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Martini Thursday!!!


Cucumber Melon Martini

Greetings Divas and Gents! Please accept my sincerest apology for posting this week's recipe so late in the evening, but I just got in from a company happy hour event. It's always fun to let loose and hang out with colleagues after a hard day's work. I also enjoy happy hour because it gives me a chance to scope out the drink menu. I always think of you when a new and exciting cocktail catches my eye, so I was super excited to rush home and share the recipe for the Cucumber Melon Martini. Now, this one may not be intriguing to the gents (at least not in public), but I am sure the divas will love it! And with only 4 simple ingredients, the Cucumber Melon Martini is a quick mix. Enjoy!

Ingredients
2 oz of Hendricks Gin
1 oz of Midori Liqueur
1/4 oz of Cucumber Juice
1 tsp of Lime Juice
Mint Leaves (For Garnish)
Ice

Recipe
1. In a shaker, combine Hendricks, Midori, Cucumber Juice, Lime Juice, and Ice. Shake!
2. Strain mixture into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with mint leaves.

Done and done! I hope that you enjoy the Cucumber Melon Martini. If so, please be sure to let me know! Have a great evening, and Drink Responsibly!



I'm Sorry, But I'm Judging!!!

Greetings Divas and Gents! Can we talk for a spell? We all have heard about the tragic shooting that occurred in Aurora, Colorado last week at a movie premiere for the Dark Knight Rises. As regular Chronicle readers are aware, I like to use this blog as a forum to discuss different topics and issues, primarily those that affect professional women. Regulars also know that I often refrain from giving strong, unyielding opinions about these topics and issues, and very rarely do I judge. Well, today is different...I'm judging!

In the wake of this tragedy, one particular story has left me completely and utterly dumbfounded...and judgy! As many news outlets tell it, a coward man named Jamie Rohrs was attending the late night screening of the Dark Knight Rises with his girlfriend Patricia and their two children (one child was approximately 4-months old). When the crazed gunman began opening fire in the movie theater, Jamie Rohrs reportedly placed the 4-month old on the floor and slid him under a seat, and then he took off. Seriously! He apparently hopped over the balcony and took off running...and he left Patricia and his children to fend for the themselves. Lucky girl! And then after he hopped over said balcony and took off running, he reportedly headed out to the parking lot and drove off...without his girlfriend and children of course because they were still in the movie theater with the gunman...being shot at!

Whereas everyone in the world who has heard this ridiculous tale of cowardice is judging Jamie Rohrs for his disgusting display of both manhood and fatherhood, there is another party to this story that deserves the proverbial side eye. A few hours later, Jamie Rohrs received a call from Patricia to inform him that she and their children were alive, even though she suffered a gun shot wound to her leg. This guy, obviously fueled with joy and relief, rushed over to the hospital in his getaway car, and promptly proposed to Patricia...the very same girlfriend that he left in the movie theater with their children while the gunman with the orange hair continued to shoot. Now, any logical human being would have snarked at this proposal. The average, sane person would think that this guy was kidding himself. If Ed Lover was at the hospital at that moment, it would not have been inappropriate for him to give Jamie Rohrs a hearty and jubilant "C'mon Son!" What I am getting at is that practically every person I have spoken to about this story thinks this guys is a complete douche. But not his girlfriend....nope...she accepted his proposal. WTF! I'M JUDGING HER!


Patricia...Girlfriend...you can't be serious? Seriously! This guy leaves you and your children in a movie theater with a lunatic of a gunman, and you say yes? This guy ran out of the movie theater and got into his car and drove off without you and your children, and you say yes? This guy doesn't go back to see if you and your children are okay, and merely waits until he receives a phone call saying that you are safe, and you say yes? That bullet hole in your leg will forever be a reminder of this selfish jackass, AND YOUR SAY YES! Come on lady!

Patricia and the Coward Jamie Rohrs on CNN

Just in case you all are wondering, Jamie Rohrs is not the definition of a "good man." This is not the guy who your parents envisioned you settling down with and starting a family. This is not the guy who you take to any future family gatherings because they may poison his food. This is not the guy that you trust with you bank account information, your social security number, your Sam's Club card, your Twitter password, or your favorite DVD. This is not the guy you lend money to until his next pay day. This is not the guy you trust to wash your laundry or do your grocery shopping, or put change in the parking meter. Why? Because this guy is UNTRUSTWORTHY, UNRELIABLE, and IRRESPONSIBLE!

As I drove to work this morning, I listened as Power 105.1's Charlamagne the God gave today's Donkey of the Day to Jamie Rohrs. I have to say that I agreed with his sentiment that a man's job is to protect his family. Charlamagne concluded in saying that in this situation, Jamie Rohrs failed his family; therefore he has failed as a man. I hope Charlamagne won't mind if I weigh in, but I think the real Donkey of the Day is Patricia...yes you Patricia! You are a donkey for accepting this guy's proposal! He has proven to you in by far the clearest way possible that he cannot and will not protect you and/or your children. In a tragic situation like this, his first thought was to ditch you and your children. He is selfish and a coward, and therefore not marryable...in my humble opinion. You can do a hell of a lot better! This guy is wack!

 Power 105.1 FM Donkey of the Day
If I have offended anyone with this rant, I'm sorry...but someone had to say it! Ladies, we cannot be this desperate to be married that we would settle for this guy. Patricia and her children are better off without him, and until she realizes this, I'M JUDGING! Great big shout out to the complete stranger who came over to help Patricia and her children get out of the movie theater alive. He stepped in and did the job that your now fiance should have done. I can't talk about this nonsense any more....
In closing, I want to say that my sincere thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims' families and friends who are forced to cope with the aftermath of this inexplicable tragedy.




Why This 8-year Old Girl Loves Being A Female!



I LOVE this! This young lady's father posted this picture on Reddit. It is his 8-year old daughter's list of things she believes make it so wonderful to be a girl. I thought it was super cute...and super accurate! I love that she recognizes (probably through the examples she has encountered in her life) that women have jobs and are creative. I also love the fact that she believes women are smart and have power. I chuckled at the other biological acknowledgments as well! Kids say the darndest things, but I think little Miss Professional Diva In Training got it right! 


What are your thoughts on why this 8-yeal old loves being a female?

Are More Professional Women Choosing to Start A Family...Minus the Man?


Greetings Divas! Let's talk! Over the past few weeks, I have had conversations with 5 different women on 5 different occasions on the topic of having children. Each of these 5 women are professionals, and have achieved a great amount of success in their respective professions. They are all smart, beautiful, at least 30 years old, and single. And here is where our discussions got interesting. Each one of these women is contemplating having children without having a significant other.

Here's the thing...many of these women, like myself, decided to complete all of their schooling and establish themselves in there chosen professions prior to getting married and starting a family. Now, depending on your career path, schooling can take some time. Take my doctor friend for example. She graduated from college at age 21, obtained her Masters in Public Health at age 23, earned her medical degree at age 28, and finished her residency at age 32. Somewhere between her Masters and medical programs, she broke up with her longtime boyfriend...he wanted to get married and start a family right away, and she wanted to finish school first...they parted ways amicably. She is now 34 and working as a pediatrician. She is fabulousness personified! She is also single, and ready to have children "without a man." When I asked her to elaborate, she said, "Lex, I'm a doctor. I am fully aware of the risks of having children past the age of 35. I am not J.Lo, or Halle Berry, or any other celebrity, and I am not interested in having children in my forties. Yes, I'm single, but I have the love and the means to provide for a child, and I'm ready! With or without a baby daddy!" I hear you girl! 

And then there's my lawyer friend who graduated from college at 22, graduated from medical school at 26, and graduated from a JD/Public Health program at 30. She is now 33, and works in-house at a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company. She has never really had a long term boyfriend because she was fully focused on her education and career. She too has told me that she is working on starting a family without a boyfriend or husband on the horizon. She said, "Girl I'm getting old! I'm ready to have babies and I'll find the man later. I gotta get started before my eggs dry up!"

The sentiment amongst the other ladies are the same. They have all achieved success in their professional lives, but they have found themselves creeping towards 35 with no male prospects on the immediate horizon. Like they have done with their careers, these women are deciding to take their maternal lives in their own hands, and are not waiting for the boyfriend or husband to start their family. This is a common occurrence with professional women who have reached the age of 30, and who have not had children. 

While there are many professional women who have chosen to pursue their careers before starting a family, there are many who disagree with this approach. One professional woman has said to me that women are well aware of the ticking of their biological clock, and should be receptive to starting a family even when it may temporarily interfere with their career ambitions. She thinks that these women should "take a break" and start their family before it gets too late. She is especially unsympathetic (her words, not mine) to women who had a significant other willing and ready to commit and start a family, and chose her career path instead. While this woman's stance may seem antiquated in the age of the independent woman, there are many who share this view. As a woman who did wait until she was done with her schooling to get married and start a family, I don't personally agree with this woman and those who share this view...but I do respect and understand their opinion.

Personally, I am glad I made the choice to finish school and start my career before marriage and children. I am more mature and better able to contribute to my household because I am gainfully employed in a position that I could only have attained if I finished school. Additionally, I am better equipped, both financially and mentally, to provide for a child...much more so than I was when I was 24 with a whole gang of young and fresh eggs. If I had the option, I would not have made a different choice. But my story is a little different from the 5 women I have had these conversations with...I am married, and I have someone with whom I intend to start a family, albeit a little later in life than others (I'm 31). So what about those women who took a similar education and career path as me, and who are in their peak baby-bearing years? Isn't it okay for them to start a family of two? I say go for it! But am I in the minority?
 
The truth of the matter is that we have moved into a different era where we have more female CEOs, CFOs, doctors, lawyers, educators, etc. who are at the top of their game than ever before. This is also an era where more and more successful, professional, single women are purposely choosing to be single parents. This is a stark change from how things were done when my parents were coming up, but does that make the choice wrong? It seems to me that this choice is gaining steam amongst professional women, and soon may not be so unusual. 

In sum, I am completely supportive of my fellow Professional Divas who choose to finish school and start their careers before starting a family. I am also supportive of women who are making the conscious choice to start their family sans the man. This may not be the choice of the masses, but since when have we as women been ones to conform.

My questions to you all are: Which side of the fence do you lie? How do you feel about women who are choosing to become single parents? What are your thoughts on women who chose education and career over marriage and family? Let me know!

 

Martini Thursday

The Green Teani

Greetings Divas and Gents! So...I know I have some explaining to do. I have been a little incognito as of late, and I have been neglecting the Chronicles and its readers. I'm sorry! I've been busy at work and I've been traveling......look, I won't make any more excuses, but I will tell you that I have been super busy planning some exciting changes for the Chronicles. I hope that you all will continue to support me an my little blog, even when I appear to be neglectful. Will you accept a peace offering?


I thought that you would! Since it is Thursday, I think it is the perfect time for a new and delicious martini recipe! Today's recipe comes courtesy of July/August edition of Women's Health Magazine. I have no clue which plane, train, or automobile I was traveling in when I found the time to rifle through my magazine, but the Green Teani really caught my attention. The Green Teani combines green tea, gin, and honey to make a delicious cocktail with health benefits (the green tea has disease-fighting antioxidants!). The Green Teani is awesomely delicious and I know that you will enjoy it. So...please enjoy and accept my sincere apology for going AWOL!


Ingredients
1.5 Oz of Your Favorite Gin
4 Oz of Brewed and Chilled Green Tea (Bottled works too!)
2 Tsp of Honey
Lemon Wedge (For Garnish)
Ice

Recipe
1. In a shaker, combine Gin, Green Tea, Honey, and Ice. Shake!
2. Strain mixture into a chilled martini glass.

3. Garnish with a lemon.


Simple right? Oh you guys! I hope you enjoy the Green Teani. I promise to be more present and bring you more posts in the future...but hang in there with me! Drink Responsibly!



I'm a Lush for Lush!

Greetings Divas! Quick question...how many of you have heard of the store LUSH? For those of you who don't know, LUSH is a cosmetics company that boasts handmade products, including soaps, shower gels, shampoos and hair conditioners, hand and body lotions, body conditioners, makeup and face masks. LUSH's products do not contain animal fat and are not tested on animals. Sadly, LUSH is also my new addiction....I blame Vernicka for this! 

The truth is that LUSH really does have some great products. I ventured into LUSH yesterday with Vernicka, who swears by their products. She originally tried to get me to drink the LUSH Kool-Aid last year when we were visiting Chicago. I made it out of the city with just one product! This weekend, she tried again...and succeeded! In her defense, she had some help getting me on board with the LUSH family of products. Leanne and Will, the fabulous sales associates at LUSH, made it hard for me leave the store empty-handed. After trying on and sampling dozens of products, I walked out of the store with a bag full of goodies. And since I am all about getting you all to drink the Kool-Aid with me sharing, I thought it only appropriate share my thoughts on my new products. So here they are!

Wait! Before I start, I want you all to know that LUSH has not commissioned me to review their products, and I am not being paid to say what I really feel about them. I am just a humble Diva who listened to her friend, and found herself in the presence of a bunch of cosmetics. Sharing my thoughts is my way of tricking myself into believing I spent all of this money to help out my fellow Divas. With that being said, enjoy!


Brazened Honey


What Lush Says...
"Brazened Honey was inspired by traditional Indian ayurvedic principles, which put emphasis on balance as the foundation to health. Helen combined fresh free-range eggs and honey to soften, with astringent lime oil, antiseptic rosemary and exfoliating ground almonds. Kaolin reaches deep down into pores to pull out dirt and impurities, leaving your skin noticeably brighter and fresher. Our deepest cleansing mask, Brazened Honey is the perfect way to revive sluggish or congested skin."

What the Pro Diva Says...
Not bad at all! Because this product needs to be refrigerated, it was cool and really felt great on my skin. The ground almonds were a little rougher than I expected, but they did allow me to get in a good scrub. After removing the mask, my skin felt really soft, refreshed, and clean. From what I've been told, this product only lasts a couple of weeks before going bad, so use it or lose it! I give this product 3 1/2 stars!


Turkish Delight


What Lush Says...
"Butter yourself up with our delightfully rich and gorgeous rose-scented body polish for indulgent showering luxury. Each pot is made with superb quality ingredients including our new soap-base, packed with aphrodisiac jasmine and Turkish rose, smoothing almond oil, moisturizing cocoa butter and neroli - the euphoric essential oil. Smooth on this softening smoothie in the shower for clean, touchably soft and fragrant skin. A pot of this suits all skin types, but it is particularly good for dry bodies that need moisture."
 
What the Pro Diva Says...
Love it! Not only does this product smell amazing, but it left my skin feeling clean, soft, and smelling great. The almond oil and cocoa butter served as as great moisturizer, and it was not too greasy. I can see myself using this product after my evening workouts because the scent is also calming. And calm is always a good thing! I give this product 4 stars!


Ocean Salt 

 
What Lush Says...
"Back in 2005, our inventors had come up with a number of fantastic cleansers but there was one category they had yet to conquer: The scrub! A sea salt scrub! With that, they whipped up (our now enormously popular) Ocean Salt. Washing with Ocean Salt is like taking your face on a trip to the seaside for an invigorating splash in the water. We mix in fresh avocado and coconut to hydrate thirsty skin, while the antibacterial effects of lime and vodka is ideal for blocked pores, blackheads or blemishes. The minerals in sea salt soften as it scrubs away dirt and blockages."

What the Pro Diva Says...
I am a multi-tasker, so any product that allows me to take care of three different issues in one jar is worth a try. And I am so glad I did!  Ocean Salt can me be used to exfoliate your face, hands, and feet! And it smells like a dream! The wonderful Leanne introduced me to Ocean Salt by using it on my hands. I was amazed with how soft my hands felt after rinsing off the product. Of course I asked whether I could used Ocean Salt as a foot scrub. Imagine my delight when I learned that Ocean Salt could not only be used as a foot scrub, but also as a face wash. Winning! Later that night, I used Ocean Salt to exfoliate my face...amazing! And the next morning, I used it as a foot scrub...I'm in love! I give this product 5 stars! Go get it now! Or after you finish reading this post.

 
Eau Roma Water

 
What Lush Says...
"Dry, sensitive or mature needs a gentle touch. In a world of “technology” loaded cosmetics, using a toner with only two active ingredients may seem unusual. But at LUSH, we believe in using effective ingredients instead of filler. Our most moisturizing toner, Eau Roma relies on the King and Queen of the essential oils world, rose and lavender. Both oils have been used for thousands of years to treat dryness, redness or irritation. Rose is particularly nourishing and cooling, while lavender helps your skin produce the right amount sebum (oil) to keep it suppler. Simplicity at it’s best."

What the Pro Diva Says...
I was originally attracted to this product because it contains lavender. Given my history of not sleeping well I have recently gravitated towards lavender, which is supposed to help with sleeping. When Leanne told me that this toner serves as a cooling moisturizer and helps to suck in your daily moisturizer, I was in! After washing my face, I spritzed on some Eau Roma Water...my skin definitely felt cool. One other thing...you know that short time period between when you wash your face and put on your moisturizer? Depending on how long you wait, your skin may start to feel a little tight. This product is great for providing moisture during that time. And now for the best part...this toner can be used throughout the day as a refresher, even when you are wearing makeup! This fact alone was enough for me to purchase this product, especially since the weather has been really warm. I give this product 4 stars!


Ro's Argan Body Conditioner


What Lush Says...
Nada! The website lets the customer review this product...I guess.

What the Pro Diva Says...
This is the ultimate product for Professional Divas in a rush! You smooth on this body conditioner after lathering up, and right before you step out out of the shower. Rinse it off, towel off, and go! No need for an additional body moisturizer. This body conditioner is so rich that you can see water beads dripping off your freshly moisturized skin. And it smells so good! I can see myself using this product on those morning when I've hit the snooze button one too many times. I give this product.....5 stars!


Vanilla Dee-Lite Lotion


What Lush Says...
"Our decadently soothing, creamily smoothing vanilla-scented lotion is one of our lighter moisturizers, but no less effective. It’s made with the perfect recipe of organic coconut water, coconut oil, illipe butter and hibiscus infusion to hydrate the skin and keep it soft, but feeling light and fresh. Vitamin-packed fresh kiwis are blended into our vanilla-scented cream base to aid skin and help it recover from exposure to the elements. Oh, and it has our famous Vanilla Fountain fragrance too, to keep your skin smelling sweet, as well as supple. Deeliteful!"
 
What the Pro Diva Says...
Does this lotion moisturize you skin? Yes! Does it make your skin feel soft and smooth? Yes! Does it smell good? Yes, Lord! Exactly 2 seconds after putting on this product and leaving Lush, I was asked what fragrance I was wearing because I smelled so good. There are plenty of products on the market that moisturize and soften your skin and that smells great, and this product can certainly join the ranks. I am not sure, however, that I would run out to Lush simply to purchase a new bottle. But if I'm already there.... In sum, I give this product 3 stars!


Dream Cream


What Lush Says...
"Our number one, best-selling product of all time, Dream Cream contains every ingredient nature makes for soothing sore skin. One our proudest product achievements ever, we love this body lotion because it makes people happy. It transforms suffering bodies into states of peace with our calming blend of oat milk, lavender and chamomile to care for irritations, reduce redness, and banish blotches. Olive oil and cocoa butter are perfectly suited and incredibly effective for dry or chapped skin, and especially gentle for even the most sensitive types. Do your skin a favor, treat it right with Dream Cream."
 
What the Pro Diva Says...
I'm not going to spend a lot of time discussing Dream Cream because I fear that it will prevent you from rushing out to Lush to get yourself a jar. This cream is everything that Lush says it is and more. Go get it now! I give this product 5 stars!


Buffy Body Butter


What Lush Says...
"Massage our Buffy body butter all over your wet skin in the bath or shower to make you softer and smooth to the touch, paying special attention to your backside. We add ground rice, almonds and beans to Buffy to act as exfoliants; the rough textures eliminate lumps and bumps and sloughs away dry skin cells to reveal brighter, fresher looking skin. Rinse off the exfoliating bits and pat yourself dry. There's no need for body lotion after a Buffy slaying session, because the cocoa and shea butters keep your skin beautifully smooth, moisturized and soft to the touch."

What the Pro Diva Says...
Honestly, I'm not sure how I have lived my life without this product for so long. It is EVERYTHING! If you plan on wearing a short skirt, or shorts, or a mini dress, or a swimsuit, you will do yourself a huge favor by using Buffy before you step out. It smooths away all of the dead skin cells that tend to make your thighs, legs, and booty look dull. Almost instantly, brighter, smoother, and sexier looking skin emerges. Every woman should have a Buffy! And a tin can to store it in. I would give this product 5 stars, but it really deserves 6!

 
Lemony Flutter


What Lush Says...
"We made Lemony Flutter to soften your dry, cracked cuticles and nourish your nails; it’s our thickest, zestiest cream yet. In fact, it’s so good as softening you up our customers have been using it on other rough body parts, like feet, elbows, and knees too. Fresh lemons are put into an infusion and lovingly blended in our rich butter base to brighten skin and lighten nails. Each batch contains twenty-two pounds of beeswax and cold-pressed avocado oil to moisturize and soften your skin. There are so many nutritious butters and oils in each pot, it’s no wonder that such a little amount can go such a long way."

What the Pro Diva Says...
This is the product that started my Lush obsession. Until recently, it was the only product I used from Lush. It's a good thing that Lemony Flutter is such a great, versatile product, or I may not have been convinced to return to Lush and try out all of these other great products. Lemony Flutter is so much more that a cuticle cream. It also does wonders for those sometimes-forgotten body parts (elbows and knees)...they need love too! And, you don't need a lot of the product to make a difference, so it lasts a long time. I give this product 4 stars!
 
That's all for now Divas! I want to send a special shout out to Leanne and Will at the Lush store at Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey for being so patient and showing me all of the great products. They were both super attentive, had wonderful attitudes, and had great information regarding the products. They were an absolute joy! Muah!

Do any of you Divas venture into Lush? If so, what are some of your favorite products?


 
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