOMORROW (April 6 – 2-2:30pm ET), she’ll share great fitness advice like:

The Top 5 things you can do today to improve your health today
What a health coach is why you may need one
What is ‘Sugar Addiction’ and how can we address it?
What are Primary foods and Secondary foods, and why are both necessary to have balance and good health?

But for now, we’re getting a little hungry before we’re planning to workout or just go for a walk. What’s a girl to do? Heed our Fitness Friends’ girlfriend advice:

Pre-Workout — What to eat, what to eat??

If you’re like me girlfriend, you spend a lot of time thinking about food. Mainly I think about food because I want to be sure I’m eating the right foods at the right time to keep my body operating properly … and happily. And that includes eating what my body needs before a workout.

Sorry to bring up “working out” but did you realize “bikini season” is right around the corner? Or as my best girlfriend, Leslie, likes to call it, “swimsuit with a cover-up season.”

Since I’m not an athlete, but just a girl who wants to keep myself in decent shape and prevent a few body parts from heading south too soon, I don’t stress much over what to eat before a workout as long as I know I have enough fuel to sustain me.

Recently I started eating vegetarian with very little dairy. This works well for me but I wouldn’t suggest it for everyone. It’s truly up to you to experiment, listen to your body and do what’s best for you and your lifestyle.

Yet, when choosing food before a workout, there are a few things to keep in mind. You always want to move more and eat less so you’re burning more calories than you are consuming, so I suggest following this basic rule — find out what works best for you and do that for your body!

Eating one to two hours before a workout works well for most – as long as you’re eating something that is easy to digest.

Here are my top three favorite pre-workout snacks:

1. Fruit and a few nuts – A simple sugar that’s digested easily will help kick start your workout, such as an orange, banana or apple. Plus a few almonds.

2. Whole grain cereal with milk – I could eat cereal all day. Unsweetened Almond Milk has replaced soy milk in my heart — love the taste!

3. Hard-boiled eggs filled with hummus – hummus is an everyday part of my life. Roasted red pepper hummus is particularly tasty in this snack.

Remember, the most important part of your pre workout routine – is to do what you need to do to actually get to the workout! How many times have you gotten dressed in workout attire only to get busy with stuff around the house, your cell phone, errands, kids, life, and the next thing you know you’ve spent the day in comfy yoga pants and a t-shirt, but didn’t break a sweat?

My favorite all-time workout? A walk. Simple and doable almost anywhere. Best when shared with a girlfriend, or two.

LISA MCDANIEL BROWN is a health and wellness coach at LMBhealth.com. Before coaching, speaking, and blogging, Lisa was a broadcaster, PR/Marketing professional, and event planner with a degree in Communications. Her passion for health and well-being was nurtured from an early age – her father was a physician who specialized in weight control and longevity (and he’s still alive and thriving at age 97). Lisa grew up thinking everyone knew how to eat well and live their best life!

What food(s) do you eat before a workout? What girlfriend advice do you have on working out? Please share!

Remember! Health and Wellness Girlfriend guru LISA MCDANIEL BROWN will share her fabulous fitness advice on our BlogTalkRadio show TOMORROW (April 6 – 2-2:30pm ET). JOIN US!

Thanks Lisa for sharing! Check out her previous Girlfriend Guru guest posts:

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get our FREE eBook ‘30 Days / 30 Ways to Be a Better Friend‘ - check it out!

More to check out – Facebook.com/Girlfriendology where we’re connecting with over 27,000 women (we block guys!) and Pinterest.com/Girlfriendology where we share visual inspiration. THANKS to our BIG 2012 sponsor – Biz Stain Fighter. And – Thanks to YOU Girlfriend!

Ten Stress-Busting Tactics My Mother Taught Me | Girlfriend Advice from Leyla Al-Sharif

Judi — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:12 +0000

I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine – she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights. ~Terri Guillemets

What is it about advice from Mom? When we were young, we vowed we would never, ever, in a million, zillion years do all the horrible things our moms did. Now, many of us open our mouths and hear our mother’s words pour out. And we’re proud of them…

Girlfriend Leyla Al-Sharif send advice from the UK. Her mom did a great job of teaching her ways to get through the stressful times and she’s sharing those tips with us.

If you didn’t know, last Sunday was Mothers’ Day in the UK; when I was searching for inspiration for my Girlfriendology guest post, I suddenly had an epiphany: why not impart some knowledge I gained from the most important woman in my life? Working in a high-pressured, target-driven office is often a source of stress for me; despite this, I try to use a set of stress-busting tactics my ‘mama’ once taught me and I would like to share them with my fellow Girlfriends.

Banish the Negative, Embrace the Positive

It’s hard to believe, but ‘good stress’ does exist. The secret is to use this good stress to cope with the bad stress; my mum always taught me to try and think positively and concentrate on the positive elements. Every time I feel the office stress is making me doubt my abilities, I try to remember the positive comments I have received from my boss, colleagues and friends. We are strong, intelligent and go-getting Girlfriends: we just need to tell ourselves once in a while!

Check Things off Your List

Thinking about what you’ve got to do can be very depressing and before you know it you might feel like you’re sinking in metaphorical quicksand. But just the simple act of writing down all your tasks can really help ease stress. Prioritizing or crossing off unnecessary jobs can make you feel much better. I became acquainted with making lists whilst I was at university; dealing with working a stressful part-time job and an academically challenging Bachelor’s degree can denote high pressure. Creating a visual reminder not only helps you organise your life and maintain a work-life balance, but also gives you a well-earned confidence boost.

It’s OK to Switch-off sometimes!

It’s not always easy to physically escape the office environment but you can do it to some extent without actually leaving the building. I always give my mum a quick phone call, as talking about things that are not job related can help to relax you. It’s not just a vanity pep talk, talking to someone you love and lean on for support can help increase the production of hormones designed to make us feel better.

Get Musical

Another kind of ‘escape’ is listening to music; thanks to my mum I realised the value of incorporating classical music into my music playlist. It is a well-told story in my household that when my mum brought me home as a newborn, she played the albums of the opera star Mario Lanza and it helped induce calm for not only mother, but baby too! It has long been thought that the music of Mozart in particular is useful as studies suggest that it can improve things such as communication, creativity, and the effective performance of tasks. If Mozart isn’t to your taste, then listen to what is as this can help reduce the levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Now, I listen to classical music while treating myself to a foot spa and hot towels from my towel warmer, coupled with working on my blogging hobby in my downtime.

Don’t Neglect Your Calcium!

Once I finished university and started working as an intern, I quickly realized that the coffee house became my official second home – thanks to coffee runs for the boss – and caffeine was a much-needed vice to get through the stressful days. Going home for the weekend, my mum was shocked at my unhealthy routine of often substituting food for coffee and advised me to up my calcium intake with milk. I later found out drinking milk produces serotonin, thus producing an extra bonus!

Always Finish What You Started

My mum has always instilled in me the ethos of not being a quitter or leaving anything incomplete. I quickly learned after joining the career ladder that my ‘mama’ was right; research has suggested that it is better to finish work off in the office because taking it home with you could increase your chance of suffering health problems. Don’t just focus on finishing off work to meet targets, finish your tasks for the benefit of your stress levels.

A Clean Work Area Produces a Clean Mind

This was a popular mantra in my house growing up and research has suggested there is an element of truth in this. When I started working in an office, I quickly found out that working space is limited and looking at a pile of awaiting documents is so de-motivating. A tidy, clutter-free desk, on the other hand, can really help clear your mind and make you more productive.

Get Active

I was an avid junior competition tennis player in my school days, coupled with a healthy dose of physical education in my high school curriculum. I was definitely a team player, captaining the tennis and lacrosse teams; however, at university I seemed to neglect my fitness and as a result, my energy levels severely dipped. My mum inspired me to get up and move when I feel stressed. Taking a break for around quarter of an hour and stretching those tense muscles can really help alleviate symptoms of stress. I work in an office environment within a great British countryside setting, absolutely perfect for escapist walks! Walking really helps: once you feel calm, you can deal with things more productively.

Games are actually beneficial

My mum was a great advocate of using games to both engage and educate us in our downtime from school. As I got older, I found that playing games can be a useful break from a stress-inducing situation and I ensured that the tradition of ‘game night’ still stands in my household as a way to unwind, relax and remember that it’s OK to have fun sometimes!

Leyla and her Mum

Write everything down

My mum always taught me that when things are getting me down, I should try to articulate myself through writing rather than a heated, emotional conversation. Either by writing your worries in a notepad as a stream of consciousness or as a chronological journal, you will find a pattern of stress triggers that you can address and start to think about approaching your life priorities from a reflective standpoint.

LEYLA AL-SHARIF is a British freelance writer and self-confessed digital lover. A Bachelor’s degree graduate of English and French, Leyla is in her first graduate job and lives in the UK. She describes herself as being the modern graduate, intrepidly exploring the secrets to a harmonious work-life balance and a huge advocate of constantly developing, both professionally and personally.

What are your tips for reducing the anxiety-producing stress in your life?

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Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher | Grateful for Friends by Guru Rachel Awes

Judi — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:21:15 +0000

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. ~Donna Roberts

Have you ever noticed that sometimes our girlfriends remind us who we really are? Recently, I have had this happen three times (always in threes, right?). Fabulous friends have been around to remind me of some of the good things I’d forgotten about myself.

Girlfriend Guru (and fabulous artist) RACHEL AWES reminds us in word and art that we have so much to offer the world. Thank heavens we have friends who–on those days when our feet feel permanently stuck in the mud–can remind us we have wings for flying high.

I recently met my treasured friend, Liv, for breakfast.

We had wonderful conversation about our daily lives and future dreams and plans. We both ordered the special of the day ~ an omelet filled with lots of delicious veggies. The whole time was plump with goodness.

I left feeling deeply grateful. For having such a friend.

Who I can share so much in common with ~ especially my heart. All was complete and plenty.

And then came even more. The next day she published a blog post about me.

She wrote about how she saw various signs that I am ready to spread my wings and soar and she was encouraging me to do so.

I am blown away by her super-hero generous heart.

She sensed something was taking off within me, and her response was to lift me even higher. She sought the most lit part of me and named, photographed, and shared it.

What an inspiration she is. Let’s look for the best in each other. The brightest and deepest. And when we see each other shining, let’s lift each other even higher. Just because something maybe going well, doesn’t mean we don’t need each other’s encouragement. Our hearts are always vulnerable.

Always soft. There is always this work of love to do.

RACHEL AWES is a psychologist, art playgroundist, writer, wife, mother & friend, who loves listening to the beauty in people. You can see more of her art or her artistic thoughts on Pinterest. You can also read more of her work on her blog.

And check out Rachel’s other FABULOUS blogs (and her gorgeous art):

Timing Matters – A Girlfriend’s perfect timing
The Power of a Girlfriend’s Kindness – prayer that all friends feel loved
A Year of Great Girlfriend Intentions – A great year of friends and friendships
The Art of Girlfriends – how friends inspire us (& we inspire friends, like Rachel does)
Playdates with Girlfriends – great things to plan in 2012!
Girlfriend Love Letters – write one to your BFFs!
Girlfriend Gift Ideas - creative ways to show your friendship

p.s. We just have to mention, check out Liv’s Etsy site for wonderful girlfriend gifts and inspiring art.

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Source: etsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Go Girlfriend It’s Your Birthday! | Joyful Advice from Girlfriend Guru Arlett R Hartie

Judi — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:15:08 +0000

We’ve made it in to April! Happy Spring Girlfriends!

For some reason, we have a LOT of fab friends with birthdays this month. (Is your birthday in April? Tell us in the comment section – we hope you have an exceptionally wonderful day!) Girlfriend Guru, ARLETT R. HARTIE, author Chasing Joy, celebrated her birthday last month – she’s been thinking about birthdays recently and was kind enough to share her thoughts with us.

It’s true! You do get smarter with age. How do I know? I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I wanted to write to you girlfriends about for my monthly Girlfriendology post. I just could not figure it out. Then I had a birthday, and new exactly what I wanted to write about. So 32 is the magical age where all the wisdom kicks in. Or, is it that I had such a wonderful birthday that I had to share it with all of you girlfriends??? HMMM… I guess a little of both.

My birthday was absolutely phenomenal this year. I usually have a good birthday but this one was by far one of the bests. I had a relaxing facial during the day and the lady did not even try to sell me anything. Then I picked up my birthday cake. I got it at Bredenbeck’s Bakery here in Philadelphia. It was beautiful and way nicer than I’d imagined. My birthday is St. Patrick’s Day and my cake came complete with Shamrocks and a pot of gold (it was also delicious). Later that night I celebrated with about 15 of my girlfriends. Almost everyone I invited was able to come. We ate, drank, and were very, very merry.

I know all of my Girlfriendology girlfriends are happy I had such a wonderful birthday, but I bet some of you are thinking that’s nice but why a blog post? As I was posting a few birthday pictures on my Facebook page I was thinking about how much fun I had. Then I was thinking about a few of my girlfriends who want their birthdays to go by without even a mention. I just don’t understand it.

Every year we either experience the lost of a loved one or know someone who has. Shouldn’t that teach us that life is to be celebrated? Now I know aging is not all that glamorous with the wrinkles, and the gray hair, and the pounds that are harder to get off. But either you get older or you don’t. So embrace and celebrate the getting older. Besides we have hair dye, eye cream, and Spanx on our side.

Plus, your birthday is the only day that is all about Y-O-U!!! Most of us rarely do what we really want to do. We usually try to do our thing within the confines of what will work with our families’, friends’, and employers’ schedules, especially you moms. When was the last time you took a day just for you? Well your birthday is your chance. Make your day your own. Lock yourself in your room with your favorite book and bottle of wine. Get together with that friend you only see once a year. Treat yourself to something special or some pampering. Do whatever it is that will make you smile. It is your day!!!

Girlfriends, let’s stop looking at the glass as half empty. Stop viewing your birthdays as some sort of tidal wave washing your youth away. Keep it positive and let your friends and family shower you with Love instead. After all, it really is just a day. Other than my amazing insights of what to write for this post, 31 does not feel all that different from 32. Just as 25 did not feel all that different from 24, and as I imagine 50 won’t feel all that different from 49. But it is your day and you should acknowledge the blessing that it is and enjoy it. So, Go Girlfriend, it’s Your Birthday!!!

ARLETT R HARTIE is the author of the blog Chasing Joy. Arlett’s writing focuses on her efforts to find happiness after a rough time in her life, and hold on to it through all of life’s ups and downs. She writes about all things related to joy, positivity, and gratitude. She is a daughter, sister, auntie, and Girlfriend. You can also find Arlett on Pinterest.

Happy Birthday Arlett – and all our girlfriends celebrating their birthday this month.

Our Birthday wish for you – whatever the date of your special day!

Happy Belated Birthday Arlett! Thanks so much for the inspiration you share here on Girlfriendology! Check out Arlett’s previous guest blogs: The Joy of Girlfriend Get-togethers and Mirror Mirror Girlfriend Inspiration.

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No Fooling … Girlfriend ‘Scoop’ & Cool Stuff

Girlfriendology — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:27:28 +0000

Happy April (Fools) Girlfriends!

Did you play any tricks on your friends for April Fool’s Day? Funny friends are great to cheer up a day, spend time with and make us really REALLY laugh! (Best April Fool’s Day trick that I know of – a girlfriend sent her dad a ‘toupee recall letter’ – and he panicked! Was afraid they’d take his rug away!)

In addition, April is National Humor Month so we’re definitely celebrating funny friends who keep us giggling and smiling. Who are your ‘Funny Friends?’ Who can you count on to be silly with like girlfriend Joanne and her funny friends? (in the photo)

No Fooling … we need our silly friends. We need those goofy girlfriends who make us laugh when we thought we were about to cry. Appreciate your funny friends – in April and all year ’round!

More reasons to smile … great Girlfriends and Blog Posts on Girlfriendology

The Girlfriend Discount (because that’s what we do!) – PINTEREST MARKETING WEBINAR – Coupon just for our girlfriends on this package of a 60-Minute Pinterest Marketing Webinar, 22-page transcript, 25-point Checklist and BONUS of 50 Pinable Board Ideas. Check out our Girlfriend Discount!
Girlfriend Gift Advice on Giving the Gift of Yumminess – Perfect gifts for foodies and friends, advice from guest blogger Lynn Steinberg
How to NOT help a Dieter – our fave Faux Diet Queen shares her funny girlfriend advice on dieting
Lessons from our Online Community of Women – Speaking at BlogWorldExpo #BWENY
Get Paid to Purge your Closet – Spring Closet Cleaning advice from Style Girlfriend Guru Donna Gamache
Girlfriend Birthday Ritual – Great girlfriend advice from Girlfriend Guru Lisa Sarik
Homemade Signs and Bouncy Balls/Being there for a Friend – Great guest blog by Sarah Boucher
Doing Life Together (Great Girlfriend Insights) – by Girlfriend Guru Jennifer Hall
The Creative Mom Interview – Being a Mom, Being a Blogger, Memory Keeping and Pinterest – plus more! The fab Jessica Turner, aka: The Creative Mom
FREE ‘30 Days/30 Ways to be a Better Friend’ eBook – for new newsletter subscribers (Share with your Friends!)
And you know we LOVE Girlfriend Gurus – right?! WE DO! & we LOVE guest blogs! Share your girlfriend stories, inspiration and advice on Girlfriendology!

Your Favorite Friendship Quotes this week …

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose … http://bit.ly/Hhas9g #DrSeuss #Quote
Count your age with FRIENDS, not with years. Anonymous #quote http://ow.ly/9Jl5S
Girlfriend Life Lesson: Always keep your words soft & sweet, just in case you have to eat them. http://ow.ly/a2r01
Life is partly what we make it, & partly what it is made by the FRIENDS we choose. Tennessee Williams http://ow.ly/9Ce5X

What’s coming this Week on Girlfriendology?

We’re glad you asked …

Go Girlfriend It’s Your Birthday! | Joyful Advice from Girlfriend Guru Arlett R Hartie
Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher | Grateful for Friends by Guru Rachel Awes
Ten Stress-Busting Tactics My Mother Taught Me | Girlfriend Advice from Leyla Al-Sharif
Eating for the Holidays | Weight Loss Advice from the Faux Diet Queen
Fun Colors to Brighten Up Your Wardrobe This Spring | Advice from Gwen Rich
Girlfriend advice on Pre-work-out Snacks – by our Girlfriend Guru, Lisa McDaniel Brown – and LISTEN IN on Friday on BlogTalkRadio.com/Girlfriendology for Lisa’s Life
and MORE!

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Pinterest Marketing Webinar – The GIRLFRIEND Discount

Girlfriendology — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:55:22 +0000

Special discount coupon for Girlfriends on Pinterest Marketing Webinar!

Dear Girlfriends,

As you may know, we’ve been working on a new Pinterest Marketing Webinar. We’re so excited to announce that it is now posted and available! We’ve bundled it all into one amazing package on ‘Marketing Your Blog, Brand or Business on Pinterest’ with this:

* 60-minute Webinar – Covering WHY you need to be on Pinterest, Your Marketing Strategy, Ways to Grow Followers and Sales – and more!
* 25-point Pinterest Marketing Strategy CHECKLIST
* 22-page transcript from Webinar – with Terms of Service updates
* BONUS: 50 Pinboard Ideas

All this for $29.97. ORDER NOW! Don’t delay in marketing yourself on this growing social media platform!

WAIT! Since you’re an official Girlfriendology Girlfriend, use Promotion Code: ‘Girlfriends’ for a 40% discount! (Good actually on all our eBooks until 4/30/12!)

REVIEW: “The Pinterest webinar was excellent. It was full of great content and I learned some really cool marketing tricks, lead generation strategies and money making tips. It was my first Pinfriendology webinar and I was more than happy to share this event with my own group of dynamic ladies here in the UK – the webinar was well worth staying up for! Keep up the good work Debba and the Pinfriendology team. Looking forward to the next one.”
Tracy Reid, Founder of Stiletto Millionaires

In this ‘Pinterest for Blogs & Businesses’ webinar we cover:

* Why you SHOULD BE ON PINTEREST – Is it REALLY important to your blog / business? (Answer: YES!)
* When you SHOULDN’T be on Pinterest – And how to handle that
* Design, Copyright and TOS – Terms of Service, how you can protect yourself/biz, what you NEED to know
* How to define and execute your own Personal/Business Pinterest Strategy
* Who is on Pinterest and who is doing it well? – What can we learn from them?
* How to get started on Pinterest – On the right foot (and we will send you an invite if you need one)
* How to grow your TRAFFIC and REVENUE with Pinterest – what we all really want to know!

60 minutes of HELPFUL, STRATEGIC, COMPREHENSIVE instruction in WHY you should (or shouldn’t) be on Pinterest – and HOW to do it SUCCESSFULLY.

Plus, we provide a CHECKLIST FOR GETTING STARTED on this amazing and HOT Social Media platform!

Pinterest is generating TRAFFIC and $$$ – and I’ll share how!

Another REVIEW: ”The Pinfriendology Webinar on Pinterest was truly a wise investment of my time and money. Not only was it a tremendous value for the incredibly low cost, the information was concise, relevant and easily applicable. On top of all that, it was FUN! I’m really more excited than ever to populate my Pinterest site after learning all I did. Now, I actually know what I’m doing and how to do it in a much more effective manner. Thank you, Pinfriendology!”
Tanya McGill Freeman, Courtesy Ladies

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Girlfriend Advice on Giving a Great Gift | Food Ideas from Lynn Steinberg

Judi — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:16:08 +0000

A hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange. ~ Unknown

Hugs are a wonderful gift. But sometimes it’s not enough to give a hug (well, really, its always enough to hug a girlfriend–trust us on this). Finding a gift for a gal pal can sometimes be the easiest thing in the world (after all you know each other so well!). But sometimes, finding the right gift is next to impossible.

Guest blogger LYNN STEINBERG has great ideas about finding great food gifts. Which girlfriends would these be great gifts for?

Food has a special way of connecting girlfriends. It brings us together, helps us reminisce, encourages us to experiment, and cements the bonds of lifelong and new-found best buds.

For me foods have always made great gifts. Whether it is a friend’s birthday, the birth of a child, a new home, or just girls’ night, there’s always a tasty treat to make the celebration that much more…delicious!

Although I’m known in my group as the ultimate gift giver, one of my favorite food-gift memories is when one of my closet friends from college gave me a present. It’s actually part of the inspiration for my business.

In 2001, my husband (boyfriend at the time) and I moved away from New York City so he could attend business school in North Carolina. It was an exciting time in my life, but scary as I was leaving behind great friends and the fun and experiences that New York City has to offer a young girl in her mid-twenties. Within 18 months, I was married and pregnant with my first child. Although I was so happy in my personal life, I started to feel even more separated from my friendships and experiences I left behind in New York.

Even though I am not officially Jewish, many of my friends growing up were, and they always joked that I was trapped inside a Jewish body because of my love of bagels, lox, sour pickles, pickled herring, and other traditional Jewish foods. Leaving my favorite foods behind was one of the hardest things about leaving New York—Chapel Hill, N.C., is not known for its Jewish Delis.

With that being said, I will never forget the day one of my maids of honor, Brooke, shipped me a food gift of Full Sour Pickles from New York. It was one of those moments I truly will never forget. It was one of the best gifts I ever received because it solidified that even though our lives were changing, Brooke really knew me and knew what would make me happy. Even though we aren’t as close as were 11 years ago, it is one of those memories that remind you who your lifelong friends really are despite how often you talk to or see them.

Today, I find a reason to send a food gift to all my friends whenever I can! Who doesn’t love to get something they can sink their teeth into?!

Here are some of my favorite edible presents to help you be the best gift giver in your group of girlfriends:

When shopping for a bride-to-be, food is a perfect addition to an item off her registry. Buying a set of pots? Complete a date-night package with fresh lobsters straight from Maine.

Pregnant? Order her some Pickles and Peanut Butter ice cream to satisfy her daily cravings.

For your college roommate’s birthday, send soup from the ski resort town where your group of friends went on Spring Break.

For a girlfriend going through a hard time, send a bouquet of cake pops to let her know you’re thinking about her.

When it’s girls’ night in, bring delicious cookies made specifically to complement that big bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

LYNN STEINBERG started Goodies For Gifts as a food review blog. As it built in popularity and she realized people were increasingly looking for food to give as presents, she expanded it into an online resource. Today, Goodies For Gifts is the first and only website providing consumers a free resource to find, buy, and share unique edible “goodies” to give as gifts. Visit it now at www.goodiesforgifts.com.

What are your favorite food gifts to give and receive?

More ways we celebrate food and female friends:

First Annual Wine Sisterhood Gathering – Amazing ‘blend’ of wine and women in Napa
Caffeinated Happiness – Coffee-inspired Girlfriend Gifts
The Great Cookie Onslaught – The Faux Diet Queen talks treats and temptations

p.s. We love food (especially when combined with friends!) so much that we have these Pinterest Pinboards:

Always Time for Wine – From wine gifts to our trip to Napa with the Wine Sisterhood
For our Foodie Friends – Recipes and yummy ideas we so want to cook and taste!
Sweets & Treats - Tasty treats for us and our dessert-loving girlfriends
Breakfast & Brunch – Breakfast inspiration that makes us happy
Chocolate & Girlfriends – It’s a good combination!

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How NOT to Help a Dieter from the Faux Diet Queen

Judi — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:10:56 +0000

I keep trying to lose weight … but it keeps finding me! Unknown

The Faux Diet Queen (or as we affectionately call her, FDQ) has agreed to share her latest (and last) weight loss journey with us as a regular feature at Girlfriendology. We hope you’ll join us to cheer her on, nudge her back on track when she strays, and generally giggle along.

This week, the Faux Diet Queen is fed up to here with people who are trying to help with her diet but only driving her to eat an entire tub of frozen yogurt. With toppings. Here is her advice for those well meaning folks.

If you have food issues and or weigh more than you would like to, then this blog is for you.

OK, it’s not really for you, because you already know what I’m about to say. But it’s for you to print out and leave where someone who is giving you a hard time (spouse, parent, well-meaning friend) can find it and read it for themselves.

Here is the truth: there is not a person on this planet who is overweight who doesn’t know it. Therefore, we really, seriously do NOT need anyone’s help in recognizing that we need to lose weight. We got it, thanks. We know we no longer fit into a size fill-in-the-blank. We do not pull on a pair of pants that fit a year ago and now is on the tight-ish side and think to ourselves “dang, these pants have been shrinking like nobody’s business.” Yeah, ok. We might think that about one pair of pants, but not when ever single piece of clothing we own acts that way.

So, friend of my friend, spouse of my friend, parent of my friend, we know you are well meaning. We know you have our best interests at heart. We know you love us and want us to be healthy and happy. But unless we have specifically asked you to do something you need to understand that there are things that Absolutely Do Not Help even though you think they do.

Things Not To Do If You Love Me

Asking “Are you sure you want to eat that?” I am not a five year old. If I were five, I’d probably still hate that tone of voice, but I’d be used to it. I am aware that I am about to stuff seventeen zillion calories into my mouth. I may hate myself later for doing it, but your question won’t stop that.

Saying to someone else “Oh, Faux doesn’t want any of (fill in the blank with the wonderful food of the moment).” Really? You’re reading my mind now? Because Faux most definitely does want some of that delish looking (fill in the blank).

Bringing Chips Ahoy or Oreos into the house and hiding them. Here’s a tip: I am the Queen, remember? I can find any food you try to hide. And I will. And I will eat it. And I will believe that since you didn’t see me eat it I won’t be affected by the calories. I will further believe that I am helping you since you really shouldn’t be eating them anyway.

Looking disapprovingly at me whenever I eat. Yeah, I know I need to lose weight. Your disapproval does not inspire me to rush out and run three miles. Quite the opposite. It inspires me to go find your Oreo stash and eat a couple of them to punish you for trying to punish me. Twisted logic, but there you go.

Bottom line: if you want to help, ask how you can help. Listen – really listen – to the answer. Most importantly, don’t decide that your answer is better than the one I give you.

The Faux Diet Queen is a Girlfriend and a Half, trying to find her Skinny Self. When she is not recording her weight loss journey from the bottom of a bag of chocolate chips, she is constantly on the search for ways to improve the trip back to her smaller jeans. You can join her for a cup of coffee here on Girlfriendology every Friday.

Here’s some more Faux Diet Queen ‘adventures.’ Stop back next Friday for the next installment!

p.s. If your food stories fall into a more serious topic, like emotional eating, we’ve got a great girlfriend for you to meet too – ELLEN SHUMAN. She’s shared great advice on emotional eating on various guest blogs and podcasts. (Her podcast on emotional eating is our #1 listened to interview so lots of us have some emotional eating issues or friends/family who do.)

Girlfriendology

How to Pick the Right Sports Bra | Lingerie Advice from Miss Kitty Plum

“A sports bra is a bra that provides additional support to female breasts during physical exercise.”

What are your tips and tricks for accentuating the positive and minimizing the negative?

“Friends are like bras: close to your heart and there for support.” – unknown

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Paying the Minimum? Credit Card Advice from Girlfriend Guru Miata Edoga

Friendship, like credit, is highest when it is not used. -Elbert Hubbard

We know we shouldn’t. We know we really, really shouldn’t. But those shoes are soooo cute, and the credit card is just burning a hole right through our wallet. Bam! Proud owner of fabulous new shoes/purse/dress/camera (fill in the blank with your own personal weakness).

What are your tips for lowering credit card debt?

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Mothers, Girlfriends, Women … Celebrating all our ‘Titles’ in Life :)

Behind every successful woman … is a substantial amount of coffee. ~Stephanie Piro

HAPPY BELATED MOTHER’S DAY!

To our MOM Girlfriends – we LOVE you! We ADMIRE you! We SALUTE you! Thanks for all you do for so many.

Girlfriends sharing Girlfriend Advice

Coming this week on Girlfriendology

And we’re at 28,000 FABULOUS FACEBOOK FEMALE FRIENDS! Whoo hoo!

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Summer Salad, Beach House, and Friends | Lunch Club Recipe from Guru Linda Steele

“Three things are needed for a Good Life: Good Friends, Good Food, & Good Song.” Jason Zebehazy

Recipe for Summer Salad

What are your favorite spring recipes to share with girlfriends?

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Crafty Mother’s Day Gifts | Creative Advice from Girlfriend Beth Engelman

Remember when we were little and we took Mother’s Day very, very seriously? We made gifts, and cards, and breakfast (which mom later cleaned up) and we were so proud of our ability to do something for our mother.

Happy Mother’s Day! Celebrate your favorite mom (or girlfriends) with these charming gift ideas that are easy on the wallet and even easier to make!

Peace, Love and Happiness Notecards

What are your best DIY gifts for Mother’s Day, girlfriend?

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Ten Ways to Spend Mother’s Day WITH Your Family | Girlfriend Advice from Lisa Holcomb

What tips do you have for a great Mother’s Day?

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Showing the Love to Girlfriends Who Are Moms | Guest Blog, Susan Jackson

All mothers are working mothers. ~ Unknown

Showing the Love to Girlfriends Who Are Moms

Whatever you do, I guarantee your girlfriends who are moms will be thrilled that you recognized their maternal magnificence. There’s simply no such thing as too much love on Mother’s Day.

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How to Lower Your Car Insurance Bill | Girlfriend Advice from Financial Guru Miata Edoga

Aren’t you glad we have girlfriends – to help us learn the things we need to know? (I am!)

“Let’s go shopping for car insurance” – not a phrase that would cause most of us to jump off the couch, grab a purse, and head out for a day of fun with a friend.

What are your tips for saving money, girlfriend?

“Face it girls. I’m older and I have more insurance.”

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Girlfriends in Business – What’s Your Business Strategy? | Crystal Collins

“All lasting business is built on friendship.”

Girlfriends in Business – What’s Your Business Strategy?

What Girlfriend Advice do you have for other Women Entrepreneurs?

LISTEN IN as we talk with Crystal about our Marketing Calendar and Business Strategy!

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Some Things You Can Only Get from an Old Girlfriend | Friendship Thoughts from Guru Amanda Whitworth

Do you remember the song “Make new friends, but keep the old…?” We know how important friendship are, how much they mean to our everyday life. When we move or change jobs we promise we’ll stay the wonderful friends we’ve always been. And sometimes, we do.

How do you stay in touch with old girlfriends? What tips do you have for keeping your friendship alive?

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Ever wanted to be ‘her?’ | Girlfriend Advice Needed for Guru Arlett R. Hartie

To speak painful truth through loving words – that is friendship.

It takes a real friend to speak the truth. Sometimes the truth is painful to admit and maybe even to hear. But, as friends, we’re still there for each other. We weigh the truth through eyes of love and admiration, we listen with acceptance and support.

I know being a girlfriend guru I’m supposed to be brilliant and all knowing regarding all things girlfriendship related. Well, part of being brilliant and all knowing is knowing when you can benefit from a little advice.

How do you keep your attitude positive when life comes at your from all directions? What’s your advice (aka: loving words) for Arlett?

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Here’s to your Health | Girlfriends & National Women’s Health Month

How’s your Health Girlfriend? (Your Friends Care!)

Let’s celebrate Women and Women’s Health every day – so we have more days to spend with our friends! (And for exercise inspiration, remember …)

“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping people on the couch” (unknown)

Girlfriend Advice, Insights and Inspiration

“I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don’t find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I’ve never had a problem with the way I look. I’d rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.” Adele

Be healthy Girlfriend! You’re loved and your friends want you to live a long, healthy life!

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Giving a Friend Difficult News | Girlfriend Advice on Sharing Your Opinion from Marina Sbrochi

What are your tips for gracefully having a difficult conversation with a girlfriend?

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Keeping The Light Of Friendship Alive | Guest Blogger Sarah Oxley

You probably have the type of life where you have plenty of time for all the things you want to do, right? Yes, we’re rolling on the floor laughing at that idea too!

How do you keep up with friends?

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Naming our Girlfriends | Insight from Guru Rachel Awes

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. ~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Do you have a nickname? A special name that you were given by a friend?

What are your names for your girlfriends? How do you show them that they’re special to you? (Share in the comments – thanks!)

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“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping people on the couch”
(unknown)

“I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don’t find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I’ve never had a problem with the way I look. I’d rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.”
Adele

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“I have thought a sufficient measure of civilization is the influence of good women.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
Samuel Butler

“When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.”
Erma Bombeck