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Martini Thursday!!!


Black Cherry Pomegranate Martini

Greetings Divas and Gents! And welcome once again to Martini Thursday! Tonight, I am happy to be bring you a recipe all the way from Texas…I’ll explain. This past Saturday, I journeyed to San Antonio, Texas to attend a professional conference. While I enjoyed myself and learned a ton of new information related to my profession, I am absolutely exhausted! I am so exhausted, in fact, that I am actually falling asleep while typing this post. Such is the life of a Professional Diva!

Although my bed is calling me, I will not allow my utter tiredness deprive you of another great martini recipe. This week, I present to you the Black Cherry Pomegranate Martini. I stumbled upon the Black Cherry Pomegranate Martini while networking at the bar in the hotel where the conference was being held. Four martinis later, it dawned on me that I should totally scope out the recipe to share with you all. And so I did!

Please be forewarned that the Black Cherry Pomegranate Martini does not have a real alcoholly taste (is that a word?), but it sneaks up on it! And now I present the Black Cherry Pomegranate Martini!

Ingredients
2 oz Black Cherry Flavored Vodka
2 oz Pomegranate Liqueur
1 oz Cranberry Juice
Maraschino Cherry for Garnish
Ice

Recipe
1. In a shaker, combine Vodka, Pomegranate Liqueur, Cranberry Juice, and Ice. Shake!
2. Drop a Maraschino Cherry in the bottom of a chilled martini glass.
3. Strain mixture into martini glass.

That’s it! Really simple, and definitely delicious. Great big shout out to the city of San Antonio…thanks for having me! Have a great weekend! And Drink Responsibly!


Shop With Purpose!

Greetings Divas and Gents! I'm sure you are painfully aware of the fact that the month of September is on its way out, and October is quickly approaching. As you may also be aware, the month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, and is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women of all races. Additionally, the American Cancer Society estimates that 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in 2011. This is clearly a serious health crises, for both men and women, and I relish at any opportunity to help organizations dedicated to finding a cure.


Lucky for me, and you, the month of October is filled with may ways for the common consumer (us) to lend ourselves to the cause while embarking on one of our favorite hobbies: SHOPPING! Throughout the month of October, several entities will feature opportunities for us to score fabulous items for our wardrobes, jewelry boxes, and homes with some or all of the proceeds being donated to organizations dedicated to eradicating this disease. I have poured through tons of magazines and websites to find campaigns for you all. This post is a result of my diligence! Please feel free to thank me in advance for your new additions.....joking! But seriously, enjoy the deals and remember the cause. Breast cancer affects all of us... let's shop while kicking its ass!



The Pink Pony Fund of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation

With a focus on breast cancer, Pink Pony supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities. 10% of proceeds from Pink Pony products benefits the Pink Pony Fund. To view Pink Pony Product, Shop Here! For more information on the Pink Pony Fund, Click Here!



Pandora
The Pandora Jewelry company supports Breast Cancer Awareness by donating 5% of the proceeds from its Komen charm and pendant purchases to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you are a Pandora charm and/or pendant collector and would like to purchase, Shop Here! For more information on Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Click Here!





Saks Fifth Avenue
You guys are going to LOVE this one! Throughout October, Saks Fifth Avenue will be selling its Key To The Cure t-shirt, which was deigned by Elie Tahari exclusively for Saks. 100% of the proceeds from the purchase of the t-shirt will be donated to local and national women's cancer charities. Additionally, Saks will donate 2% of sales from October 20th through October 23rd, up to $500,000, to local and national women's cancer charities. Perfect! For more information, Click Here!





Ford Motor Company Warriors in Pink
In an effort to strengthen Ford's commitment to the breast cancer cause, Warriors in Pink wear and gear display the symbols of the Warrior in the year’s most fashion-forward colors and styles. 100% of the net proceeds of Warrior in Pink purchases go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To purchase Warriors in Pink wear and gear, Shop Here! For more information on Warriors in Pink, Click Here!

KitchenAid Cook for the Cure

Cook for the Cure is a program that gives people who love cooking a chance to help support the fight against breast cancer. To this end, KitchenAid provides a variety of kitchen appliances in various shades of pink: hand mixers, stand mixers, food processors, blenders, and choppers. In connection with the Cook fo rthe Cure program, KitchenAid will donate a minimum of $450,000 in 2011 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information and to purchase these special edition KitchenAid product, Shop Here!



Estée Lauder
In October, Estée Lauder will release its jeweled pink ribbon refillable compact to show support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Estée Lauder recognizes that breast cancer doesn't just affect women; as such, this year's compact has a blue stone to represent the 1% of men who are affected. The golden compact is filled and refillable with Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder, and is beautifully boxed with a velvety pouch.
Estée Lauder will donate 20% of the suggested retail price of its Pink Ribbon Collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To purchase the jeweled pink ribbon compact, Shop Here!For more information on the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Click Here!



Here are just a few. Be sure to check this post regularly, as I will continue to add additional campaigns as I find them. Enjoy!

Happy Friday!!!


Here's a little something to start your weekend off right! This song always makes me feel happy whenever I hear it. In the spirit of sharing, please allow me to send a little happiness your way. Have a great weekend!


 

So tonight
Gotta leave that nine to five up on the shelf
And just enjoy yourself
Groove
Let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall



Martini Thursday!!!


Woo Woo-tini

Happy Thursday Divas and Gents! And welcome to another rousing edition of Martini Thursday! For those of you who are new to the Chronicles, Martini Thursday is that time of the week when I like to share tasty martini recipes for my readers to responsibly enjoy as they venture into the weekend. Sometimes the recipes are simple to make, and some take a little extra time. In any event, they are all delicious...I think!

This week, I wanted to transform one of my favorite cocktails into a martini. The Woo Woo, which combines cranberry and peach flavors with a splash of vodka, is a sweet, tangy, and sexy cocktail. If you like the Woo Woo and are looking for a new way to amp it up, try the Woo Woo-tini. It incorporates the same ingredients as the Woo Woo cocktail, and it’s easy to make. Check it out, and let me know how it moves you!


Ingredients
3 oz of Your Favorite Vodka
1 oz Peach Schnapps
1 oz Cranberry Juice
Fresh Cranberries for Garnish
Ice

Recipe
1. In a shaker, combine Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Cranberry Juice, and Ice. Shake!
2. Drop a couple of cranberries in the bottom of a chilled martini glass.
3. Strain mixture into martini glass.

Voila! Easy! You will let me know if you enjoy it, right? Have a great weekend! And Drink Responsibly!



Beat Breast Cancer!



Divas get in here! I’ve got something very important to share with you. Have any of you heard of the Breast Examination Center of Harlem? If not, you are in for a real treat! As we all know, breast cancer is a devastating disease that has affected many of us, either directly or indirectly. What we all should know is that one way to fight breast cancer is routine testing and early detection.

Since 1979, the Breast Examination Center of Harlem (“BECH”), an outreach program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, has screened over 200,000 women for breast cancer. Amazing, right? What’s more amazing is that there are still so many women, and men, in the NYC area that are unaware of the services offered by BECH. (WHAT!!!)  So here’s what I want all of my fellow Professional Divas to do: please share this information with everyone you know in the NYC area about BECH. With your help, we can spread the message that early detection is one of the keys to fighting this disease.

As I suspect, Professional Divas are always keen on doing research before we put information out into the universe. As such, here is a list of free, high quality services offered by BECH:

Breast-Cancer Screening - One of BECH’s specially trained nurse practitioners will give you a physical examination. She will feel your breasts and underarms for lumps or anything else unusual. Every woman should see a health-care professional for this kind of exam every year. 

Mammograms - BECH offers mammography, a procedure which uses x-rays to produce a picture of the breast. Mammography is the most widely used method for detecting breast cancer.

Pelvic Examinations and Pap Smears - During the pelvic examination, a nurse practitioner will gently press on your abdomen to feel the organs in your pelvis (uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum) for anything unusual about their size or shape. During this exam, she will also take a few cells from your cervix to check for cancer or other conditions, such as sexually transmitted diseases. This test is called a Pap smear.  

Counseling - If the nurse finds a lump or anything else unusual in your breasts or if the results of your Pap smear are not normal, one of our counselors will give you advice about other tests or procedures we may recommend. The counselor will carefully explain the test or procedure to you; she will also advise you about getting a second opinion before choosing treatment. She will encourage you to ask questions and to tell her about any concerns you may have. And she will give you some written material that will help explain these recommendations to you and your family.

Patient Follow-up - If all of your test results at BECH are normal, you will be advised to return to BECH in a year for routine cancer screening. If you are at high risk for developing cancer, because other women in your family have had breast cancer, for instance, or if BECH recommends more tests, BECH will set up an appointment for you to come back sooner for a follow-up visit.

Education - During your visit, BECH will show you how to do simple, at-home exams of your breasts every month. BECH also takes their educational programs in breast self-examination (BSE) techniques to many places in the community. Video presentations, workshops, and seminars on BSE and other women's health issues have been held throughout New York in churches, senior-citizen centers, schools, businesses, street fairs, even detention centers. If you are interested in having BECH come to your church or other group, please call the health educator at (212) 531-8000.

More About BECH

The Breast Examination Center of Harlem houses 15 full-time staff, comprised of the Program Director, a health educator, mammography technicians, patient navigators, session assistants, plus other administrative support staff. The Breast Examination Center of Harlem has received many awards for its outreach accomplishments, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Certificate of Merit.

Please note that some tests or procedures, such as removal of lumps, are not done at BECH, but they can help you make arrangements for them. If you need one of these tests, your counselor will explain the test to you, give you advice, and discuss any of your questions or concerns. She will also give you information about where you can get these tests. If you wish, she will make the appointment for you.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact BECH at:

163 West 125th Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10027
(212) 531-8000.

Also, please visit The Breast Examination Center of Harlem’s website at:  


This is SUPER IMPORTANT! 
Please help me spread the word!

Pretty Purposeful!


Happy Sunday Divas! And welcome to what will be a fabulous and productive work week…I’m claiming it early! I wanted to start this week off by extending an offer to my fellow Professional Divas. But first a question…What would you say if I told you that purchasing a new lipstick could help in the fight against domestic violence? Intrigued?

If the answer is yes, I’ve got an offer, and a challenge, for you. From now through December 15th, Mary Kay® Cosmetics will offer the Limited Edition Beauty that Counts™ Mary Kay® Creme Lipstick in three beautiful shades: Give Hope, Give Joy, and Give Dreams. With each lipstick purchase, Mary Kay will donate $1 to the Mary Kay Foundation to aid in the foundation's efforts to end domestic violence. When I first heard about this campaign, I immediately thought to myself “what a great idea!” I love lipstick, and I love great causes. What a great way to combine two loves into one! Check out the beautiful shades below!


Give Dreams

Give Hope

Give Joy

 This is the fourth year of Mary Kay’s Beauty That Counts™ campaign; however, over the past 10 years, the Mary Kay Foundation has awarded over $25 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention.

So now for the challenge! I challenge each of my fellow Professional Divas to step out against domestic violence by purchasing a Beauty that Counts™ lipstick….or two….or all three! Each lipstick cost $13, and $1 will be donated to the Mary Kay Foundation. If you are up for the challenge, shoot me an email at theprodiva@gmail.com for more information. Or send me a message on Twitter (@theprodiva). Or leave a message in the Comments section below. Thanks in advance, and have a wonderful week!

___________________________











The mission of The Mary Kay Foundation is two-fold:


1. We are committed to eliminating cancers affecting women by supporting top medical scientists who are searching for a cure for breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers.
 
2. We are committed to ending the epidemic of domestic violence by providing grants to women's shelters and supporting community outreach programs.
Since the Foundation began in 1996, it has granted $25 million dollars to organizations fighting cancer and violence against women.

For more information Click Here!



 
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