Hi Divas! In the spirit of sharing, I wanted to post this quick video of Suze's financial tips for women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. It gives quick tips on the things woman should be doing to build and maintain financial fitness throughout our adult lives. Let me know how you ladies like the video. And as always, please share any additional tips you may have. Happy Saturday!
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Martini Break!
Martini Break - Strawberry Martini
It’s Friday!!! I know I was supposed to post this for my fellow Divas yesterday, but circumstances beyond my control…..You know what? Not important…no excuses here! Please accept this Strawberry Martini recipe and my sincerest apology for leaving you hanging! Are we still friends? Okay good!
For this recipe, you will need fresh strawberries and a blender. I know it takes a little extra time, but it will totally be worth it in the end….Promise! So get ready, get set, go!
Ingredients
3 oz of Your Favorite Vodka
1 oz Rose’s® Lime Juice
1 Teaspoon of Sugar
1 Cup of Fresh Strawberries (Sliced)
Fresh Strawberries (For Garnish)
Ice
Recipe
1. In a blender, puree strawberries in a blender with the sugar. Mixture should be smooth, yet thick.
2. In a shaker, combine vodka, lime juice, and strawberry mixture. Shake!
3. Drop a couple of slices of strawberries in the bottom of a chilled martini glass.
4. Strain mixture into glass.
And voila! Took a little bit more time, but it was worth it right? Take a sip...I'll wait..... Feel free to add or decrease the sugar to reach your perfect level of sweetness. However you like it, enjoy! And drink responsibly!
P90X vs. Insanity
Spring is here! Sought of. Beach weather is right around the corner, and I know many of you may be looking for a quick and effective way to shed a few pounds before shedding your clothes. Two of the hottest fitness plans on the market today are the P90X and Insanity Workout Plans. Both of these plans boast serious results in a little as 90 (P90X) or 60 (Insanity) days. But which one is right for you? Well….in the spirit of sharing, I have compiled a quick summary/comparison of the two plans. Take a look, and see which one suits you.
P90X
Website: P90X Official Website
Length: 90 Days (You read it right! That’s 3 months! You’d be done by June!)
Equipment Needed: Dumbbells or Resistance Bands, Pull Up Bar, Yoga Mat, Yoga Blocks, a Sturdy Chair, Water, and a Towel
What You Get: 12 Workout DVDS, Fitness Guide, 3-Phase Nutrition Plan, and Workout Calendar
Cost: $119.85 (You can break it up into 3 monthly payments)
What’s All the Hype About?: The Power 90 Extreme Workout, affectionately called P90X, is a fitness program that combines cardiovascular and strength training, as well as yoga, plyometrics, and stretching to make a healthier and sexier you in 90 days. P90X focuses on the concept of “muscle confusion,” which prevents the body from adapting to any one activity, and reduces the chances of hitting a plateau. The program has 12 workout DVDs, each of which target a different muscle group. In order to get the full impact of the program, users are required to workout 6 days a week (with 1 day of rest) for 13 weeks. You would need anywhere from 60 to 105 minutes to complete the workout, depending on which DVD you are working on. P90X also gives the option of following the original or the Lean plan. The plan also urges users to follow the accompanying nutrition plan to achieve maximum results. Before beginning on this workout, be sure to mentally prepare yourself for the daily workouts. I suggest starting the plan with a workout buddy to keep you motivated. Also, be sure to strictly follow the fitness plan.
Insanity
Website: Insanity Workout Official Website
Length: 60 Days (You’d be done by May!)
Equipment Needed: A Mat, Water (lots of it), and 2 Towels (One for you, and one to clean up the pool of sweat on the floor)
What You Get: 10 Workout DVDs, Elite Nutrition Plan, Fitness Guide, and Insanity Calendar
Cost: $119.85 (You can break it up into 3 monthly payments)
What’s All the Hype About?: The Insanity Workout uses strenuous, cardiovascular training to improve one’s fitness in 60 days. Insanity focuses on the concept of “max interval training,” which requires users to workout strenuously for about 3 to 4 minutes, followed by a period of rest for about 30 seconds…and then repeat! The program has 10 workout DVDs that focus on plyometric drills, non-stop interval training, and ab/core training moves. The workouts average about 45 minutes per day (not too bad!). Like P90X, the Insanity workout requires users to workout 6 days a week (with 1 day of rest). Additionally, the plan urges users to follow a nutrition plan to achieve the best results. Again, having a workout buddy may help to keep you motivated. And following the fitness plan is key!
Martini Break!
It’s so funny where you find inspiration. Each week, I try to give you Divas a new martini recipe. Earlier this week, one of my Twitter followers asked me where I get ideas for my recipes. I told her that these ideas come from everywhere…a conversation with a friend; a college memory; chocolate withdrawal (See The Choco Latte Martini). This week’s recipe was inspired by a beverage I had a Cosi during lunch yesterday. It was a Raspberry Mojito Lemonade, and it was absolutely fantastic! It was non-alcoholic of course, as I did have to go back to work. But it got me to thinking of a new twist on the classic mojito. Just like that, the Raspberry Lemonade Mojito Martini was born! (Try saying it three times fast!) I hope you like it!
Ingredients
3 Mint Leaves
3 oz Light Rum
2 oz Raspberry Lemonade
1 oz Lime Juice
1 Teaspoon of Sugar
Ice
Lemon Wedges for Garnish
Recipe
1. In a martini shaker, muddle mint leaves, sugar, and lime juice for about 2 minutes.
2. Add Rum and Raspberry Lemonade (Simply Lemonade is Awesome!). Shake!
3. Strain mixture into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with a Lemon.
Spring Fever!
Welcome to Spring Divas! This is one of my favorite times of the year. The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are blooming, and the thought of the treacherous Winter we just endured is slowly fading into the background. As with every season change, there are certain things Professional Divas must do in order to ensure fabulousness through Spring and heading into Summer…some professional…some personal…but all important. As the self-proclaimed voice of Professional Divas (at least in my head and on this blog), I have compiled a few of my thoughts on how we can strut into Spring with a new attitude. Please feel free to comment on those things I neglect to include. After all, us Divas must share to preserve Divadom!
Dust of the SPF! – I was a little hesitant about this one, as I did not want to send the message that moisturizer with SPF is only appropriate when the temperature rises. In fact, the best dermatologists recommend that women, and men, where SPF year-round to protect against a variety of skin problems, including wrinkles and certain skin cancers. I hope that this will serve as a reminder that that using moisturizer with SPF is especially important as the sun gets hotter. So, please dust of your moisturizer, or check out some new ones at your drug store or department store counter. And remember to use it throughout the year, and not just when the warm weather hits.
Pedicure, Pedicure, Pedicure! – Divas, there is nothing more anti-sexy and unprofessional than donning beautiful peep toe pumps with ugly feet…there, I said it! Again, we should all take care of our feet year-round; but when the warm weather hits, and the peep toes and sandals come out, we must preserve our Divadom from head to toe. This means smooth heels, polished toes….I know I do not need to elaborate any further. You know what to do!
Mind the Office Dress Code – It is not unusual in many work places to have a dress code especially for warmer weather. Although the dress code may permit more lax work apparel during the warmer months, be mindful not to push the envelope too far. How do you know when you’ve gone too far? As a rule of thumb, if your first thought is that your outfit may be inappropriate, change! After all, we ARE professionals and we should always BE professional…even in the Spring!
Groom Appropriately – Bare legs. Sleeveless shirts and dresses. Shave and/or wax appropriately. Thanks in advance!
Add Some Color! – Nothing makes me feel better in the Spring than wearing bright colors. Oranges, pinks, yellows…they all scream SPRING! There are so many different ways to add color to your work attire. Try adding a bright yellow shirt and matching shoes with a classic black suit. Or maybe add some colorful bangles or a necklace to your outfit. You can even do and tangerine colored cardigan with everyday work slacks. Or even a nice colorful hue of nail polish. However you choose to do it, DO IT!
Nude Peep-Toe Pumps – No explanation needed…they work on so many different levels it’s scary! Just get a pair and thank me later. (Stay tuned for Professional Diva Must Haves……)
Try the Fruit! – Spring and Summer fruits are ready to make their appearance. In the spirit of health and wellness, I encourage you to try fruit that are in season during the Spring (and Summer), including cherries, pineapples, strawberries, citrus fruits, mangos, plums, and watermelon. Mmmmmm…..so much inspiration for martini recipes…stay tuned Divas!
Sports Break! – Here are a few tidbits regarding Spring and sports, just in case it comes up during a networking event:
- NBA Basketball is in its second half of the season, leading to the playoffs and finals in June. (Go Knicks!)
- The MLB baseball season begins on March 31st. (Go Yankees!)
- NCAA Basketball is still hot!
