Future Diva on Deck!!!

Greetings Divas and Gents! This may be surprising to some of you, but I love hearing what my readers think of this blog, and brainstorming about different ways to keep the content fresh and exciting for current and potential readers. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Lydia, one of my long-time readers and subscribers, regarding the potential direction of the content of the Chronicles.  One of Lydia's critiques was that there was too little of ME. Specifically, she noted that I did not share enough information about myself and my personal experiences. She believed that sharing more of myself with my readers would help others feel more connected to the blog's content and, by extension, more connected to ME. I mulled over this critique, and I realized that Lydia was right! After all, I cannot expect my readers to be open and honest with me if I am not willing to share more about myself with them. I get it...and I'm on it!

In the spirit of sharing more of ME with you, I want to share some exciting news! It turns out that the Stud and I are expecting our first child in a few months! And would you believe that it's a little Diva! Needless to say, we are super excited and anxious about our future. I am also excited about all the new blog material that I will have when I am faced with the task of balancing my professional life with motherhood. I promise you all that I plan to continue blogging profusely about the joys, trials, and tribulations of the professional woman, but new insight is always welcomed. I am hoping that you all will stay with me along the way.

So...what do I need from you? Links! I need links to your favorite working mommy blogs. One of my favorites is My Life: The Chronicles of Pookah's Mom, mainly because Rose's Daughter shares her real life experiences of being a mom and a professional. I love Lipgloss & Binky and The Musings of Me for the same reason. If you have any more blogs or sites like these that you love, send me the link! I need to do some research!

Also, I am currently not able to sample my own martini recipes...any volunteers!? If so, shoot me an email at theprodiva@gmail.com, and let me know if you are interested in testing a recipe.

Finally, I ask for all of your positive thoughts and prayers over the next few months...I'm sure we will need all of them! Thanks for allowing me to share a little bit of myself with you. And expect to learn much more about the Professional Diva in the future!

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Evolution Of Mom Dancing (w/ Jimmy Fallon & Michelle Obama)

Greetings! I couldn't help but to post this video...it is absolutely hysterical! Yet another reason why I adore First Lady Michelle Obama. And Jimmy Fallon's kind of awesome, too! Enjoy!

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My Top 5 Favorite Moments of the 2013 Grammys Were...

Last night I tuned into the Grammy Awards for the third year in a row. While I am usually pretty satisfied with the Grammys, this year's broadcast was a tad boring. There were several occasions when I flirted with the idea of changing the channel, or turning the television off altogether...yep, I was that bored. But I stuck with it! Mainly because I had already planned to share my favorite moments of this year's Grammys with you. And when it comes to my opinion, you know I'm all about sharing! In that spirit, my to 5 favorite moments of the 2013 Grammys were:

Photo Credit: Larry Busacca/WireImage

5. When American Idol Showed Us All Why It Is the Premier Singing Competition - No one can deny that American Idol has consistently turned out major superstars. Jennifer Hudson..Jordin Sparks...Clay Aiken...and two of the most successful contestants, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Last night, both Kelly and Carrie demonstrated how they each beat out hundreds of thousands of aspiring singers to emerge as the American Idol. Both performances were amazing! Both of these women have beautiful and powerful voices, and last night, they SANG! Undeniable talent...Simon would be proud!

Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/WireImage

4. When Justin Timberlake Put On His Suit and Tie - I have no problem admitting that I was seriously bored with the Grammys until Justin Timberlake performed. I really like his new song, and I loved the energy he brought to the stage. And when my boy Jay-Z emerged from the audience and walked on the stage, the dope factor tripled. I also thoroughly enjoyed the band...especially the pianist who played like a Baptist church organist! By the way, where I can I get a copy of the second song JT sang? You know I love a good falsetto!

3.  When Jay-Z Said What We Were All Thinking - Quick question: Who in the hell left the gate open and let TheDream attend the Grammys wearing his play clothes? Apparently TheDream has no friends, because friends don't let friends come to an event like the Grammys looking like...a mess. But leave it to my boy Jay-Z to keep it real and say what everyone was thinking. "I want to thank the swap meet for his hat!" Yesssssss Mr. Carter! Please stand on that stage with your fresh tuxedo and, in the words of JT, show TheDream a few things!

Photo Credit: Wire Images

2. When the Thigh Walked on Stage Attached to J.Lo - We all know that Jennifer Lopez is no stranger to the red carpet. And we all know that J. Lo is famous for consistently shutting down said carpet. Well, Jenny From the Block did not disappoint last night! J. Lo donned an Anthony Vaccarello number that was cut to show her entire right leg...this dress instantly gave me life! And I wasn't the only one (cut to Drake and Jay-Z drooling)! And just in case you weren't paying attention, J. Lo made sure everyone knew that she was abiding by the Grammy dress code...while showcasing that thigh dress.

And.............

Photo Credit: Getty Images

1. When the Purple One Blessed Us With His Presence - This was by far my favorite moment of the Grammys. Did you all see how he sauntered onto the stage like only Prince can?! No one is as cool as this guy! Honestly, I can't even remember which award he was handing out...it doesn't even matter. Because Prince was in the building! Yessssss!

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Quick Meals For a Busy Diva...Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon!

Photo Credit: Randy Mayor

Well, over the past month or so, I've noticed that I have been eating way too many meals outside of my home. I'm talking breakfast, lunch, and dinner! And I really can't use the excuse that I've been too busy at work to prepare meals. After all, I'm always busy at work...but I also have several recipes in my arsenal that I can prepare fairly quickly. So this week, I've decided to "check myself," and make a greater effort to cook more. And since I am always in a sharing mood, I decided to share the following recipe for Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon that I came across last year. Of course, this recipe is courtesy of my favorite food magazine/website, Cooking Light. This is a dish that I have prepared many times at home, mainly because it tastes delicious and I can prepare it quickly. It's also pretty healthy, which is always a plus. So, check out this recipe for Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon, a be sure to let me know how you like it. Enjoy!

 

Ingredients (Yields 4)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

1 (6-ounce) can pineapple juice

1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

2 teaspoons canola oil

4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets (about 1 inch thick)

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Grated orange rind (optional)

Recipe

- Combine first 4 ingredients and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan over high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup (about 15 minutes). Set aside.

- Preheat oven to 400°.

- Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of salmon with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. 

- Add fish to pan; cook 3 minutes. 

- Turn fish over and place in oven; bake at 400° for 3 minutes. 

- Remove from oven; brush 1 tablespoon sauce over each fillet. Return to oven, and cook 1 minute or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. 

- Sprinkle with orange rind, if desired.

How many of you are frequent home cooks? About how long do you typically spend preparing your meals?

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NY&Co. Has Nail Color...And Lip Gloss!

Greetings Divas! As some of you may know, New York & Company is one of my favorite places to shop for high-quality, affordable business attire and accessories. So imagine my surprise when I ventured into the store last weekend and saw a display full of nail color and lip gloss. Now, ordinarily I am not one to purchase cosmetics in a clothing store that is not affiliated with a department store, but I was curious. The next day, I went back to NY&Co and purchased a couple of nail colors (they were 2 for $10), and a lip gloss...and I was impressed with all three items! 

The nail polish applied smoothly and the color was rich, which is something I really enjoy in my nail color. I was also impressed at the color selection...there were plenty of colors that were appropriate in a professional environment. Unfortunately, I was in a "trying it out" mood and I'm horrible at polishing my own nails, so I didn't keep the polish on long enough to see if it chipped easily. I will, however, take the polish to my nail salon for a mani and pedi to see how it holds up...we shall see! With a $5 price tag, I do encourage you nail colornistas to check them out.

And now to the lip gloss...love it! Not too sticky...not too shiny...totally office appropriate. The glosses were 2 for $12, and it was worth the purchase. My only complaint is that there were only 3 available shades to choose from...I'm hoping they get more really soon!

So, would you try these nail colors or lip glosses? If you do (or if you have), please share with the class! Have a great week Divas!

 

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What Are You Doing With Your Tax Refund?

It's that time of year again! Break out your W2s and all of your receipts, because tax season is here. Now is the time when many of us are scrambling to complete our taxes, mainly because there is a pot of gold with a refund check in it at the end of the rainbow. So, what are you going to do with your tax refund? Since I am known to get all up in your business, I have a few suggestions! Take them, or leave them, but I'm giving them! Enjoy!

1. Save or Invest It - Saving your refund is probably the simplest thing you can do. Maybe you're saving for a wedding...or a new baby...a new home...or a vacation. In any event, your tax refund may be a good place for you to start. If investing is your thing, it may be a good idea to meet with a financial planner who can highlight favorable investment options.

2. Reduce Your Credit Card Debt - So, you overdid it during the holidays and maxed out your credit cards. Or maybe you encountered an emergency and needed to use your credit cards to get through a tough time. The truth is that credit card debt is a reality in many of our lives. In order to alleviate the agony of making monthly credit card payments, use your tax refund to pay off, or pay down, your balances. Your credit score will thank you!

3. Make an Extra Student Loan Payment - I am well aware of the fact that my mere mention of a student loan payment makes you want to gag. But think about this: if done every year, using your tax refund to make an extra student loan payment could dramatically reduce your payoff time. Did I get your attention?

4. Invest in Bettering Yourself - As professionals, our careers are our bread and butter.  Many of us are so invested in our careers that we strive every day to be the best at what we do. Why not spend some of your tax refund to make yourself a better professional?  You can use your tax refund to take a continuing education class, or enroll in an education program that will help you advance to a higher position, or be better in your current position. Upward mobility is always a good thing!

5. Give to Charity - Do you have a charity that is near and dear to your heart? If so, why not make a donation to the charity in your name. You would be contributing to a great cause, and you could possibly write off your donation on next year’s taxes. Double win!

Okay, I'm done sticking my nose in your business! Whatever you choose to do with your tax refund, spend it wisely...it only comes around once a year!

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Take Two!

And the second term begins! On January 20, 2013, President Obama took the oath of office to officially begin his second term as President of the United States. My hope is that all Americans rally behind the President and Congress to facilitate a productive four years for the country we love. Let's put aside our petty differences and let's get to work...there's plenty of it to do!

And on a completely unrelated note, I must say that I am loving FLOTUS Michelle Obama's new hair! She's so amazing!

Happy Inauguration Day!

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Dr. Oz's Green Drink!

Greetings Divas and Gents! As some of you may know, I have recently become a huge fan of Dr. Oz. There's something so comforting about him, and I love the fact that he is always sharing ways to better one's health. I recently found myself stalking browsing Dr. Oz's website, and I came across the recipe for his Green Drink. Some months ago, I started making fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies to enjoy on my way to work. After doing so for a while, I found myself feeling more energized at the beginning of the day, and less hungry. So when I came across the Green Drink, I was all in!

According to Dr. Oz, the Green Drink is high in fiber, low in calories, and full of important vitamins. For those of you who are habitual breakfast skippers, this may be a great option for you. Prep the ingredients the night before, throw them in the blender in the morning, pour it into a travel container, and go...it's definitely worth a try! If you so dare, here is the recipe for Dr. Oz's Green Drink:

Ingredients

2 Cups of Spinach
1/2 Cucumber
1/4 Head of Celery

1/2 Bunch of Parsley

1 Bunch of Mint

3 Carrots

2 Apples

1/4 Orange

1/4 Lime

1/4 Lemon

1/4 Pineapple

Recipe

Combine all ingredients in a blender. 

(Yields 28-30 ounces, or 3-4 servings)

Just a quick disclaimer: I have not yet tried the Green Drink, so I'm not sure how it tastes. I intend to try it this weekend, and tweak it to my liking. If any of you have tried the Green Drink, let us know how you like it. Also, let me know if you intend to try it...maybe we can exchange notes!

Happy Blending!

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A Quick Note For Success Seekers...

Let's be honest...when climbing the corporate ladder, many of us spend way too much time focusing on what the next guy/gal is doing. We take the precious time we could be spending nurturing our own careers, and we use it to concern ourselves with someone else's moves: what are they doing...how much are they making...does he/she do his/her job better than me. Worrying about someone else's moves can cause you to lose focus of your own goals and achieving your own successes. For those of you who find yourself way too enthralled with another person's path, may I suggest the following: stop worrying about the next person, and DO YOU!

Now, there's nothing wrong with glancing across the hall to see what another individual is doing. You may even take a moment to learn about that individual's process so as to help you adjust your path. After all, if this individual can teach you something that will help you along the way, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of the opportunity. But the moment you find yourself wondering about that individual's path with an envious eye, you are putting your goals in jeopardy...and you're, in essence, being a hater. Wouldn't your time be better spent working on your own self-improvement and your own career climb?

I'll stop preaching, but I wanted to leave you all with this: take the time you spend worrying about what someone else is doing and what someone else is getting, and apply it to reaching your goals. DO YOU!

The doors of the church are open...

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My Best Money Saving Tips...In One Post!

Over the past couple of years, I have published several posts highlighting money saving tips. Recently, a Chronicle reader suggested that I select the most effective tips and post them at the beginning of the year. I thought this was a great idea, but I thought it would be a better idea to have actual readers select the tips they enjoyed the most...and they did! So, without further adieu, here are my top 5 money saving tips...in one post! Enjoy!

1. Bring Your Lunch to Work - This is always an easy fix. The fact is that preparing your own lunch at home and bringing it to work will always save you money. I remember a few years ago, me and another colleague agreed to bring our lunches to the office and eat with each other during lunch time. We would sit in my office, or hers, and eat our home-prepared lunch. We went on like this for a few months, at the end of which we ended up saving a few hundred dollars. My colleague went on to purchase her first home, and I am sure the extra cash helped. Now don’t get me wrong….I understand that in the professional world business lunches are key networking opportunities. During these times, going out for lunch may be necessary. My suggestion is that you bring your lunch to work at least 4 times during the 5 day work week, and use the remaining day for power lunching. Try it for a week and let me know how much you save!

2. Sell It On EBay - We all have an abundance of items in our home that we do not use, nor do we intend to use them. As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So list your items on EBay, and turn them into extra cash. I do it all the time!

3. Do Your Own 'Do - Growing up I was one of those Divas who visited the hair salon once a week for an old fashioned shampoo, deep conditioning, and roller set. That was until I went away to college, and needed to hold on to the money my parents would send me every month. I always had a talent for doing my own hair, so I used this talent to do my own hair…and many of the women on my campus. 

As I entered Corporate America, I fell back into my weekly visits. Needless to say, a weekly visit to the hair salon isn’t the most frugal activity. As such, I recently ventured into the beauty supply store, and purchased a new hard top hair dryer, rollers, and setting lotion. Instead of going to the hair salon every week, I go every four weeks. In between time, I do my own hair. My initial investment in supplies: $70. Amount saved: about $90 per month….or $1,080 per year….need I say more!

4. Change Your Cell Phone Plan - A couple of years ago, I started looking for ways to cut back on my cell phone usage. Why? Because the bill was way too high! Every month, I exceeded my allotted minutes and text messages, and ended up paying much more than I anticipated when selecting the cell phone plan. I came across an unlimited plan that allowed me to do any and every thing I wanted with my phone for as long as I wanted for a low monthly fee. Needless to say, I immediately switched to that plan. A few months later, a friend of mine told me that our mutual cell phone service carrier recently unveiled a different plan with a better deal! So what did I do….I switched to that plan! The moral of this diatribe is that you should always stay abreast of new deals offered by your carrier that could save you money. The first step is to assess your current usage, and then see if your carrier offers a less expensive option. My savings in the end amounted to about $50 per month. Not too shabby!

5. Skip the Coffee Shop - A while back I read an article on My Thirty Spot that shared an easy way to prepare the perfect iced coffee (Get the Article Here!). It got me to thinking just how much money we spend in coffee shops each year. If you cut your visits to the coffee shop in half, you’d be surprised at how much you can save. Not convinced? Then check this out: Let’s assume that a Tall Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks costs $3.50….that’s $17.50 per work week….and $910 per year! If you cut your visits in half, you can save $455 each year. Did I do my math correctly? In any event, that $455 would look really good in your savings account!

Happy Saving!

 
 

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