Hello everyone! If you are in a fashion-related industry, it's time to join the premier network for designers of color! It's brand new and we are looking to get the showcasing, announcements and discussions going! Join Shades of Chic now!
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Posted by Posh Affairs on April 10, 2008 at 2:39am
Posh Affairs is a wedding & social event planning boutique serving the MD, DC and VA vicinity. Posh Affairs’ goal is to free brides and grooms from the stresses of planning and allow them to enjoy the process and most importantly the wedding day. In honor of your special day, we are sponsoring a contest! We will award one couple a FREE package of services:“High Class Package”The High Class Package is an appropriate selection for the bride and groom who have secured most of their vendors, but values the resources and expertise of a wedding planner to avoid costly mistakes. Posh Affairs will review plans with the bride and groom to review contracts and become familiar with the venues and vendors. We will then manage the vendors and create a master timeline that all vendors will be expected to follow to ensure your wedding day is a Posh Affair! Other details will be discussed with the winning couple.To enter: Please write a short essay (minimum of 300 words) of why you should be chosen as the winning couple. You could write about your romantic proposal, the story of your courtship, or even some hardship that the two of you have overcome, that has made your relationship stronger. What makes the two of you unique as a couple?Please submit your entry to Info@MyPoshAffair.com with the subject name “High Class Package Entry”.Winners must be 18 years or older. Contest will begin on 4/10/08 and end on 6/30/08. Winners will be announced on Monday, July 7, 2008. Winners will be asked to sign a waiver form if they would like their names and images posted on our website. Wedding must take place on or before 12/31/2008. This contest is open to residents MD, DC and Northern Virginia.If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us.Have A Posh Day!
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Charity is ALWAYS IN FASHION!!! Our Fashion Event: A Fashion Experience will be held on April 19, 2008 at The ABC, 5355 Hunter Rd, Atlanta. Support Charity while reviewing the Springs Hottest Footwear and Designs from Atlanta's own and other National A List Brands! Bring a pair of shoes to be donated to Ghana, Africa and receive $5 off of admission. Admission without shoes is $25. We are trying to raise 1000 pair to send to Ghana and with your help, we can! Many children & adults in Ghana, have no shoes, are subject to infections that can quickly turn deadly. We realize that we cannot save the world, but we will take what God has given us and use it for good. Show your support and bring your shoes!!!Breast Cancer is a devastating disease that affects thousands families every year. Although the disease is present in an individual, the effects are felt throughout the entire family. Spouses, children, grandchildren, and so on. Many of these women and their families suffer the effects of breast cancer. During chemo treatments, these women are tired, exhausted, and unable to do the simplest tasks, not because they don't want, to, but because the treatments make these simple tasks, very difficult. An organization called, The Journey, Inc. steps in to fill these gaps. The Journey, Inc. located in GA, provides women with resources to help keep their lives normal and manageable so that they can focus on wellness and survival. Come out to our fashion event and support The Journey with your attendance. We currently have 2 shows scheduled. If we are able to increase attendance to a third show, 50% of the proceeds will be donated to The Journey! Support Breast Cancer and spread the word about the Fashion Event! Any woman wearing pink will receive $5 off of Admission and $5 will be donated to The Journey for every ticket!While we believe in supporting international efforts, we also believe in supporting home. We will make a donation to a local children's charity in Atlanta, that is working to make a difference in children's lives.For more information about A Fashion Experience, email us at innovationcenter@shustylzevents.com or call us at 866.599.6927. There are a few vendor spaces available at only $100 each so get yours before their gone!Not JUST Another Fashion Show, but it will be: A Fashion EXPERIENCE!2Kings 4:8-37www.ShuStylz.com
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It is time! I am so excited at the opportunities that Soul Purpose can and will create for us, I can hardly contain it. Join me in spirit as all across the country, there will be official Launch Parties introducing an awesome new product and opportunity.Let's Get it Started!!
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Greetings everyone,Our show has been honored to have Ms. Jill Lublin, Bestselling Author of the GUERILLA PUBLICITY and NETWORKING MAGIC on April 10th 12:30 p.m. EST.We invite everyone who is into "networking" and to some of you who need some tips in "self-publicity" - hear it from the expert.But here's more - ask her - yes, ask Jill.Email us your questions at theshow@inmypajamas.net and on the subject line please write ASK JILL. You can state your name and your state or if you prefer to be anonymous, just say "anonymous" but state where are you from.We will accept questions as late as 9:00 p.m. (PST) tonight, April 9.Thanks and looking forward to receive your questions.In My Pajamas Show
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MoisturizersMoisturizing is an important step that helps your foundation goes on smoothly and evenly. Make sure to begin with a freshly washed face, then apply your moisturizer. It’s best applied to a damp face because it goes on more evenly. Moisturizer evens the skin’s porosity and is most effective when it’s left to absorb for a few minutes before you apply your makeup. You can use a light moisturizer or a heavy one; just make sure you choose the right one for your particular skin type.•Moisturizers for normal skin are usually light to help even out any dry areas.•Moisturizers for dry skin are usually higher in emollients and are richer.•Moisturizers for sensitive skin are fragrance and irritant-free•Moisturizers for oily skin are extremely light and won’t clog pores. Many have oil-absorbing properties in them that actually help control the oil. Oily skin needs moisturizer, because it can often be over-dried by cleansers. The body is so smart; it actually produces more oil to compensate for the over-dryness, which only makes the complexion appear greasier. A light moisturizer keeps oily skin from producing more oil and can help even out its porosity.TIP:Moisturizing your lips before applying lip color will help it go on more smoothly.For great moisturizers go to: www.marykay.com/cmitcham/skincare//moisturization/default.aspx
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Friday, March 28, 2008What a difference!March is my favorite month. It is the month of my birth and I enjoy celebrating my birthday. In addition, it is the time that I set my goals. Goal setting is great. However, setting goals is nothing until you begin to do the work. I have seen quite a difference in the few short weeks that I have acted on my goals.- business has improved (new clients)- a book and CD offer is in the works- booked more speaking engagementsI understand that there are so many reasons why one would hesitate on working towards their goals as it has a lot to do with timing, confidence, other work or family obligations, nay-sayers, etc.It is safe to say that there will always be challenges. Some days will be great and others will not be so great. The best approach that has worked for me is to understand that I have to be true to myself. My goals will not appeal to everyone as they are my goals. I do not look for validation from others - it can be quite a downer. I trust that I am being led in the direction that I must go in order to complete my assigned task. We must not underestimate our purpose - no matter how small or simple it may appear.The Wright brothers goal was to build an airplane - they worked on it through various stages. Could you just imagine how they were probably deemed as lunatics? How are they going to defy gravity and get something to travel around in the air? Thanks to their ability to go forth and follow their goals we can now travel to states, islands and other countries in a shorter time than by other modes of transportation.I encourage you set your goals and work on them - you will see a difference...........Again, I am so pleased to report that I am making great strides - I am a work in progress.........
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Thursday, March 27, 2008An All NighterHere I am at 4:13am. I have just completed a business contract and sent it off to the prospective client. I am tired and I can't wait to sleep. However, I just had to make a note of it - I am releasing my ideas and sending them out to grow/flourish. I am so proud of what I have accomplished.I researched, revised and reviewed my contract. My next step is to continue on this path. I have renewed my confidence and it has energized me with other great ideas that will add to the business.Somehow, I can't wait to wake up to get back to work - more work to be done. People to respond to, people to connect with - and ideas to act on. I am certainly on a roll...........
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Stay tuned for "Tug of War: Who's man is HE really?" Written by: TheShoeLady (Natasha) & So Above Mistress (Angie & Jasmine).Are you a Mistress? Are you worth it?This book is inspired by “The black man’s guide on how to cheat on your woman”. We know that men cheat. What we need to know is why the mistress is willing to be second best. Men play the game well, but they’ve learned from the best; Women! Learn about the types of men and mistresses, all the way to how to repair your relationship. Reading this book will help those women know how to be a mistress and accept the life style and teach the men on how women can love them, guide them and dismiss them.Devaluing yourself comes with a lot of karma and consequence. Being the mistress represents everything that women should be against. However if you are going to be the other woman you need to know the rules and regulations that go along with it. Mistress’ are forgetting that they are only for a man’s temporary use. A man will hustle you and take your choice away, adding you to his payroll on his wife’s tears. The monkey bar effect of a mistress holds no real value. The mistress’s job is to stroke a man’s ego and then to send him home. The mistress should never feel that she has a chance to take the lead position. If you are a mistress, this book will show you your place and teach you how to stay in it. If you are a man, this book will show you how to be So Above Mistress.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008Work In ProgressA report is due. I am happy to share my progress - I have made the phone calls, sent the emails and business has surely picked up quite a bit. As I make the contacts, the responsibility comes with delivering the services promised. In sending out the emails, I received a response from an important prospective business contract. Procrastination can no longer hang around - it's time to get things going.I encourage you to get your thoughts into the action phase - work on them - put them out there. However, be sure to do due diligence in seeing that you have the answers ready for the inquiries of your clients. If you have to get back to your client with answers, do your best to respond in a timely manner.I strongly believe that our thoughts and ideas are for us to explore. Do not delay or else you will see them being carried out by someone else.Again, I am so pleased to report that I am making great strides - I am a work in progress.........
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Quotes1“Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option”.2“Love him or leave him but never feel that you need him.”3“Behind every successful man there is a woman, behind every unsuccessful man there are two."4“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.”~Eleanor Roosevelt5“A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't.”~Rhonda Handsome6“The hottest love has the coldest end.”~Socrates7“Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together.”~Anonymous8“I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try.”-- Nikki Giovanni9“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved.”-- Barbara Johnson10“True forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past could have been different.”11“You never find yourself until you face the truth.” (Mistress)-- Pearl Bailey12“I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become.”-- Oprah Winfrey13“I trust that everything happens for a reason, even when we're not wise enough to see it.”-- Oprah Winfrey14“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.”-- Oprah Winfrey15“What I know for sure is that what you give comes back to you.”-- Oprah Winfrey16“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.”-- Oprah Winfrey17“Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.”-- Maya Angelou18“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”-- Maya Angelou19“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”-- Maya Angelou20“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”-- Maya Angelou21“A man travels all over the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” (Men)-- George Moore chapter 1 bitch he ‘s married22“As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just, watch what they do.”-- Andrew Carnegie23“If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”-- Harry S. Truman24“If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don't, you will find an excuse.”-- Anonymous25“Nothing hurts more than realizing he meant everything to you, but you meant nothing to him.”~ Anonymous26“The worst way to love someone is to sit next to them, knowing they don’t love you back.”~ Anonymous27“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”28“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask the question, the answer is always no, if you don’t step forward you’ll always be in the same place.”~Nora Roberts29”A real man doesn’t make excuses, he makes it happen.”
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008I Quit - I Give Up!Yes, I am a quitter. I am giving up. I am no longer making to do lists only to do other things rather than focus on my list. I have great plans and I recognize that I am not accomplishing anything by keeping those plans hostage in my mind.Today, I am going to make some great accomplishments.- make the phone calls- send out the emails- research informationIt's early and I have a lot of work to do. I promised myself that 2008 will be a successful year. Today, I am making sure that I follow through with my to do list - I am holding myself accountable. I must go - there is work that must be done.
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Palimony is an award of support, similar to alimony, in which the couple were not married but lived together for a long period and then terminated their relationship. A determining factor in awarding such support is whether there was an agreement that one partner would support the other in return for the second making a home and performing other domestic duties beyond sexual pleasures. However, not all courts require cohabitation as a prerequisite to the finding of an implied agreement between unmarried persons concerning their property.In 1976, Michelle Marvin unsuccessfully sued her boyfriend, Lee Marvin claiming that they had a marriage like relationship and that she was entitled to his property as if they were married. However, the court said that she did have a right to sue based on her claims of a significant relationship arising out of cohabitation and that others could follow in her footsteps. This broke ground for a new breed of lawsuits and appellate decisions as the courts continue to determine this new area of law. This type of suit is now referred to as a "Marvin" action or, less formally, as a palimony suit.Generally, a palimony plaintiff must prove some other underlying basis for his or her claim, such as an express or implied contract. In California and certain other states, the courts enforce most agreements between unmarried cohabitants regarding their property. These agreements fall into three categories: implied, oral , and written.Implied Agreements: Implied agreements are unspoken "understandings" between two people which can be implied from their conduct. A jury may find that the cohabitants had an "understanding" that one person would always support the other, even if the relationship broke up, based on past behavior of providing financial support.Oral Agreements: An oral agreement is an agreement made through spoken words and are difficult to prove, especially when memories fade or a party to the agrement isn't truthful.Written Agreements: Written agreements are the preferred form of agreement for allowing the parties to communicate and clarify their expectations of each other. Written agreements may avoid many of the problems of proof of intentions and expectations involved in oral and implied agreements.Other theories on which a palimony suit can be based include promissory estoppel and quantum merit.
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Alienation of AffectionDefinition:An alienation of affection lawsuit is one in which a spouse can sue a third party if his or her partner leaves the relationship for another person.To win, an alienation of affection lawsuit needs to prove that:Love between the married spouses must have existed.The marital love must have been alienated and destroyed.The third party's conduct has to be proved to be malicious interference with the marriage relationship.Most states in the United States have abolished this type of lawsuit as it is considered to be archaic and an unacceptable form of revenge.Historically, the alienation of affection law was based on the belief that a wife was the property of her husband. Therefore, when a woman was emotionally or sexually involved with another man, she was considered to have been stolen.Those who want the alienation of affection laws to remain believe that alienation of affection lawsuits protect traditional marriage.But don’t get this twisted to feel like you can do what you want to do, for example:There are some states in the United States that still allow alienation of affection lawsuits.As of 7/2007, these states are: Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.
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Last Minute Tax TipsMost of us welcome the middle of April - the weather finally starts to show some of the promise of Spring, letting us know that Summer can't be far behind. For a few harried individuals, however, this time of year is the start of nail-biting, hope-I-didn't-forget-anything dash of paperwork in order to meet the IRS's filing deadline on the 15th. If you're one of these bleary-eyed souls, this last minute guide is for you.Beat the DeadlineIn order to be considered on time, your return must be properly addressed and postmarked no later than April 15. That doesn't mean that you have until the 15th to start your taxes, however. Procrastinating until the last minute can easily cause you to miss potential sources of tax savings and will put you in far greater jeopardy of making mistakes.File a Paperless ReturnFiling your return online can be far easier than putting pen to paper the old fashioned way. A number of professional tax return preparers offer electronic filing of tax returns in addition to their normal return preparation services. In most cases these e-filing services do a good job of guiding you through the entire filing process. Most charge a modest fee and offer a range of additional e-filing products for those who need additional assistance.In addition to being fairly easy, e-filing is the typically the quickest and most accurate method of filing tax return. If you're due a refund, the waiting time for e-filers is half that of paper filers. By filing online you also have the option to have any refund directly deposited into your bank account. Almost 80 million taxpayers filed their returns electronically in last fiscal year.Payment OptionsIf you can't immediately pay the full balance of taxes you owe, there are still alternatives available to you. You can apply for an IRS installment agreement, using their new Online Payment Agreement application on IRS.gov. This Web-based tool allows qualified taxpayers or their official representatives to self-qualify, apply for, and receive immediate notification of approval. You also have a number of options for charging your balance on a credit or debit card. There is no IRS fee for credit or debit card payments, but the processing companies will charge a convenience fee. E-filers with a balance due may pay their taxes directly from their checking or savings account on the April due date with no service fee.ExtensionsShould you find that you are unable to file by the due date of your return, you can request an extension of time to file. However, it's important to note that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You will owe interest on any past-due tax and you may be subject to a late-payment penalty if payment is not made timely. To receive an automatic 6-month extension of time to file your return, you must file Form 4868 by the due date of your return.Joint ReturnsIf you are married and will be filing a joint return, remember that both husband and wife must sign the return. If your spouse cannot sign (because of disease or injury) and requests that you sign the return, you should sign your spouse's name in the proper place followed by the word "by" your signature, followed by the word "husband" or "wife". Don't forget to also sign in the space provided for your own signature. In addition, you must attach a statement that includes the form number of the return you are filing, the tax year, the reason your spouse cannot sign the return, and a statement that your spouse has agreed to your signing for him or her.Special RebateUnless you've been sleepwalking for the last few months, you probably have heard about the individual rebates that many taxpayers will be receiving as part of an economic stimulus package. Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, some 130 million Americans will receive checks entirely separate from normal refunds. The most common questions: who will be getting money, how much and when?If you earned more than $3,000 for the 2007 tax year but owed no taxes, you will get some money back. If you had any net tax liability for 2007 you should likewise seem some form of rebate. In many cases there is a rebate bonus for taxpayers who claim children (those under 17 years of age). Non resident aliens are excluded from the rebate program. The rebate amount begins filing out if your adjusted gross income is over a certain threshold ($75,000 for single filers, $150,000 for married couples filing jointly).In general, the basic rebate amounts break down as follows:Individual taxpayers could receive rebate checks ranging from $300 to $600.Married couples will get up to $1,200.Most individuals who have income of $3,000 but who do not have to file a return will get $300.Some taxpayers with children will receive an additional $300 per child.Because the IRS needs time to the normal glut of 1040s from filing season, checks will not start being issued until May at the earliest. According to the IRS, payment date will be based on the last two-digits of your Social Security number, with checks being mailed between mid-May and Mid-July. If you previously requested that your standard tax return's refund be directly deposited to your bank account, the additional rebate will likewise come through as a direct deposit.Go to the ProsIf you've decided to wait until the last minute to file your tax return, chances are this isn't the first time in your life that someone has told you to seek professional help. In all seriousness, when the deadline is fast approaching obtaining a seasoned tax expert is a sound decision. The extra care, protection and expertise that a knowledgeable tax preparer can provide are more than worth the cost of their services.
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H A I R : T H E F A C T SF A Q - Provided by Shepherd IndiaWhat is Remi Hair?Remi Hair is the premium quality of hair and is popularly known as virgin hair. Remi Hair simply is the hair-bundle, with hair arranged in such a way that the roots of all the hair in entire bundle are on one side and tip on the other side. Remi hair has its cuticles intact. In other words, all the cuticles are Unidirectional (in same direction) and are undisturbed.Remi Hair is sold in two forms:(a) Remi Hair Single Drawn: These hair are taken directly by shaving the head and hence each bundle of hair is like pony tail with different hair length with very short hair taken out. For example: in a bundle of 20" "Remi hair single drawn" you will find hair of size 14" 16", 18" 20".(b) Remi Hair Double Drawn: They are the most expensive hair. Each bundle of Hair is drawn into same size. For Example 20" of Remi Double Drawn hair-bundle will have all the hair of 20" (hair is drawn by hand, not by machine hence small error is evitable). It does not have any short hair inside. Very less people buy this kind of hair as it cost a lot.What is Non Remi Hair?Non Remi Hair is also called fallen hair. They have there roots and ends mixed up. They have problem of tangling as the cuticles are not in same direction. These hairs are not much expensive. Though these hairs have problems yet they are most selling hair in the world. The Non Remi hair is sold as Double Drawn hair and has two kinds of quality.(a) Tangle Free Non Remi Hair: These are the Non Remi Hair with cuticles shaved off. The hair does not tangle as the cuticles are smoothened up and chances of friction among them are practically zero.(b) Normal Non Remi Hair: They are the hair with tangling problems as cuticles are in different direction and hence are the cheapest in the market.What is NEW REMI HAIR?*NEW REMI HAIR* are those hair which are converted from Non-Remi Hair into Remi Hair. Conversion involves special technique that simply removes the tendency of Non-Remi hair to tangle or to form a bush. Remi hair prices soaring high, *New Remi* hair gives our customers a new alternative. Remi hair business is ruled by Temples in India, but, on the contrary *New Remi* Hair business is ruled by our valued customers throughout the World.What is a Weft?Weft or Weaving: These are the hair sewn at the top by machine or Hand. Machine sewn hair is called Machine wefts and Hand sewn hair is called hand made weft. Each weft weighs around 100 gms to110 gms or approximately 4 ounces.Remi Wefts:1. Quality A: These are the premium quality of wefts made up of India Virgin Remi hair with Cuticles intact and unidirectional. The hairs used to make these wefts are Double Drawn i.e. the entire weft has same length. For example 18" weft will have all the hair of same length (18"). It does not contain short hair.2. Quality B: These are the second quality of wefts made up of Indian Virgin Remi hair with Cuticles intact and unidirectional. The hairs used to make these wefts are Special Double Drawn i.e. the entire weft has Hair length of two inch difference. For example, 18" weft will have hair of length 15" to 18". It does not contain short hair.3. Quality C: These are the Third quality of wefts made up of Indian Virgin Remi hair with Cuticles intact and unidirectional. The hairs used to make these wefts are Single Drawn i.e. the entire weft has Hair of different length. For example, 18" weft will have hair of length 8" to 18".Non Remi Wefts:1. Quality A: This is the premium quality of wefts made up of Non Tangle free Non Remi hair with Cuticles shaved off. The hairs used to make these wefts are Double Drawn i.e. the entire weft has same length. For example 18" weft will have all the hair of same length (18"). It does not contain short hair.2. Quality B: This is the second quality of wefts made up of Tangle free Non Remi hair with Cuticles shaved off. The hairs used to make these wefts are Special Double Drawn i.e. the entire weft has Hair length of two inch difference. For example, 18" weft will have hair of length 15" to 18". It does not contain short hair.3. Quality C: This is the Third quality of wefts made up of Tangle free Non Remi hair with Cuticles shaved off. The hairs used to make these wefts are Single Drawn i.e. the entire weft has Hair of different length. For example, 18" weft will have hair of length 8" to 18".What is the difference in Chinese hair, Indian hair and European Hair?Chinese hair is very thick and strong and probably the best with disadvantage of too straight and stiff. Indian Hair is rather thin and wavy yet strong and is the most expensive hair after European hair.European hair: European hair is probably the best hair if you can find original. It is wavy soft and has a unique texture. European hair is not very strong and hence cannot take up much heat (Incase you have habit of perming and curling your hair) Most of the European hair that are sold in entire European and North American market are fake and often made up by bleaching and coloring Indian hair) point to be noted).Does soft and silky hair represents quality hair?No, Soft and Silky hair does not necessarily represent good quality. Any hair can be made soft and silky by applying silicon base conditioner and in some case direct silicon oil.
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By DAVID KAUFMANNew York Times, 9 March 2008PUEBLA may be home to classic Mexican dishes like mole poblano, but there’s more to do in this wealthy city than just eat. A two-hour drive from Mexico City past snow-capped peaks and volcanoes, Puebla, a city of some 1.3 million people, is chock full of colonial treasures, cafe-lined squares and a vibrant arts-and-crafts culture. The large historic center has been designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, new hotels are springing up, and airlines now offer easy access from the United States. But if your main obsession is food, Puebla won’t disappoint. This crayon-colored city is still considered by many to be the gastronomic capital of Mexico.Friday5 p.m.1) WHEN IN PUEBLAAs in every Mexican town, Puebla’s soul is the zócalo, the center of the old city, in this case the Plaza de la Constitución. This rectangular slice of colonial Mexican cosmopolitanism is bordered by arcaded walkways and anchored by the sprawling Catedral de Puebla, which dates from 1575. Outside, the cathedral is dominated by a pair of towers rising nearly 230 feet. Inside, its crypt betrays Puebla’s status as one of colonial Mexico’s wealthiest towns, with statues of saints and angels intricately carved from onyx, one of the city’s numerous natural resources. Gaze skyward above the cathedral’s elaborate octagonal altar; the tiled dome ceiling is modeled on that of St. Peter’s Basilica.8 p.m.2) NUEVO MEXICANThe new Purificadora hotel blends the city’s historic past — an 18th-century ice factory — with a thoroughly contemporary design by the Mexican pioneering architect Ricardo Legorreta. The colorful hotel is not only drawing stylish guests, but also hungry hipsters eager to try the nuevo-Mexicano restaurant (Callejón de la 10 Norte 802; 52-222-309-1920; www.lapurificadora.com). Overseen by the Mexico City chef Enrique Olvera, the restaurant fuses the European with the Mexican: corn risotto spiked with poblano peppers; chipotle peppers stuffed with cheese in a black bean broth; corn cakes with lime and cream cheese gelato. Dinner for two is about 900 pesos, about $82 at 10.99 pesos to the dollar.10 p.m.3) ALL NOCHE LONGAfterward, follow the stylish crowd to La Terraza, Purificadora’s rooftop bar, with its slender pool and prime views of Iglesia de San Francisco, a 16th-century church. After midnight, the party moves to La Boutique (Final de la Recta; 52-222-482-0603), a split-level nightclub with a grinding dance floor and cozy leather banquettes. On your way home, stop by Taquería los Ángeles (Avenida Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, Local 608-B; no phone) for the traditional late-night snack of tacos árabes (about 85 pesos for two).Saturday10 a.m.4) ANCIENT STAIR MASTERThe tiny town of Cholula, a few miles from Puebla, is known for two things: the great pyramid and its claim to have 365 churches — one for each day of the year. The pyramid (Zona Arqueológica del Gran Pirámide de Cholula; 55-222-247-9081), which was built in the second century B.C., is comprised of seven stacked trapezoids and is a third larger than the Great Pyramid at Giza. You can climb the massive exterior staircase or tunnel through its endless antechambers and barren tombs.11.30 a.m.5) POPO PEAKAt the very top of the pyramid is the Iglesia de los Remedios, a 16th-century church built by the Spanish to commemorate the conversion of the Aztecs to Christianity. While the church itself is not grand, the views of snow-covered Popocatépetl, among Mexico’s most-active volcanoes, are well worth the trek. On the way down, try a cup of popo — a frothy, murky brown drink made from rice, cocoa and chupipi, a regional fruit shaped like an avocado.1 p.m.6) CURIOUS QUESADILLASThe Mercado de Cholula, the town’s covered food market (Camino Real a Cholula and 20 Norte), is an action-packed nexus of butchers, fishmongers, vegetable farmers and spice sellers. Arrive hungry and skip the taquerías. Instead, grab a seat at one of the quesadillerias near the market’s rear. The corn tortillas (about 22 pesos) are thick, oblong and purple and are filled with stringy white cheese, colorful zucchini blossoms, dark huitlacoche (a mushroom that grows on ears of corn) or flecks of chicharon (fried pork skin). Stands nearby sell just-made pico de gallo and fruity juices for an easy lunch. Before leaving, pick up a packet of spicy mole paste for back home.3 p.m.7) MAYA TO MODERNAlthough it may lack the grand museums of Mexico City, Puebla’s Museo Amparo (Dos Sur 708, Centro Histórico; 52-222-229-3850; www.museoamparo.com; free admission) actually has one of Latin America’s finest collections of Mexican art. Housed in a pair of colonial buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, Amparo’s collection spans from 2500 B.C. through the present, and includes pre-Hispanic, colonial, modern and contemporary Mexican artists.5:30 p.m.8) MEXICAN MOJITOSEase back into modern-day Puebla with a menjul, a Mexican version of a mojito prepared with rum, sugar and mint. Order one at Bar Los Portales at the Hotel Royalty in the zócalo (Portal Hidalgo 8; 52-222-242-4740.). The street-front patio makes for excellent afternoon people watching.8:30 p.m.9) LIKE DINNER FOR CHOCOLATEThe highlight of any visit to Puebla is its namesake dish: mole poblano, the curry-like sauce made with 30-odd ingredients including chilies, cinnamon and chocolate. And one of the best places to taste it is at Mesón Sacristía de la Compañía (Seis Sur 304; Callejón de los Sapos; 52-222-232-4513; www.mesones-sacristia.com). Start with the flash-fried parsley, dusted in sea salt and topped by juicy shrimp. Move on to the signature mole, which comes smothered over delicate slices of chicken breast — rich, spicy and with just enough chocolate to remind you why Montezuma was so smitten with it. Housed in an 18th-century mansion, the restaurant doubles as an antiques shop where nearly everything is for sale. Dinner for two is about 600 pesos. If you like what you eat, the restaurant also offers one-to-three-day cooking classes.10:30 p.m.10) QUé PASA?Drink like a local and try a pasita, a raisin-like liqueur made from the local pasa fruit. There’s no better place to order it than La Pasita (Cinco Oriente 605; 52-222-232-4422), a tiny bar hidden near the Callejón de los Sapos, a popular flea market street. Crammed with bric-a-brac, the bar serves the liqueur in a shot glass, with either goat or panela cheese. La Pasita also serves Rompope — a type of eggnog made by local nuns — along with a clutch of other fiery brews.Sunday11 a.m.11) SESAME CEMITASWhile the rest of the city sleeps in, take a lazy stroll to the Mercado el Carmen (21 Oriente between Dos Sur and Cuatro Sur, the city’s traditional market. This is where locals shop for their mole ingredients and is known for cemitas — Puebla’s version of the Mexican torta. Follow the long lines to Cemitas las Poblanitas, where the sandwiches are made of fluffy sesame-seed rolls filled with meat, poblano peppers, white Oaxacan cheese, avocado slices and chipotles (25 pesos).Noon12) ALLEY OF THE FROGSSunday is antiques day in Puebla, and Callejón de los Sapos (Alley of the Frogs) heaves with dealers, parading everything from fine Talavera pottery to 1950s Mexican movie posters. Continue on to Barrio del Artista (Seis Oriente at Seis Norte) at the Plaza del Torno, lined with artists’ studios that display paintings on the cobblestone streets. If you have energy left, finish off at the Mercado de Artesanías (Dos Oriente at Seis Norte), an 18th-century market that carries crafts from throughout Puebla state, including colorful ponchos and stall after stall of Mexican desserts like dulces de Santa Clara. You won’t find any chocolate there.WHERE TO STAYHoused in an old ice factory, La Purificadora (Callejón de la 10 Norte 802; 52-222-309-1920; www.lapurificadora.com) opened last year across from the Puebla Convention Center and has 26 modern rooms starting at 1,994 pesos, or about $180 at 10.99 pesos to $1.The NH Puebla (Cinco Sur 105; 52-222-309-1919; www.nh-hotels.com), near the historic enter, is a modern, business-friendly hotel from the popular Spanish chain. The 128 rooms start at 1,045 pesos for a double.The Real del Cristo Hotel (Dos Oriente 1007; 52-222-246-1575) is in a charming 15th-century house. The 19 simply designed rooms overlook an airy central courtyard and start at about 400 pesos.
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09:10 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 1, 2008McClatchy NewspapersNEW DELHI – When James Payne found out he needed a liver transplant, he first tried to arrange the surgery at a top local hospital in South Florida. Doctors there told him that they couldn't schedule the procedure for a few months and that it would cost $450,000, a fortune for the uninsured former investment banker.So the 55-year-old and his wife, who planned to donate half her own liver to her husband, bought plane tickets to India instead. There, at one of New Delhi's premiere hospitals, a transplant specialist carried out the surgery for $58,000 – a price tag that included their 10-week hospital stay."If you want to live, this is where you come," said a smiling Payne, who planned to return home to Florida last month and said he would recommend his experience to anyone suffering similar problems.The number of Americans heading abroad for medical procedures is surging as the country's 46 million people without health insurance look for treatment they can afford and cash-strapped U.S. companies struggle to find cheaper ways to provide high-quality medical care to their employees, according to the American Medical Association.Mexico has long attracted American travelers looking for cut-rate cosmetic surgery or dental work, and countries like Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines continue to lure medical tourists as well. But India – 15 hours away from the U.S. by plane – is fast becoming the destination of choice for patients seeking risky high-end procedures they can't afford or can't manage to schedule with a doctor they trust at home. These include things such as heart surgery, organ transplants and orthopedic procedures such as knee replacement or hip resurfacing.Last year, the South Asian giant attracted 150,000 medical tourists from the United States, Britain, Africa and elsewhere in South Asia, largely by offering an enticing trio of advantages: highly trained English-speaking doctors, quick appointments and bargain-basement prices. In India, a heart bypass goes for $10,000 and a hip replacement for $9,000, compared with $130,000 and $43,000 respectively in the United States, the AMA said.India's initial rush of patients, however, may be nothing compared with what is to come. According to the AMA, major U.S. employers and insurers are exploring whether they could hold down soaring health-care costs by shipping their workers halfway across the world for elective surgery."Major (insurers) and employers may soon follow in the footsteps of individuals," the medical association recognized in a report released last June. It acknowledged that "prices offered to medical tourists are often 60 to 85 percent lower than insurer-negotiated charges in the U.S., a margin that easily offsets travel, first-class hotel for the patient" and other expenses.Several Fortune 500 companies and the West Virginia Legislature are among those considering bonuses – including first-class airfare and four-star hotel stays – for employees willing to undergo medical treatment abroad. And several major insurers already cover treatment programs in Mexico and Thailand, the AMA saidTraveling to India for medical care is not without its problems, of course. The country may be increasingly known for its well-educated workers, high-tech call centers and new wealth, but squalor and chaos are still regular features of life.Malpractice laws are weaker, leaving patients who run into problems while being treated with little legal recourse. Patients may struggle to find U.S. doctors willing to take on after-surgery care once they return home. And the lengthy flight to India may be difficult – even in business class – for anyone with a serious medical problem.But India is working hard to make traveling for surgery as appealing as possible for foreigners. The country recently created a special medical visa classification for tourists seeking health care. Some top-of-the-line hospitals and hotels are teaming up to build joint facilities. And many hospitals and medical tourism sales firms offer package deals – from airport pickup to translators and airline bookings – designed to insulate visitors from some of the country's more trying aspects.Wouter Hoeberechts, head of WorldMed Assist, the California-based firm they used, said India is the most popular destination for high-end surgeries among his patients because the costs are so low."The long travel time, the high airfare, all that is quickly forgotten because of the cost savings," he said. Patients sometimes complain about the more flexible sense of time in India – an X-ray scheduled at 10 a.m. might happen at 11:30 a.m., he said – but for the most part, "The only thing they remember is coming back with their lives, or a better quality of life."
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WHY BITCH WHY“You never find yourself until you face the truth.”-- Pearl BaileyIn order to understand the mindset of a mistress, we have to know the way they think. There are many reasons why women are willing to play second best, and we do not have enough time or energy to go into all of them, but we will explore the main ones.Like Mother, Like DaughterA woman’s first role model is her mother. Growing up, we all look at our parents as the prime example of what we think we should be like as adults. If you are raised in a household where your mother is sleeping around and seems to have no boundaries, how do you think that will affect you? Parents love to say “do as I say, not as I do”, but let’s be honest with ourselves, we do what they do. If your mother was messing with married men, who would have taught you that it was wrong? Nobody! If your mother was a hoe, nine times out of ten, you will be a hoe. There is good news, though; you can break the cycle. With a little therapy and a lot of prayer, you can begin to change your life around.Afraid of CommitmentBeing a mistress has its benefits. You have great sex, good conversation and a free pass to do whatever you want. If a man is married, he has no right to tell you what you can or cannot do. You can go out whenever you want, have as much company as you want, come in as late as you want, and he can’t say anything. He goes home to his wife every day. Some women really don’t want to be tied down. It is easier to have sex with someone that you like, than it is to work on a relationship with someone that you love. I know someone who has dated a few married men. The problem with these kinds of women is their fear of commitment comes from the pain of a past relationship. She has built up a wall that makes it hard for her to see the pain that she is causing to another woman by sleeping with that woman’s man. She is so blinded by her own pain that nothing else matters. This can become very dangerous in the long run.Hopeless RomanticThe hopeless romantic is such a silly hoe. She may watch all the movies and read all the romance novels. She believes in the fairy tale. She really believes that this man is going to fall in love with her and leave his wife. She fantasizes about the nice house and the children, as well as her wedding dress picked out in her mind. She falls in love easily and thinks that the man feels the same way about her. While this silly hoe is at work day dreaming about the life that she could have with him, his wife is at home living it.LonelinessLoneliness is a big factor in being a mistress. Some women just need a man to be around. They need attention and affection. The pathetic part is they don’t care where they get it from. She knows the man is taken. She knows that he is not leaving his wife for her. She knows that he doesn’t love her. As long as she is getting quality time, nothing else matters. These women have low self-esteem. Everyone gets lonely sometimes, but normal people can set boundaries. So to these women I say, get your shit together!Father FigureShow me a hoe, and I’ll show you a woman that has issues with her father. Maybe he was abusive, maybe he died when she was young, or maybe he just wasn’t around. Either way, she is trying to fill that void. This is the woman that has a lot of sex looking for a little bit of love. Single or married, it doesn’t matter. As long as a man is there, she’s happy.
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