Naked Pinay Views: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

Revealed Secrets on Dressing the Skinny Eco-Chic Way

The vacations and holidays have a way of making our resolve disappear, and while we may not be able to reverse our lapses, we can try to conceal those extra pounds–at least until we begin to experience results of our diet or at the gym. Now here are some secrets for looking slimmer, the eco-chic way.

1. Do Not Droop!
Here’s a simple and sage piece of friendly advice that costs nothing and can make you look 14 pounds lighter. The cheapest, easiest and quickest way to look thinner is to stand up straight. Everything lines up, even your fat! Your belly will seem flatter, your back fat will be less noticeable, your boobs will look perkier, and your rounded shoulders will seem more graceful. We can’t think of a single better reason to hold your head up high.

2. Dress Up to Show Off or Conceal.
Begin accepting your curves or lack thereof. Always dress for your specific body type. Get to know your own silhouette. If you have a tiny waist, show it off! If you have legs for miles, do NOT cover them up! The key is to accept what you have and make the best of it. There are enough garments on the market to help you fake a good figure. If the “ideal” shape is a well-balanced hourglass (no matter what the size, 2-22), this can be fudged by choosing garments that help create this illusion even when it isn’t there. I recommend that curvy gals embrace their bosom and bottom by wearing gorgeous necklines and prim, but provocative pencil skirts.

3. Try the Universal Miracle Clothing
The one piece of clothing that works wonders on all women is the universally flattering 3/4-length sleeve, clavicle-exposing, hip-length top. The neckline draws attention to the center of your body, away from your edges. The 3/4-sleeves don’t add visual bulk to your look, while still camouflaging upper-arm trouble areas. The hip-length covers unruly bellies and makes butts look smaller from the back. When you really wants to suck it all in, rely on Rago Control Top Underwear, a corseted, boned, control-top undergarment from the 1940s–an eco-choice if ever there was one, given its vintage provenance. But experts don’t recommend vintage underpinnings for everyday because a girl’s got to breathe!

4. A Calculated Camouflage
One of the biggest trends this year is layering and it’s the key to looking slimmer. Winter wardrobes are a fat girl’s friend. Those opaque control-top tights, knee-high boots, and scarves that we’ve come to rely on when temperatures drop, can also help camouflage a host of figure flaws. But the trick to making it all work is putting dark colors under lighter colors. It tricks the eye into believing that the darker bits are actually farther away, a. k. a. smaller. Remember the idea of a shadow–a silhouette in a lighted doorway–you want the darker in the center, the light on the outside. It frames your figure in the most flattering way.

5. Wear Black in Right Fit
What is that one piece of advice you have heard all your life when it comes to dressing thin? Wear dark colors. Our experts agree, but with one caveat. Black obviously camouflages, but again, I think that black only works well if it is a proper fit. Anything that is too big, or proportionally off isn’t going to help a body appear thinner. So remember: While that roomy, black, boyfriend cardigan may be the comfiest thing you grab in the morning, it’s not always the most fetching choice.

6. Denim Jeans Make it Easier
If the perfect 3/4-length sleeve top is a miracle worker for your top, what works wonders for your bottom? A comfortable, but oh-so-sexy pair of jeans, of course. It is a pain to go out and try on a million pairs of jeans to find the perfect fit, but once you do find it, dressing for most occasions becomes that much easier. We love the idea of no-brainer party dressing and these skinny-but-not-second-skin jeans from Levi’s eco collection are a good fit (no pun intended). Remember to throw on a pair of heels to elongate the leg and you are ready for virtually any social situation.

7. Stripes Modification
We’ve all heard that horizontal stripes make you look bigger, but recent experiments by British scientists have found just the opposite. They say it’s actually vertical stripes that give the illusion of a fuller figure whereas horizontal ones make you look thinner. Of course vertical stripes make curvy women look even curvier, duh! They expand and contract around your curves, which actually emphasizes your trouble spots. Or you can go for no stripes at all. Horizontal stripes are delightful, but they are not for everyone. As with everything, it really depends on the specific item of clothing.

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Sunday, August 30, 2009

How a Filipina Mother Saves Time

One should wonder how the typical Filipina mom fits everything into her hectic days. Actually, there’s a handful of single individuals who can manage to handle successfully the requirements of work, home, life, and fun. Yet, over and above these responsibilities, moms include car pool duty, cupcake emergencies, and last-ditch science projects to their to-do lists. Thus, how does a Pinay mother manage all these everyday jobs and household tasks into her life and still keeps her sanity? Here are 4 ways for moms to save time for the completion of all other tasks:

Consider making a list of tasks that need to be completed. Then, take a hard look at that list for anything that could be simplified or eliminated. For example, do your children really need home baked cupcakes for the school party? The bakery up the street will be happy to box up 24 cupcakes and have them ready for you to pick up the next morning, saving you at least a half hour.

Identify tasks that really take a lot of time, but could be done by someone else. If your children are too young to help walk the dog, you may want to consider hiring a dog walker to give your pooch his daily exercise. Errand services are also a great time saver. You can have your errand service shop for back to school supplies, pick up groceries, or get the dry cleaning. A maid service can come in once a week to do some heavy duty cleaning. Another task that takes a lot of time is cooking. However, you can stop cooking a meal from scratch every evening and still feed your family without hitting speed dial for your favorite pizza with bulk cooking. Pick a weekend and cook enough food for an entire month of meals. Freeze the food in dinner size portions and simply reheat a dinner each evening.

Take time off for yourself. Of course moms who work from home have a flexibility that other moms don't have. If you become overwhelmed with all that you have to do, give yourself permission to take some time off to catch up. If you simply can't take time off, you may want to find a mother's helper to watch the children and do some basic household chores while you work.

Finally, if it seems you are always spending your evenings helping your children complete big assignments that are due the next day, give each of your children a homework notebook. If they neglect to write assignments down, ask their teachers to initial the assignment book, so you will know that all assignments are listed. This will eliminate all of those last minute posters, science fair projects, and reports that moms seem to end up helping with until midnight the night before they are due.

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Monday, August 24, 2009

Abused Filipinas Consider Leaving as a Complex and Confusing Process

For battered Filipina women nothing could be easier than walking out that door. That momentary decision somehow sounds simple in the brink of anger or danger but the abused woman actually goes through a process of leaving that can be obscured at every stage by vague uncertainty.

When a Pinay disengages from a relationship, she is often uncertain about her family's relative status. Is he finally out of her life? He may be physically at home but psychologically out of stock. He doesn’t seem to care for her nor the kids anymore. She may have physically renounced him but they are still psychologically attached. She misses him, and for the sake of the kids, she would like her family to be whole again.

We could see this struggle clearly on how Filipino women view the family situations at different stages in the course of leaving. It's confusing and the stage continuum is ambiguous. It's parallel to the experience of having a child depart for college. Your child is no longer with you at home, but you're still very conne

cted to him/her emotionally. Yet, when he/she comes home for visits, he/she may ignore you while he/she gives special attention to friends.

It's often difficult to comprehend what the new boundaries are on such transitions in life. Abused women from diverse backgrounds recognize ambiguity within the different stages of the leaving process.

First, women start to disengage emotionally from their affairs. They construe their little indifference as a beginning of not caring for him anymore.

That is followed by the usual occurrence of abusive incidents and apparent consequences of the hostilities on their children. Women prepare to leave, such as looking for a place to stay or surreptitiously saving up money. This stage is significant for women as they switch from thinking about leaving to really doing something about it.

The next is when women take action; we see a lot of what we call back-and-forth actions because when women leave, the emotions often rush back. This necessitates clarity. Women fancy for physical and emotional connection again.

The last part of the process which is maintenance can be achieved when women have been gone for six months or more. But even then, they may have boundary ambiguity if their ex-spouse won't let them go. With continued contact through court-ordered child visitation, the prospect for continuing abuse stays as well as sustained confusion over the abuser's role in the woman's life.

Truly, leaving a relationship is much more complex than just deciding to transform herself, and it involves more than a woman's prioritizing her well-being. Other factors are drawn in. The abuser makes decisions that affect a woman's movement through the whole process. And children can be a dominant influence in encouraging a woman to get out of a relationship and in pulling her back in.

It's important for social work professionals and frustrated family and friends to understand the process of leaving. Often shelter workers focus on safety and tangible needs such as a job and housing. They don't help women disentangle themselves emotionally. But it's hard for women to get out of the situation if they haven't resolved these relationship issues.

Discouraged friends and family members have to learn to view leaving as a process and realize that there's little they can say to speed it along. It's important for them to reinforce the risks the woman is facing by asking such questions as 'Has he become more abusive? Does he have a gun?' When talking to an abused friend or family member, you should always emphasize safety, but for your own sanity, you should realize that leaving is a process and she has to work her way through it herself.

When women do finally achieve both physical and emotional separation, research shows that they experience fewer health problems and less depression.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Naked Truth About Women on Business and What Really Matters

For those women who think that they can have it all comes this contrarian view from some women who think less of their own capabilities than their male counterparts do and often aim low from the very beginning. Here are some hard truths about the work and lives of women in business.

Many male executives continue to stereotype women ("geisha," "bitch") and try to hold them down. Toxic bosses and hostile work environments still abound. Sexual harassment, pay discrimination and hostility to the "mommy track" are not everywhere a thing of the past.

But many of these women aren't just doom and gloom. There are real solutions to the challenges women face on and off the job such as how to increase confidence, build r elationships and reputation, create alliances and networks, mentor and be mentored, and avoid the familiar trap, "I'll do it myself."

Women can learn how and when to exit a dead-end job, how to become an entrepreneur, and how to balance work, family and an inner life. It's important stuff. Because one thing most women know that many men don’t is that your job is part of life – it's not your life.

An 45-year-old woman, who has done everything from secretarial work to trading gas futures, offers tips on how to acquire power, navigate toxic environments and strike out on your own, among other challenges. She said that there are more good companies than people imagine. Not every company requires women to bury their personalities. If they started with bolder assumptions, women would realize they are assets wherever they work and thus keep their standards high.

Women shouldn't give up before they start because that becomes self-fulfilling. Don't make concessions too early. A recent study found that far more women move to accommodate their husbands' careers than the reverse. So it's essential to have a career plan, yet many women don't because they think having a plan will cut them off from opportunities. But a plan illuminates opportunities that they wouldn't have seen before. Whenever you've made a plan, you’re staggered at what it achieves.

Sometimes women are looking for dependency at work. When they agonize over things like face-time (with superiors), those are symbols of dependency. The only power is "portable power," which is inside of you. You are safe because you are capable. That's the only safety there is.

Many women who have stayed home to raise their families have trouble getting back into the workplace once their children are grown. Sometimes women don't see how their skills map onto business. Women negotiate all the time, for instance. They figure out who is going to pick up the kids. If you can negotiate with your kids, you can negotiate world peace.

Actually, there are four main stereotypes women tend to fall into: geisha, invisible woman, bitch, and guy."...All over the world are women who've fought their way through this nonsense and emerged whole. It can be done. When women are empowered, men are enlightened.

When a woman starts thinking about her life in business, she usually thinks in terms of catching up with men. But that is irrelevant, because it is women who are the trailblazers. Their career patterns, which companies see as so eccentric and challenging, are the shape of things to come. However much working women are categorized as 'bitches' or 'guys', the truth is we are all these and more... Even in these supposedly emancipated times, women in the office are frequently stereotyped. But it can be avoided.

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

When a Filipina Matures into Motherhood...

For a Filipina, it must be a one unique experience. She has her tummy checked by the doctor, he affirms. She goes through the nine months: of craving the weirdest things (from the sourest mangoes to Magnolia strawberry ice cream), of insane mood swings, of testing her husband’s love for her. At the end of it all, her water breaks, she goes through insane labor and the breathing exercises that now don’t seem to work, then boom! She’s finally holding that warm, soft bundle in her arms and in that instant, everything, and everything in those nine months have all been worth it. Looking back to maybe just a year ago, she realized how much she’s changed.

As people age and experience new things in life, their tendencies change. Such is the case of Filipino women becoming and being mothers, they have to redefine their identities. And now, she is not just a wife, not just a daughter, she’s also a mother. A woman’s life will do a complete 360 degrees once that baby comes. The hardest adjustment so far is living a life not just for herself or for the husband, but for the baby also. It can be stressful and it’s not always a happy day.

Being a mom is an entirely new experience – like seeing everyday things in an entirely new light. Going to the zoo is more exciting, swimming is more enjoyable and burning calories is more accessible since you have to follow your child everywhere. The most rewarding experience would be watching your child sleep peacefully at night because you know that that day was another happy day where nothing awful happened to him/her. You can’t readily say that motherhood makes you stronger or smarter because you will still have fears and you still can make bad decisions. However, motherhood makes you learn a few new things about yourself.

Rearing, the Filipino way, makes a mother braver and more confident. And when you get right down to it, it automatically becomes a full-time role. Once you’re in it, you can never shake it or turn it off. You should love it.

Maturity becomes the woman and the woman realizes how selfless and responsible she’s become as a mother. Before she had no care in the world except for her and her husband’s own indulgences, but now she shall always think twice on everything she does. The usual shopping spree that covered fashion accessories and cool gadgets would surely take towards more consideration for the baby's needs. You never really would understand why your parents were the way they were towards you until you become one like them. And you will understand now the hardship and struggle parenting really is.

One Filipina says that seeing her husband and baby smile however, make the sacrifices all worth it. Motherhood is about maximizing your potential as a woman. If you’re willing to take [all of the things that come with being a mom], why not, what’s stopping you? What matters at the end of it all is that you are true to the core relationships that you want to maintain, that work with you, and who you are, and who you want to be. Then you can take on the challenges of being the Pinay mom of today. Those who have a why can take on almost every how.

Here’s a beautiful 70’s song by Barry Manilow about a wife and a mother called “Sandra”. I thought Barry was referring to a Filipina.

Or you can sing it like Barry...

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Friday, August 14, 2009

When Love Compromises a Women's Privacy

The lyrics of the song "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" strike me whenever it plays. That part on "How do you lose yourself to someone and never lose you ways?" expresses the predicament of Filipino women (Pinays) who fall madly in love with someone. When the distance between lovers get too close for comfort, the space to

move freely and be your best self is lost. The weaker person gets lost on her/his lover's strength and persistence. There is no more room to grow and maintain balance . . . and worse it could be dangerous. Lets read this story below:

Trixie is dating a local artist. She has known him for a couple of months. She knew that most artists had their own way of doing things. Her boy friend was no different. He was a seemingly nice guy but he took some getting use to. Sometimes he did unusual things.

For example, he once sat in a tree for 2 days. He said he was trying to get a feel of how birds felt. She figured it was just one of the weird habits that all artists possess. He also, frequently asked her to pose for photographs, but she refused. She thought that was the end of it but he persisted. At first she was enjoying the attention. Then it just became annoying. He seemed to be obsessed with getting those photographs. He told her how he had never seen anyone as photogenic as her. He even said he thought she would make a terrific model.

He said he could send her photographs to some magazines to see what they thought. She thought are you crazy, I do not want my photographs in everyones hands. She declined. He stopped asking for a while. One day she went to his apartment. While she was there, he wanted to go out and get some art supplies.

Trixie thought buying art supplies was boring, so she stayed at the apartment. She wanted to learn more about what made the artist tick. She looked around the apartment. It was full of all types of art. She struggled to understand what was going through his mind when he created some of the pieces. He seemed to have a bizarre fascination with women. She dismissed it as just a part of his passion.

She came across a giant black photo album. She opened the album and thumbed through a few pages. All the photographs were of women. She thought, I can finally see how I compare to his previous girl friends. She looked at the pictures. She came across a section marked, special, with a black divider. She flipped the divider, and what she saw shocked her. It was photographs of her in her bathtub at home.

She became really scared and nervous. She did not know what to do. Fearing that the artist may be dangerous, she did not stay and confront him. All she could think about was getting out of that apartment with those photographs. She took the photographs to the police. They arrested the artist and charged him with invasion of privacy. Fearful of the consequences, Trixie moved to another province.

Trixie knew that the artist had planted some kind of hidden camera in her bathroom. She still wonders if other photographs will surface one day, in hard copies or in the internet. We all have to be careful of the people we allow into our homes and lives. Technology has made it possible for a persons privacy to be revealed to the world. It has also made it possible to know when someone is spying on you and your family.

You should periodically check your home and surroundings for invasion. Never under estimate the capability of an unscrupulous person. Lives have been ruined because of information or photographs and videos of people in compromising positions and acts. Protect your privacy by being aware that you can be a victim. Take steps to insure that you have the privacy you think you have. (Source: Free Articles)

It's true that love's a sacrifice, it is giving yourself unconditionally to the person you love. But it should be reciprocated fairly with respect and equal if not greater amount of affection. Becoming a part of a person's life should not become a break into her own privacy no matter what.

Related articles

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Thigh Exercises for Filipina Women

For the figure-conscious Pinay, shaping the muscles of the thighs is a vital fitness aspiration. A well-rounded lower body is deemed very womanly, and the precise proportion of the waist to the hips is part of the whole picture. It's am

azing, but true, thigh-toning exercises can be performed at home, without equipment and the effect can be observed in 4-6 weeks. If you know which exercises work, and how to do them, thigh and hip toning gadgets will not be necessary. Most significantly, thigh exercises are most successful when combined with aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.
So that the Filipina woman must not only do the right thigh exercises, but shall also indulge into aerobic exercise and sound nutrition to achieve the finest results. The following exercises are the most effective front thigh exercises for health-conscious Filipina. The routine also includes inner thigh and rear thigh exercises.
For the most excellent results, begin with 15-20 repetitions and one set. Increase progressively to 2 sets. Accomplish the exercise routine at least 3 times a week for best results. This is an effective beginner to intermediate toning program. Please remember that these numbers are general guidelines only. For an optimum program tailored to your needs, please consult a certified personal trainer. If you have any injuries or medical ailments, please obtain a physicians clearance before starting any exercise program.
Wall Squat: Front Thigh Exercise. Starting Position: – Place your upper back against a smooth wall. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet and lean back against the wall. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position while sliding down the wall. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required.
Standing Dumbbell Squats: Front Thigh Exercise. Starting Position:- Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow them to hang down at your sides. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet. Movement:- Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. 5 lb dumbbells work well, but you can start with 2 lbs and then work your way up to 5 lbs within 3-5 weeks.
Lunges: Front

Thigh Exercise. Starting Position: – Assume a standing position with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. Grasp a barbell with a wider than shoulder width grip and place it across your shoulders. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your back vertical and slightly arched, slowly step forward with one leg making a long stride, lowering your body down slowly until your rear knee lightly touches the floor (if you cannot go as low as this, then work your way up to it over 2-3 weeks). Exhale and shift your weight backwards, taking one step (or 2-3 small steps if that sounds difficult) to return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Remember to consult your doctor before this or any other knee exercises if you have had any knee trouble!
Lying Face Down: Front Thigh Stretch. Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a matt with your legs together. Movement: Reach behind you and grasp your right ankle with your left hand. Pull your right heel up as far as you can. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Please remember to hold for 10 seconds for this stretch.
Seated Split Stretch: Inner Thigh Stretch. Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt and spread your legs as far as you can. Movement: Lean to your right side and reach for your toes. Rest your hands on your toes or at your ankle. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side.
Seated Butterfly: Inner Thigh Exercise. Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your back straight. Movement: Bring the soles of your feet together and pull them in as close to your body as you can. Allow your hands to rest on your feet or to apply light pressure to your thighs. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Hold this position for 10 seconds. You will find this most effective if you gently push your knees down using your hands, be careful not to push too much.
Seated Hip Twist: Outer Thigh And Rear Thigh Exercise. Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your legs straight out in front of you. Movement: Bend your right knee and place your right foot over your left leg. Wrap your arms around your right knee and gently pull it in towards your left shoulder. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds.
Lying Leg Pull: Total Thigh Exercise. Starting Position: Lie on your back on an exercise matt with your knees in the air and feet flat on the floor. Movement: Bring your right heel to rest on your left thigh. Loop your hands around your left thigh and pull it towards your chest. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds in each set.

There you have them. The sexy Filipina should maintain her figure and health with the above-mentioned simple exercises to achieve that grand body proportion and that captivating thigh.

For more information and to register for free diet plans and grocery lists, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ , for exercises for women, visit http://www.toningforwomen.com and to train with Nitin, visit http://www.phonefitnesstrainer.com

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Smart Women “Live into and Find the Flow”

A few days ago, I was sitting with my good friend and Smart Woman, Suzanne, in her backyard and I was complementing her on how well the yard was laid out from the play area, pool area, and lounge area. Everything flows so well in accessing the home and the backyard. Suzanne shared with me that the backyard was not designed this way when they first moved into the home. When they bought the house initially, the backyard looked a lot different. She shared that after they had lived in the house for awhile and found their flow as a family, she and her husband created a vision on how the backyard might better serve their needs. This got me thinking about how Smart Women need to “live into their Big ideas, dreams and goals finding their flow along the way”.

In my Women’s Success Circles, I sometimes find that women can get “stuck” and are afraid to take action on their ideas and dreams because they don’t have a full or complete vision on how it will all come together.

We can become fearful or resistant when we don’t have a clear plan. Although I encourage women to have a well thought out plan, sometimes just taking that initial step forward is what you need to make it happen. I had a mentor once who used to say, “Mindset first; details later.”

When I first gave birth to my business, Smart Women Smart Solutions, I had developed a model to help women in transition. It was a program that supported women who were ready to make a change in their life–both personally and professionally. I hosted Women’s Success Circles here locally around Los Angeles. That was my initial vision. As my business began to grow and ripple out into the world, it morphed and changed into something quite different. Offering my process to help women make positive change in their lives is still a “core” part of my business today. However, I now offer a host of services from public speaking to teleseminars that are steeped in the “core” of supporting women as they move their lives to the next level of success.

I started with a core vision and “lived into my work with women”. I found my flow, my rhythm.

How about you? Are you waiting for the “perfect time” to realize your Big ideas, dreams and goals? I’ve got a secret for you: There is never a perfect time for anything in life: getting married, having children, or realizing a dream that you have.

Here are a few tips for you to think about as you begin to take the steps to “live into your dreams and find your flow”.

1. Just Do It - It’s an old cliché and has been used many times, however it is quite effective if you have a Big idea or dream that is screaming to make its way into the world through you. Find a coach or other “thinking partner” and take some steps to open the door to make it happen.

2. Find Your Rhythm - When Phil Jackson, coach of the LA Lakers was asked what made the Lakers perform so well on the court, his answer was, “they have found their rhythm as a team and as individual players.” I would have never found the “rhythm” of my business if I had not put myself out there and made it happen. I had to ‘live into” the process. Those of you who have been with me over the last few years have seen the process and how my business model has changed and grown to better serve women.

3. Course-Correct - Movement always wins over meditation in business. In most situations, you can “course-correct” and change direction. The only way to get clear and focused on what your vision or your dream will ultimately be is to take those first steps to make it happen. Even if you can’t see the end, just take the action steps and it will unfold as you go along.

I firmly believe in taking action. The women I work with begin with a plan knowing that over time they will need to make changes and course-correct.
That afternoon, I was once again reminded that we all need to “live into and find the flow” in our lives and in our businesses. Take that first step: Decide what part of your Big ideas or dreams that you want to take action on and “live into it” today. Find the “flow.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

Author: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion .

Last 5 posts by Joy Chudacoff

Smart Women Take the Right Action - July 21st, 2009
Smart Women Know, Commit and Practice Their Values - July 17th, 2009
Smart Women and "Cravings" - July 10th, 2009
Smart Women Understand “WIIFM?” - June 19th, 2009
Smart Women Know the Difference between a Job and a "Calling" - June 14th, 2009

Please Read also:

Online Purchase for Women (onlineshopster.blogspot.com)
Greeny Fashion Blog (danielgreenz.blogspot.com)

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Monday, August 10, 2009

A review of the modern global image of a Filipina

In this modern age, we exist and survive in a global playing field. Friendly technologies have made possible the ease and convenience of communication and outreach in the world. The amusing disclosure of remote information has been contributory to better understanding among people. The irony however is that very few have really met and known their neighbors—apart from household maids, hotel service-workers, nannies, most likely college-educated Filipinas. This ubiquitous incidence of Filipina domestics and Overseas Filipino workers (OFW), numbering around ten million, has developed into a mind-numbing and sleep-inducing issue for cynics and skeptics. Scholars have labeled them as modern skilled servants of the global community. The arrival of at least five OFW cadavers/coffins everyday at the Manila International Airport will surely get you yawning with: “What do you expect?” and “Why do these have to happen?”

The global financial crisis that has beset capitalism has made the lives of migrant Filipinas superfluous or disposable. This

commenced in the ‘70s when the Marcos dictatorship, sustained primarily by US and IMF-World Bank, institutionalized the export of “warm bodies” to the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. In the neoliberal global market, the nationality label “Filipino” immediately developed into the connotation of “servant” or “maid” in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and elsewhere. After September 11, the terrorist Abu Sayaf in Mindanao may have eclipsed the OFWs. But with the continual brutalization of Filipinas in Okinawa, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the unsuccessful “Nicole” scandal with many more in jail or awaiting execution, their predicament will persist to haunt the conscience of Church and civic leaders. It may even perturb the siesta of State functionaries and political leaders whose salaries and kickbacks depend on OFW remittances.

The worse is that nowadays, the advocacy for a green world has not sanitized the green thought towards Filipinas a mail-order-brides who are looking for greener pastures.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Body Shape Fashion Tips

Every Filipina wants to feel and look great. Some women want to look good for their husbands or boyfriends, some for strangers they don't even know and some want it for themselves. The reasons m

ight be different but they can't achieve it without some right body shape fashion tips.

I think I can speak for most women and say that one of the most difficult things in our lives is to accept our bodies the way they are, especially when they are not perfect. And usually they're not. But when you can achieve that and find inner peace between you and your body, you'll stop stressing out about your size and start to concentrate on more important things in your life.

The first step to achieve that is to find out what body shape you are and then use mine great body shape fashion tips to disguise your flaws and show the best assets of your body.

There are four common body shapes – pear, apple, hourglass and rectangle. Probably the most common type is pear. Pears have their upper body smaller than lower and when they gain weight it usually goes to their hips and thighs. Because the lower body is larger than the upper one, it's important for pears to find a balance between the two. So if your body shape is pear you should wear fitted tops in bright and light colours with different prints and to make your hips and legs look slimmer you should wear A – line or flared skirts. If you prefer jeans you should wear wide – leg or straight legged jeans in darker colours. Another great fashion tip from mine body shape fashion tips is that if you want to bring attention to your neck and face rather then to your hips, you should wear necklaces and earrings.

Apples have their upper body larger than lower and if they gain weight it usually goes to their waistline. So it's im

portant to draw attention from your waist to your legs. So wear jeans that have a flat front and have back pockets that can give a little bit of curve to your flatter rear. You should stay away from jeans that are too tight as they will make you look even bigger on the top. If you prefer skirts, wear A – line skirts or short skirts that are 1 to 5 inches above the knee. The tops you shouldn't wear with those jeans and skirts are dark tops with too many patterns. And because apples have larger breast don't forget that very important is the right bra.

If you're lucky enough to have an hourglass figure, you've found a balance that most of us, especially pears, are looking for. Because your shoulders and curvy hips are equal in size, you don't have to be afraid of patterns and you should go for tops with V – neck and wear some stretch denim jeans with larger hips and smaller waist. As for skirts you should wear ¾ length or full length skirts. Probably the most valuable of all body shape fashion tips for women with an hourglass figure is – don't hide your body by wearing some baggy clothes.

If you have a rectangle figure you definitely have great legs and you should show them by wearing jeans with a low – rise and with back pockets that will make your bottom look fuller. Or you can wear pencil, A – lined or flared skirts. Because your figure is straight up and down you shouldn't wear vertical patterns as they will make you look even thinner, but rather wear scoop neck or V – neck tops that will make you look curvier.

We are all different in the way we look but we have one thing in common, we always find something we don't like about our bodies. So make the first step to change and find out what your body shape is a

nd use mine body shape fashion tips as they can help you to take the focus of your problem areas and emphasize what is positive on your body. They can even save your time when shopping, as quite often we buy clothes that are unflattering for our figure because they don't have the right cut, colour or print.

And there's another aspect where mine body shape fashion tips can be very useful. They can help you to become more confident, because the way you feel determines the way you look. So feel confident and it definitely will show.

About The Author

Sue Clark has found out while writing this article that her body shape is pear and has started to use the above mentioned body shape fashion tips to buy the right clothes for her body. And she feels great and confident and wants to help other women to achieve the same. So find out what body shape you are and use our body shape fashion tips to disguise your flaws and show the best assets of your body. If you are looking for more articles and maybe some great outfit follow this link - http://branded-clothes-4u.com The author invites you to visit: http://branded-clothes-4u.co.uk

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Filipina Lady - Who is She

A Filipina Lady strives to fulfill her dreams, she is kindhearted, shows respect to both young and old, she laughs, she cries, she triumphs, she fails, but she will always stand up, and say I'm a Filipina. I'

m proud of where I came from, I'm proud of my country, I'm proud of being a Pinay, I'm proud to be a Filipino.

The Philippines has many affinities with the Western world, derived mainly from the cultures of Spain, Latin America, and the United States. After the Japanese were defeated in 1945, the Philippines was granted independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. The Philippines constitutes an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 sq mi) and is the world's 12th most populous country, with a population of over 85 million as of 2005. The history of the Philippines can be divided into four distinct phases: the pre-Spanish period (before 1521); the Spanish period (1521-1898); the American period (1898-1946); and the post-independence period (1946-present). Many say that the American period had the most influence on today's Filipino. In 1987, the Philippine Constitution was changed to make Filipino and English both the official languages.

Filipina Lady Attraction
Many ask why so many western men are attracted to Filipina Ladies, especially Americans. It is the simplicity of their values with a mixture of American influence that seems to attract most men. In the Asian world, the Philippines is the largest English speaking country. This

makes communication easier for men who find the Filipina beauty alluring and friendly. If a man is searching for a non-western lady with Asian values, the language barrier is not a factor when getting to know these ladies. The Philippines is also one of the largest Christian countries in Asia and it is the world's fifth largest Catholic Nation. Because of Western influence, finding common ground with a Filipina Lady can easily be established. However, the Western world is not without its rudeness. A number of Filipina Ladies find derogatory names like "foreign bride" or "mail order bride" being disrespectful to their culture and gender. As one well informed Filipina Lady said: “when it comes to respect and morality the Philippines is not a 3rd world country – the U.S. government. with their imposing will of what they deem is good for the world gets the title of 3rd world ignorance for disrespecting people and their culture."

Filipina Lady Reputation
The Western world of morality as they see fit has insulted many Filipina women. There is an onslaught of Western feminism tying to impose their point of view without knowing her identity, her values, her upbringing, her experiences, and concerns. As usual

, it is the government imposing their will backed by political hags that are out of touch of what it takes to survive as an average citizen. Instead of asking the folks who actually have to live life, political ambitions continue to impose what they think is right for the average citizen to further their own political endeavors and wealth. This alienation perpetrates most Filipina Ladies’ reputation in a bad light instead of protecting it. As one Filipina Lady said: “if the government is involved on my behalf, they need to live my life before they impose their will – I”m not forced to do anything I don’t want to do when given free will – only the government forces me to do what I find insulting and unnecessary." Most Filipina Ladies who join a dating site do so for the right reasons (see Filipina Lady) They may be tagged by politicians and special interest groups as helpless victims, but many find that the ignorance lies within the government policy to take away their individual rights by using the helpless victim tag as a means to promote their own selfish agenda for individual gain. To them the political agenda is obvious, while the vast majority wants and needs are ignored in favor of a few who prostitute their unfortunate story as being the truth of many. Nothing could be so wrong as the government’s unwillingness to talk to those who know the truth and use fabrication to further their agenda and individual wealth. The government coul

d learn a lot about morality from a simple Filipina Lady who knows what is best for her and how to live life.

Filipina Lady – She is
Who is she? An individual with much to offer. Desired for her beauty that is reflected in her character as a person, not as a governmental pawn for political agendas. If you ask her what her agenda may be and you don’t agree, give her respect, give her free will and give her the ability to choose for herself as long as she is not harming others. She may be many things to many people, but let her decide who she wants to be. She is Filipino, a lady from the Philippines that is as proud as any woman from any country whom endearingly is known to most of us as a Filipina Lady.

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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Filipinos were spellbound by Cory Magic

Today, millions of Filipinos and people around the world will pay their last respect to former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. Tita Cory, as she is fondly and respectfully called, could not help but enthrall the heart and minds of so many people in her lifetime, in he

r death, and in her funeral today. The color yellow doesn’t stand anymore for cowardice, but strength, unity, democracy, integrity, sacrifice and spirituality. What is in this Filipina, who was a housewife and a widow, which captured the Pinoy consciousness?

She was a woman of simplicity, honesty, and integrity. This was how most of her family and close friends remembered the late President Cory. She was a woman who was never extravagant, yet full of love and always ready to share whatever she had. Simplicity characterized her in her lifetime. She is the most credible and outstanding embodiment of integrity. She nicely treats people around her, no matter how big or small. She is a loving sister and most of all, a great mother, having been able to raise “refined, responsible and beautiful offsprings,” despite the absence of her husband, Senator Benign

o “Ninoy” Aquino who was killed at the tarmac upon his return to the Philippines in 1983. It was his death that sparked People Power revolution, which catapulted his widow to power in 1986.

Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., who flew straight from New York to pay his last respects to the former president, said "Gratitude for the services she had rendered our country. She had a purity of heart, the sincerity of purpose... made perfect by her humility and deep spirituality. In life she was with us. In death she should be more with us." Malacanang has declared today as an official non-working holiday as the current President pays

also her respect to Tita Cory.

Even the Marcoses who were thrown out of power by the peaceful Edsa Revolution led by Cory and who were believed to be responsible for Cory’s husband’s death have offered their prayers and condolences to the Aquino family. The Aquinos and the Marcoses—at least the children---appeared to have finally have buried the political hatchet following their visit at the wake of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday. The paying of tributes and respects continued as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos from all walks of life and foreigners queued a one-kilometer line just to visit the wake of the Tita Cory. Just like the phenomenal Edsa revolution, yellow confettis showered from the buildings of Makati and yellow clothes continue to be worn by multitudes who throng the streets.

Corazon Aquino anchored her entire private and public life on her faith in God. She truly has fought a good fight. She has finished the course. At the Manila Cathedral where her remains lied in state, tributes poured for the late president. They honored her as a mother, friend, confidant, boss, and tower of strength and fortitude in trying and worst of times. In their tributes, 20 individuals closest to Mrs. Aquino shared how they personally witnessed her faith—in God, the goodness of people, and in the Filipino people. They said these are her legacies.

Again, it seems that Filipinos are one with the aspirations of Cory. The Cory phenomenon reiterates once and for all that our struggle for real democracy, public service.and a good life for Filipinos should be lived in the simple requirements of harmony, righteousness, honesty, integrity and sincerity. This is where her magic lies. Her fight against corruption and ills of governance ran parallel to her struggle against cancer. Should we let her magic bird fly and disappear and replaced with a hanky that wipes the hands of the corrupt, the indifferent, and the selfish? Will the color yellow finally turn into green? Should this online sensation affect the borderlines of Pinoy politics for 2010? The magic seen is sometimes different with the lesson learned. We cross our fingers then we hold our hands for prayers. May she rest in peace!

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