BOOK LAUNCH 1/2010

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM

http://nasahm.com
http://ialm.biz

SWEETGYRL IS OFFICIALLY BACK!!

We are launching a new program for Mom's and Daughters!

Also I have officially starting writing the book,
" The Truth Behind SweetGyrl"

I have decided to take matters into my own hands, and start a program designed to heal the wounds between mom's and daughters. It's all over, when you pick up the news, where you have the very public rival and bitterness between the Spelling women. It goes on, it simply does not matter what, class, socio - economic status your in, there seems to be some sort of "unhealthy" darkness between mom's and daughters.

I am delighted to have taken on a couple of new coaching clients to work with! My teen Gyrls! I am happy to be using my story, my skills, and my presence, to help teen girls shift from deviant behaviors, to positive ones.

Stanby its coming in the next post!!

WE ARE BACK! WOW, folks, its been quite some time since we did a posting. I remember in 2007, there was not a day that went by, that I was not blogging! Well Life happened, actually tons of stuff has happened. I don't know where to start! What I can say is, the last time I really really was writing to you guys, I was living in Montgomery County Maryland. I am now happily living in the Great State of California! (Again), after a 13 year haitus!

I love it here. I am truly blessed to be able to be given a second chance to be where my soul sings, and the opportunities are endless. My son is now in College, yes I am a very proud mom. As for me, I am in "ME" mode.

What do I mean by that? Well I am finding myself again. I feel like I got a second chance at life again. I am truly looking at "who" I am and where I am taking my life from here on out. I do know this for sure. I am more than determined to help young gyrls, and women, truly learn to LOVE, RESPECT, HONOR and APPRECIATE themselves. This is an important skill that they must learn to have in order to be successful in life and make the right decisions when it comes to choosing partners.

It is important for many young women to understand who they are and what they want, for themselves, and to learn who they are OUTSIDE, of what society tells them, thier mom, or dad or freinds tell them. In my years of working as a teacher and therapist, I have noticed that the girls today, HAVE NOT BEEN TAUGHT How to LOVE THEMSELVES. That is quite surpising! Then again its not, I look back and I realize for my own life it was not something I was taught. I learned how to do that, LATER LATER in life, after many falls, mistakes, trials and tribulations, I am finally learning to REALLY REALLY LIKE ME.

I am on a mission to teach young women the same. So, stay tuned....

TEEN GYRLS AND STD'S SAFE SEX? OR
ABSTINENCE?








Sound Off: Half of Black Teen Girls Has an STD???
Posted Mar 18th 2008 3:15PM by Angela BronnerFiled under: BlackSpin, Lifestyle, health
By Angela Bronner, BlackVoices.com



Last Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control released a study that found that one in four young women or 3.2 million teenage girls is infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
The kicker is, according to the study, nearly half of African American girls (or 48%) in this age group has least one of the following: the human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, herpes, or trichomoniasis, with HPV leading the charge.

Yes, that's right, according to the CDC -- one out of every two African American girls ages 14-19 has an STD. The report, sponsored by the CDC and conducted by the NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics), took a national sample of 838 young women. The study did not include the STDs syphilis, HIV or gonorrhea. In a word, this is alarming.
Does this mean that if there are 20 tenth graders at a bus stop, say, the cheerleading squad at an all black high school -- that 10 of them has HPV?

In a word, no, or not necessarily, according to Dr. Stuart Berman, Chief of Epidemiology and Surveillances, STDs at the Centers for Disease Control.
"Put in context, you take a sample, but a sample done in a smart way, so you can extrapolate the data," Dr. Berman explains. "What this study says, is that this is a problem for the country. It's your kid, my kid, the neighbor across the street."

Berman further cautions not to take these results and stigmatize teens, young black women, or by default, young black men, who are most likely their sexual partners.
"These things can be stigmatizing but [loose sexual behavior] is not the reason [for the higher rates]," he says. "Once the community risk is higher, even if your behavior is not higher, the chances are greater."

The doctor says social and economic factors such as access to care, low or no health insurance, incarceration, and racism, all add up.
"There's an aggregate of a whole bunch of community factors, each doing a little bit, making it a little more prevalent," says Dr. Berman. The key to making any inroads into this problem, says the good doctor, is to have frank, and honest discussions with our kids.

"A lot of kids think, 'He she looks healthy,' 'I'm in love' 'He or she doesn't have any symptoms' and therefore are not at risk. Who is talking to them?"The two most common STDs in the study -- HPV, and chlamydia -- may not show any symptoms.
The most contagious of these infections, the human papillomavirus, HPV, or genital warts, is responsible for 70% of all cervical cancers. Black women are at least 50% more likely to die from cervical cancer than white women.

HPV and chlamydia are in fact treatable; also, that there is now an HPV vaccine against the virus. The CDC also reported on results from pilot programs in New York City and California, where the agency found that if you test for STDs where young women get care for other gynecological issues such as pregnancy tests, emergency contraceptives (and I would add abortions) – all of which assume unprotected intercourse -- we can begin to stem the tide.
The agency recommends annual chlamydia screenings for sexualy active women under age 25 and vaccination against HPV for young women and girls between the ages of 11 and 26.

"It's like that show 'Hill Street Blues," says Dr. Berman, who laughs as he says he is dating himself with that reference. "We have to tell our kids, you have to be careful out there."
Sound off.

Since my last post, I have had the wonderful opportunity to start working as an Editor for She-Unlimited Magazine, http://www.sheunlimited.com/ as well as a Special Education Inclusion Teacher. I have had many experiences since my last posts and many revelations.

I have com to realize that Learning Disabilities are rampant, but I am wondering if they are disabilities or gifted children that learn differently.

Since my last post, I have been tested (Educationally) found out that I had a from of Dyslexia, Developmental Opthamology, and ADHD.

It was a shock but then again not, It really put some thins in perspective for me. It help me understand why I suffered so badly in school and what the root cause of me and my mom's problems were from childhood. Never mind the fact that my mom has major control issues and needs counseling herself (refuses to go) she says "The Lord will work it out." However It help me realize I was not so messed up after all! I could not figure out for the life of me why I had to work so much harder and struggle so much.

Well since the post me and suffering broke up, struggling and I parted way amongst many other things.

More tomorrow!

ITS BEEN A WHILE, BUT I AM BACK! THANK GOODNESS, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED AND I AM EXITED ABOUT IT. I HAVE MUCH TO SHARE! STAY TUNED!!

Why Hate the Other Gyrl? Program
At SweetGyrl we offer real world scenarios. In today's society gyrls are often geared toward hating and being mean to each other. We offer Peace Circles for Gyrls to be able to see how much they have in common.

Growing up as a teen Kimberly met many oppositions by so-called friends. So-called friends meaning they acted like they liked her, however betrayal was waiting, or they hated the way she dressed, or they hated her personality, or she could not be herself. Therefore in order to fit in, Kimberly as a teen she adopted the attitude of the wrong people.

Many Gyrls fall into this trap, in society it is taught to live a mask, being yourself or unique is not permissible, its not ok. Gyrls are not taught to Love themselves, therefore, if they are around another gyrl that they feel is a threat, they punish her. Is this retarded or what!!

"I have been a victim of the player haters mentality so much, I got tired of fighting back, instead of getting bitter I chose to get "BETTER" I chose to learn to Love myself, I asked myself what energy or message was I sending off that I kept attracting these kinds of people?? I also learned that I can't change people I can only do me, get to know me, love me, and HEAL ME, and seek people and friends that really had my best interest at heart. At the end of the day, My true friends found me, its incredibly how we have the power to choose our circumstances and friends, but we learn at an early age to live life by default instead of designing it". Kimberly Bowles.

We teach young women to tap into their strengths and find what they are good at and to develop
the habit and do more of what they are good at, therefore we develop a success track in their
mind of excellence!

We offer:
Personality Profile: We allow them to share how much they have in common and share and appreciate their differences!

Passion Test: See what they really really want for themselves, and learn to design what they
want their life to look like.

Brag Book: A collage book of all of their previous accomplishments, and photo album of their
best friends, and people that have positively influenced them.

Learning Style Assessment: How do you communicate? what does it mean if you have a friend
that is a talker and your not? what interpretation do you attach to that? lets explore, you will be
surprised at what you find!!

Contact SweetGyrl today for more Info:

SweetGyrl's Mission:

We are in the business of helping young women/girls, keep thier minds on the things that mean the most to them. Often time young women get caught up in the hype of Sex, Boys, Smoking weed, ect. Not all but some. We are here to show them, You only have "One Life To Live" and "One Youth". Take this time and "Live it Up" Have fun, focus on your goals, yourself, your dreams, Yes your dreams.

If you have a naysayer about Your dreams, look at the many people out there liveing "Your Dreams". Never take advise from anyone more screwed up than you are. You buy thier advice, You buy thier lifestyle. Learn to love and adore yourselves. When you do that, other people will have ABSOLUTLEY no choice but to LOVE AND ADORE YOU. Spend time with friends, family, and if you must have a boyfriend, that "Celebrates" you not tolerates you!!

I am glad to see that more young people are less sexually active. As teen men, they are not ready for the emotional responsibility or maturity that comes with sex. As young women, your neediness and desire to be loved will not come from that. I am exited about this article.

Teenagers Having Less Sex, Study Finds
By JENNIFER C. KERR,
AP
Posted: 2007-07-13 07:15:37
Filed Under: Health, Nation

WASHINGTON (July 13) - Fewer high school students are having sex these days, and more are using condoms. The teen birth rate has hit a record low.More young people are finishing high school, too, and more little kids are being read to, according to the latest government snapshot on the well-being of the nation's children.

It's good news on a number of key wellness indicators, experts said of the report being released Friday."The implications for the population are quite positive in terms of their health and their well-being," said Edward Sondik, director of the National Center for Health Statistics. "The lower figure on teens having sex means the risk of sexually transmitted diseases is lower."In 2005, 47 percent of high school students - 6.7 million - reported having had sexual intercourse, down from 54 percent in 1991. The rate of those who reported having had sex has remained the same since 2003.

Of those who had sex during a three-month period in 2005, 63 percent - about 9 million - used condoms. That's up from 46 percent in 1991.The teen birth rate, the report said, was 21 per 1,000 young women ages 15-17 in 2005 - an all-time low. It was down from 39 births per 1,000 teens in 1991."This is very good news," said Sondik. "Young teen mothers and their babies are at a greater risk of both immediate and long-term difficulties."The birth rate in the 15-19 age group was 40 per 1,000 in 2005, also down sharply from the previous decade.Education campaigns that started years ago are having a significant effect, said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington-based nonprofit group that focuses on prevention of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

"I think the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the efforts in the '80s and '90s had a lot to do with that," Wagoner said of the improved numbers on teen sex , condoms and adolescent births."We need to encourage young teens to delay sexual initiation and we need to make sure they get all the information they need about condoms and birth control," he said.The report was compiled from statistics and studies at 22 federal agencies, and covered 38 key indicators, including infant mortality, academic achievement rates and the number of children living in poverty.

WHO WE ARE, WHAT WERE ABOUT...

SWEETGYRL OFFERS THE FOLLOWING..

• We are a training center . Currently we offer services to one girl per month. One one Coaching..

• We offer group coaching and one 2 one.

• Career Coaching. Girls today, have really big, big dreams. It's a shame because often time they are around nay sayers or people that say that they can't do.

At SweetGyrl we are here to show you that YOU CAN!! we don't only say you CAN. But we offer, resources, advice, and guidance, as well as linking you with mentors in the related field of work you may be looking to get into.

• Dress for Success is important. No one tells you how to take all of your life experiences paid and unpaid, put it on paper and develop a "functional" resume.
• We teach and explain the diffrences and purpose in resume formats.

• We also show you how to properly fill out an application, not leaving blanks, but filling everything in!! Yes, I know. It's the basics right? But because its the basics, we forget the basic stuff. You have to master the basics before moving on to the big stuff.

• How do you dress for an interview? What colors do you wear? What kind of makeup do you wear? Whats appropriate for you nails and shoes? Hmm, sounds like I hit a nerve.

• What kind of language do you use during the interview, slang? ebonics? or proper english?

• These are just some of the services we offer. Every month we will feature one young lady, from our community. They will get to pilot our services for free. One young lady per month. Then we will expand to the other 5o states.

Stay tuned for our feature young lady!! until then Stay cool!

This is a very ungrateful young woman, she gets a Lexus at 15 years old for her 16th Birthday, and yells at her mom? Watch Video, what do you think about this?

Many young women feel so alone, when they go through life's issues. I am here to tell you that your not alone. There is help out there and people care. If your being molested or abused. Tell somebody, a counselor, a best friend, a minister. Find somebody and report it. Your not alone. Your unique, your special and your truly loved! Enjoy..

Tareyah



I had the wonderful opportunity to Interview the Founder/CEO of Black Girl Fame!! Please read the below Interview, This is is a powerful young lady!! Tareyah, I am so happy with what she is doing for our young women in the Entertainment Industry. Girl Power~~

Tell me more about Black Girl Fame?

Black Girl Fame is a website which supports and promotes young, underrated and Black famous entertainers. The site currently features over 65 girls and we're still growing. What prompted you to start the company/site? I wanted to see more support for young Black entertainers. I knew that if I wanted to see a change I had to do something to make it happen. So, I decided to start Black Girl Fame.

Is it only you or is there a partner?

Well, I'd like to say it's a group effort. I have a team of administrators who work on the site with me and there are many members and parents who help out with the site by contributing news, articles, pictures etc. I am the founder and Super Administrator but the site couldn't have achieved the success it has thus far without the help of all I've mentioned.

How long have you been doing this?

I started Black Girl Fame as a small message board in November 2004 then decided I wanted to go further with it and make it into a website. The site opened in April 2005 and I've been doing it since then.

What kinds of feedback have you been getting as far as the obstacles that Black girls encounter trying to be in the Entertainment business?

Well, it's harder for young Black girls to get quality roles that represent them in a positive way. There aren't many roles, especially lead roles written for them and when there are, the majority of them are built around stereotypes. There's also a lot of competition as there are so many girls and so few jobs.

What kind of services do you offer?

My site helps to gain a lot of exposure for these girls. We introduce new talents and we post regular updates about them and their upcoming projects so that everyone can know what they're doing. We have profiles on the girls which people use to learn more about what they have done and just who the girls are in general. We also provide things like banners that our visitors can use to promote the girls on other websites so that we can hopefully create a bigger fan base for these girls. We have a forum and a really great community among our members.

Have you been able to get famous actresses to support you in your endeavor on what your trying to do?

Actually, since a lot the girls featured on my website are really young they don't directly help out but their parents offer a lot of support. They donate money to help keep the site up, they refer other talents to us and the girls themselves promote our site. It's also the parents who help us keep the site going by contributing news, pictures and things like that; they are very supportive of the motives behind the site and are usually very pleased to learn that their daughters are part of it. I am blessed to have a lot of support! If so who? We've been very fortunate to have contact with so many of the girl we feature. They include; Keke Palmer, Tiffany Evans, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Chelsea Tavares, McClain Sisters ("Daddy's Little Girls"), Parker McKenna Posey, Ashley Monique Clark - and the list goes on.

What are your passions/dreams?

My passion is supporting my people! I have so many goals that I want to accomplish but my main focus at the moment is getting a better education for myself. One of my many dreams is to start a Non-Profit Organization geared towards helping young Black people do something more positive with their lives and become more successful. I'd like to teach them things about the entertainment business as well as teaching them to support one another along the way. Those are just a few of the things I want my organization to offer.

What do you hope to accomplish from this?

There are many things that I'd like to accomplish from the site. I want to encourage other Blacks to support Blacks. I feel that it's the only way that we can really make a change. If we don't support our own people, no one else will. I've seen firsthand that a lot of times, instead of supporting one another Blacks hate on and try to bring each other down. I feel like this is the main reason why our people aren't making any progress. I think it's time we stop blaming others and take a look at ourselves. It's sad to say, but it's true. Also, I'd love for my site to be used as a tool for casting agencies, where they can come to find out more about new Black talents and eventually I hope that by the girls getting more support and exposure there will be more jobs available to them.

What's next for Black Girl Fame?

Well, I've already started branching out from Black Girl Fame, as we recently opened up our site for boys. It's still fairly new but I hope that one day it will be as successful as Black Girl Fame. As for Black Girl Fame, I just want the site to continue to grow with new talents and become more popular with visitors around the world. Any suggestions/advise for girls out there trying to enter the Entertainment industry? KEEP GOD FIRST and NEVER GIVE UP! I've learned from many of our girls that you have to stay focused and really love what you're doing to make it in the industry. It takes a lot of heart and hard work, but if you want it bad enough, you will make it. I would also say that when your work pays off and you are making your way, I will be here to support you on your journey in the best way I can with my two websites.

I just wanted to share, I think this is sooo cute. Simple things in life makes me smile.




Duckling And Puppy - Watch a funny movie here

Mary J. Blige - Reminisce

I REMEMEMBER EXACTLY WHO I WAS,WHAT I WAS DOING, AND WHY I WAS DOING IT. THE YEAR IS 1992, MY SON WAS 2 YEARS OLD! I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, AND I REALLY THOUGHT I HAD THE THING CALLED LIFE FIGURED OUT. ALL THIS AT 21 YEARS OLD.

MARY J. BLIGE...

A TRUE ICON.

I have always been a fan of Mary J. Blige. She represents true Strength, Triumph, and Transformation for and her many fans.

I get goosebumps watching her appear on Oprah, Tyra, and many other shows. We are the same age. I remember how raw, and hot! she was when she came out, I was living the typical hip hop life as a young lady in my early 20's (not that I am old). I was in College, with my 2 year old son Samuel on my back. Life was a hustle, I was working 2 jobs, catching th bus, and having drama with his daddy and his "other would be's. I have to admit, when I first heard her, I did not like her. However as I kept listening to her music I was like DAMNNN!! This chis is HOT!! I started trying to sing like her! (at home of course).

She became my TOP FEMALE RECORDING ARTIST OF ALL TIME. She reminded so much of the 70's music era I grew up listening to.

Bobby Womack
Al Green
Barry White
Brook Benton
Sister Sledge
Chic
Aretha Franklin
Marvin Gay
Curtis Mayfield
Rolls Royce

Heck even the BeeGees's & Andy Gibb was Hot!! The list goes on! anyhow, enjoy the interview!


MARY J. BLIGE: Men, Marriage, Motherhood and 'Mahogany'
Posted May 14th 2007 2:20PM by Karu F. DanielsFiled under: Entertainment Newswire
By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

What is there not to love about Mary J. Blige?
For the past 15 years, we've watched her blossom from a hard-edged, street-savvy new-jill songstress to a critically-acclaimed, polished, much emulated cultural icon.
And 'Essence' magazine has been there every step of the way -- to help chronicle her remarkable journey.Talk about transformation.

The Yonkers, New York-bred Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is gracing the June edition of the best-selling black women's magazine. For her record ninth cover, the recently-married Grammy Award winner gets double exposure -- with two different magazine covers; one very beauty-oriented, the other with her new husband/manager Kendu Isaacs.

In a remarkable photo spread shot by Mark Liddell, the 36-year old Chevy spokeswoman channels the 1976 urban romantic classic 'Mahogany,' which starred Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. (Pick up the actual magazine(s) to see the Asian-inspired centerfold. Very fashion forward!!!)

Together with Isaacs, a former business associate of Queen Latifah who now is a partner of Mary Jane Productions, Blige looks the happiest she's ever been.
They were married Dec. 7, 2003.

And for the first time the royal couple sits down together and talk about their courtship and marriage and how breaking through Mary's pain brought them to love.
"I came from hatred," Blige shared with writer Kierna Mayo. "All my life I've been in a bunch of junk where men were jealous of me. They wanted my career, they wanted money from me-something."Though Isaacs was married (with three children) at the time of their initial meeting, he turned out to be her knight in shining armor. "I said, Damn, he's cute, and then I left it alone because I thought he and Latifah were a couple," she recollected. "I didn't know for sure what was going on, so I went to work. We all hung out later that night, and we got to know each other better."

Blige's doubts of a relationship with Isaacs caused her to question her role in the ending of his marriage. "I thought, 'I can't do this. I'm not a home wrecker,'" she revealed. "I was like, give me a gun and I'll just blow my brains out, because I'm at the point of...like I said...my spirit is dead. There was a lot of pain, so I ran straight into more self-destruction. I was thinking about the wife, I was thinking about the kids, and I was thinking, I just don't want to be responsible for that."

Isaacs clarified to 'Essence' that his first marriage was already dissolving before Blige was "fully on the scene;" He said that today he and his ex-wife have a good relationship.
The six-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter has had her fair share of romantic ups and downs throughout her life. She has mastered the art of connectivity with her massive fan base due to the fact that her music has been an emotional canvas.

Future-wise, Blige contemplates motherhood -- as Isaacs' three children are very much present in their lives. "God's got to be done with me, the low moments and all the insecurities of the past," she confided about the possibilities. "Your kid is around you 24/7. When you have stepchildren, they come around and then they go home. My child is going to be watching me go up and down on the days that I go down. I don't want my child to feel what I felt when I was coming up, what it was like for my mother to hurt all the time. So I have a fear-it's probably one of my biggest fears-a fear of my child suffering, you know, with that energy."

On the professional front, Blige, who recently starred in the CBS series 'Ghost Whisperer'-- has been attached to a Nina Simone biopic project. According to Bridget Bland of 'MTV Radio Networks,' Blige will star in an upcoming episode of HBO's red-hot Hollywood series 'Entourage.'
The June issue of 'Essence' -- with that scandalous Andrea Kelly story in it -- arrived on newsstands, nationally, May 14.

ROCK ON MARY I SO LOVE YOU!!

TEENS WORRY ABOUT ENDING UP ALONE ACCORDING TO STATISTICS.

ALSO I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MORE AND MORE TEENS HAVE BROKEN BARRIERS IN TERMS OF RACE AND RELATIONSHIPS, THAT THEIR PARENTS STILL STRUGGLE WITH.

READ ON...

Youths fear decay of family
Posted by: "freeteensusa" freeteens@aol.com freeteensusa
Fri May 11, 2007 1:30 pm (PST)
Youths fear decay of family By Cheryl Wetzstein. THE WASHINGTON TIMES April 27, 2007 Family breakdown tops the list of concerns for young people when discussing their futures, while getting married and having children are overwhelmingly popular life goals, according to a survey. The findings were released this week by New America Media, in cooperation with the University of California Office of the President and Bendixen & Associates research company.

Young people have a "fear of winding up alone," said Sandy Close,executive director of New America Media, an association for 700ethnic news organizations that was founded in 1996 by the Pacific News Service. Members of the new generation, who spend much of their time on cell phones and text messaging, and "who we think of really as the connected generation is, in a way, most afraid of winding up without intimate connections," she said. There is a "deep yearning for traditional structures and values."

Another hallmark of this generation is its embrace of across-cultural "global society," said Ms. Close. Fifty-three percent of white youths and Asian youths say most of their friends are of a different race/ethnicity, while a smaller 41 percent of blacks andHispanics say the same. Sixty-five percent of those ages 16 to 22said they had dated someone of a different race, and 87 percent said they would be willing to marry someone of a different race. "So this is a generation that has worked through, in their own experience,problems their parents are still wrestling with," Ms. Close said.

The survey asked the 601 youths, 80 percent of whom were born in California, 7 percent elsewhere in the United States and 12 percent outside the United States, to identify "the most pressing issue facing your generation in the world today." Twenty-four percent chose "family breakdown" as their biggest concern, followed by violence in local communities (22 percent),poverty (17 percent) and global warming (14 percent). War and government issues ranked low on the list; drugs,"environmental issues in general," "economic issues" and "racism/discrimination" barely registered. Nearly 90 percent of the youths, who were all interviewed by cellphone, said it was very likely or somewhat likely that they would "be married or have a life partner at some time" in their lives.

The same overwhelming majority also thought it was very or somewhat likely that they would have children. The survey also showed a surprising interest in religion and spirituality: Seventy-three percent said those things were very or somewhat important, and a second question about religious expression found that only 3 percent of youths had no religious expression in their lives. The faithfulness of youths contrasts with other poll data that rank California as having the "highest percentage agnostic' adults in the United States," New America Media said. The poll's margin of error is four percentage points. Source:

(http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070427-121505-3193r.htm)

"DRESS FOR SUCCESS WITH SWEETGYRL"

AS YOU ARE AWARE SWEETGYRL INC IS A PROGRAM FOR TEEN GYRLS. WE PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, DRESS FOR SUCCESS, WHY HATE THE OTHER GYRL, MATH & SCIENCE CAREERS, AND WHY HATE THE OTHER GYRL. TODAY MANY GYRLS DO NOT HAVE THE TRAINING OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW TO "NOT" DRESS FOR WORK OR INTERVIEWS.

THIS ARTICLE WILL SHED LIGHT ON SOME OF THE DO'S & DON T'S.

10 Crimes of Work Fashion

Laura Morsch, CareerBuilder.com writer

Fair or not, appearance matters in the workplace. Just ask Desiree Goodwin. The Harvard assistant librarian sued the university in 2005, claiming she was rejected for jobs or passed over for promotions 16 times because her supervisors viewed her as just as "pretty girl" who "wore sexy outfits," according to media reports.

When it comes to professional perception, clothes make a difference. According to a survey by Office Team, an administrative staffing firm, 80 percent of workers say a person's work wardrobe affects his or her professional image.

This means that dressing appropriately is a must if you want to be taken seriously at work. But knowing what's acceptable attire isn't easy in today's workplace. Business-casual dress codes vary widely between companies, and even between departments. The following items, however, are almost never acceptable to wear to work:

1. The crime: Poor-fitting clothing
Too-tight clothing is never flattering and usually too revealing, but too-baggy clothes make you look sloppy and unprofessional. Pant length also matters -- if you're showing too much sock or leg, expect to be teased all day about an upcoming flood.

Redemption: Find a good tailor. It's a rare person who actually looks good in clothes directly off the rack. Buy an item to fit the fullest parts of your body, and the tailor can nip in the rest.

2. The crime: Too much perfume or cologne
You never want your co-workers or clients to smell you before they see you, and a colleague could be severely allergic to your favorite scent.

Redemption: Apply perfume or cologne with an extremely light hand. If you spritz too much, put some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and dab off the excess.

3. The crime: Shorts or too-short skirts
Showing too much leg is never a good professional move -- for women or men. Revealing a little leg makes men appear overly casual or sloppy, and makes women look more sexy than serious.

Redemption: Men should stick with long pants, and women should wear shorts or skirts that hit within an inch-and-a-half of the knee.

4. The crime: Out-of-control hair
Whether it's frizzy coifs or bushy beards, wild hair just doesn't look professional.

Redemption: Women should invest in a good haircut and some styling products that can reduce poufiness and make hair easier to manage. Men should keep their facial hair well-trimmed, or better yet, go clean-shaven.

5. The crime: Dirty, ripped or torn jeans
Even on casual Fridays, ripped jeans look too dirty and messy for the workplace.

Redemption: When you do choose to wear jeans to work, make sure they are well-fitting and in extremely good condition.

6. The crime: Cleavage
There are very few legitimate jobs where showing off your chest is a good career move.

Redemption: Cover up. Whenever possible, avoid wearing anything low-cut to the office. If you can't part with your V-neck shirts, simply buy a few camisole shirts to wear underneath them.

7. The crime: Tank tops
Showing too much skin in the office is never a good idea, and tank tops are especially inappropriate for men.

Redemption: If it's hot outside and you're going out with friends after work, simply keep a cardigan at your desk to cover up. That way, you'll stay comfortable in frigid air conditioning and look professional when your boss stops by.

8. The crime: Noisy jewelry
An armload of bangles or long, dangling earrings are perfect choices for a bar, but downright distracting in the office.

Redemption: Keep your office jewelry simple. A small pendant, stud earrings and a delicate bracelet look much more professional than trendy pieces. Save your flashier jewelry for happy hour.

9. The crime: Gym attire
Even in the most casual workplaces, yoga pants, shorts, T-shirts and running shoes make you look sloppy and apathetic.

Redemption: At the very least, wear nice jeans and professional-looking shoes. If you're going to the gym or catching a flight after work, change into your comfortable clothes in the bathroom on the way out.

10. The crime: Extremely high heels
Extremely high heels are too sexy for the workplace -- not to mention impractical. Few things would be more embarrassing than wobbling or tripping over your extreme footwear in front of the boss.

Redemption: The highest heels you should wear to the office are 2 to 3 inches. That way, you'll actually be able to walk in them, and they'll be comfortable enough to wear all day. You might feel shorter, but you'll no longer fear grates or sidewalk cracks.

Copyright 2006 CareerBuilder.com.

BREAK UP TO MAKE UP? NOT SO FAST! LEARN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP STYLES NOW! READ BELOW..

Relationship Relapse

By Meredith Broussard
Courtesy of Match.com's Happen magazine

In medical terms, a "relapse" happens when you think you've suffered through the worst of an illness and feel like you're on the road to recovery, until bam! -- out of the blue, your symptoms return, sending you back to bed with a box of Kleenex. Now, "relationship relapse," on the other hand, is not an official medical diagnosis. But that doesn't mean it's not very, very real to the people it strikes.

Here's what happens: Just when you think you're starting to get over your ex and realize all the flaws in your relationship, you run into him or her somewhere. Maybe it's accidental, or you make an excuse to get together -- perhaps for the sake of closure. You try to be just friends, sure. But you end up hanging out, and maybe you start sitting dangerously close to one another. Promises are made. There is kissing, a brief feeling of euphoria, and then bam! You're back in bed together, along with all of your old dysfunctional patterns: renting movies, fighting over silly things, wondering if there is anyone better out there.

If this scenario sounds all too familiar -- or maybe you're living it as you read this -- I'm here to warn you that relationship relapse can be deadly to your dating life. That's because by revisiting your past, you're taking yourself off the market -- thus preventing you from finding The One. So, the next time you're tempted to slip back into an old relationship, check out these tips instead.

Rx No. 1: Purge ex-related toxins from your environment.
You'll forget your ex faster without any reminders, so you should immediately begin to remove all traces of him or her from your life. First step: cell phone. Erase your ex's name, digits, friends, pictures. This way, you're not tempted to call -- and you won't "accidentally" dial (Freud would say there are no accidents.) Next, purge your computer: Erase photos, e-mails, files, anything having to do with your ex. If you have trouble letting go, burn everything onto a CD and hide it someplace. Finally, take all the physical evidence (clothes, gifts, artwork, sporting equipment, etc.), and get rid of it. You may want to have a yard sale -- this is the perfect opportunity to clear your clutter and make way for the new single you. If you get hives at the idea of throwing away perfectly good stuff, try making a box: Take everything that reminds you of your ex, pack it up in a cardboard box, and stash it in your attic.

Rx No. 2: Avoid using alcohol as anesthesia.
Drinking, while an effective way to numb post-breakup pain, also lowers your resistance to infection -- from germs and from ex-lovers. Think of it this way: When you get sick, you get emotional. Maybe you feel sorry for yourself, maybe you decide you don't just want your ex, but you need your ex to help you through. And once your ex drops by with orange juice and tissues, it's all over. And, of course, we probably don't need to tell you that getting blotto can also lead to Drink and Dial episodes, where it seems like a good idea to call your ex at 3 a.m. No surprise here, but these calls never go well. We're not saying you need to be a teetotaler, but it's best to figure out what's driving your urge to imbibe. See which way your mood is headed by asking yourself: Do you want a refill because you're having fun with your friends, or because you're not having fun since you wish your ex were around? If you're leaning toward the latter answer, order a seltzer.

Rx No. 3: Safeguard yourself against emotional stress.
You're cruising along with your recovery when wham! -- you get canned from your job, a pet dies, or you hit some other personal crisis. Think it's OK to lean on your ex for a spell until you're back on your feet? Tempting, sure, but no. Just ask Ellen Rosenholz from Philadelphia. "My ex-boyfriend said, 'I don't want a girlfriend' so we broke up," she recalls. "Then, my pet died and I had to call him. And he had to take me out to dinner to comfort me ... I realized that I missed him." They got back together immediately, but it didn’t last long; he was compassionate, but he still wasn't ready to commit.

Since times of personal crisis are so unstable, the impulse to run towards someone who's served as a rock in your recent past is understandable. Keep in mind, though, that your ex isn't the only person who cares about you. Your mom, dad or best friend from high school would probably all be happy to come to your emotional aid. Plan ahead and identify a friend or family member you can call in times of need.

Rx No. 4: Abstain from ex sex at all costs.
Breakup sex, once more for old times' sake, friends with benefits -- all of these things are delusions if you're really trying to avoid relationship relapse. One midnight booty call leads to another, and before you know it you're back to the same old argument over who gets first dibs on the Sunday Op-Ed page. Rachel Cope from Miami can relate: "I was dating a guy for a year and a half and actually had planned on ending the relationship -- then he broke up with me," she recalls. "We did the breakup sex thing, which led to an awful limbo in which we weren't together but I gave myself up at the drop of a hat, and then went to my room and cried hysterically ... Then I realized that even if things did go back to normal between the two of us, that normal had never been that great." Rachel took decisive action and ended the relationship.

Need some ideas of what to do instead? Make a list of all the things you disliked about your ex or about the relationship. Carry it in your wallet and consult it whenever you're tempted to re-establish intimate contact. Then, get busy (not in that way!): Pick up a new hobby, go on an adventure, or travel somewhere you've always wanted to visit. Join a club or group that involves meeting new people and getting out of the house regularly. You never know who's out there…and that's your better bet than revisiting your past.

Meredith Broussard is the editor of a new anthology 'The Encyclopedia of Exes: 26 Stories by Men of Love Gone Wrong.' Her website is www.failedrelationships.com.

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Hip Hop's Simmons wants to remove offensive words

By Daniel Trotta Mon Apr 23, 2:27 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prominent U.S. hip-hop executive Russell Simmons on Monday recommended eliminating the words "bitch," "ho" and "nigger" from the recording industry, considering them "extreme curse words."

The call comes less than two weeks after radio personality Don Imus' nationally syndicated and televised radio show was canceled amid public outcry over Imus calling a women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."

Simmons, co-founder of the Def Jam label and a driving force behind hip-hop's huge commercial success, called for voluntary restrictions on the words and setting up an industry watchdog to recommend guidelines for lyrical and visual standards.

"We recommend that the recording and broadcast industries voluntarily remove/bleep/delete the misogynistic words 'bitch' and 'ho' and the racially offensive word 'nigger'," Simmons and Benjamin Chavis, co-chairmen of the advocacy group Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, said in a statement.

"These three words should be considered with the same objections to obscenity as 'extreme curse words'," it said.

Ho is slang for whore and commonly used in hip-hop music while nigger, a derogatory term for blacks, is among the most highly charged insults in American culture. The slur "nappy," used by Imus, describes the tightly curled hair of many African Americans.

CHANGING STANCE

Monday's statement changed course from another one by Simmons and Chavis dated April 13, a day after Imus' show was canceled, in which they said offensive references in hip-hop "may be uncomfortable for some to hear, but our job is not to silence or censor that expression."

The Imus controversy stoked a debate in the United States about how to deal with inflammatory words that are widely considered highly offensive but at the same time commonly and casually used in youth culture.

Jesse Jackson have led the charge to suppress offensive words while many artists have argued for freedom of expression. New York City declared a symbolic moratorium on the so-called N-word in February.

"Our internal discussions with industry leaders are not about censorship. Our discussions are about the corporate social responsibility of the industry to voluntarily show respect to African Americans and other people of color, African American women and to all women in lyrics and images," the statement from Simmons and Chavis said on Monday.

The network recommended the formation of a Coalition on Broadcast Standards that would consist of leading executives from music, radio and television.