I am sensing that this blog might need the occasional sports update–no? Let’s experiment with just this one—after all, Super Bowl Sunday is coming up. Now granted, most readers of this blog are not likely to be big Super Bowl followers, but that’s okay. I feel very in the know about the Super Bowl this year because I have several family members who are huge Pittsburgh Steelers fanatics. In fact, they are so fanatical about the Steelers that I grew up a little nervous as Super Bowl Sundays approached, especially those involving Steelers and Cowboys games. But those days are behind me, and Super Bowl 2009 is between the Steelers and the Cardinals.

For me, the fact that the Steelers are going to participate in yet another Super Bowl means many upcoming years of gloating or sadness each time the phrase “Super Bowl 2009” is spoken at family gatherings. Thank goodness the Steeler fans are the only big sporting fanatics in the family—if I were related to any serious Arizona Cardinals fans, for example, we would no doubt be facing several years of extremely acrimonious family gatherings. But we aren’t. Only gatherings that sound the same as all the others with stories about MVPs like Mean Joe Green, Terry Bradshaw, Ben Roethlisberger, and Willie Stargell—oh, wait, he was a Pirate, not a Steeler, but an outstanding player who deserves a great deal of recognition—just not in this post.

Everyone get ready for Super Bowl Sunday. I know I’m ready. Steelers coach Tomlin said he didn’t have anything planned to tell the team before the game. He says that he prefers to “wing it” when it comes to motivational speeches. I’m trying to gear up. I might need a natural energy enhancer, but after that, look out Super Bowl 2009—here I come.

Today, U.S. President Barack Obama took the Oath of Office to become the 44th President of the United States. With this oath, Obama became the first African-American president in U.S. history.
It’s amazing to fathom the number of times today’s date, January 20, 2009, will be repeated throughout the coming years, decades, and even centuries.

In his Inauguration speech, Obama reminds Americans to place “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord” in a speech that brought cheers, tears, and sobs to a crowd of over one million spectators who braved subzero temperatures to be a part of history in the making.

With his fresh, super-celebrity status and his cool exterior, it is almost easy to forget that the hopes of so many millions of people all over the world rest square on his shoulders–he is, after all, in spite of all of the historic grandeur, just one human being.

Welcome to office, Mr. President! Your journey to office has been an unpredictable, inspiring journey. We wish you and your family the wisdom, strength, and support you will need in the coming weeks, months, and years!

Goodbye Bush

Following the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, Mr. Bush and his wife Laura embarked on their journey back to Texas. Per the tradition, the new president and his wife walked the now former president and former first lady to the chopper to wave goodbye.

The Bush family will take part in a homecoming celebration. Then, they’ll go to their ranch in Crawford as private citizens for the first time in eight years.

Crawford has prepared carefully for the festivities; some streets there having been closed since Friday. This seems prudent considering that nearly each one of 20,000 free tickets to attend have been handed out.

In Monday’s edition of the Midland Reporter-Telegram, County Republican Chairwoman Sue Brannon said, “The president said at the White House Christmas party that he left from Midland and was coming home to Midland because we’re the ones who are his friends and great supporters and he wanted to be with us when he left Washington.”

The event will feature big names in entertainment, including Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Rodney Atkins, and Lee Greenwood.  Former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush will be traveling with George W. Bush, but the couple is not expecting to participate in the rally.

There’s nothing sadder to a consummate shopper than seeing a store or chain of stores forced to close. Sure, the final liquidation of the stock might serve as a bargain-hunter’s dream, but that only serves as a short-lived thrill. And the loss of a shopping opportunity pales in comparison to the people who are out of a job and, in some cases, the loss of a major contributor to the community.

We also have to admit there is a certain sentimentality involved. When the closure is of a major name that’s been a feature of the American consumer landscape for decades, it’s far sadder. Such is the case with the loss of Circuit City–maybe not the hottest shopping spot for us girls more into fashion than tech, but still one of our favorite places to pick up movies, music, and little electronic gifts for our friends. The announcement that Circuit City will shutter all of their stores and liquidate their entire stock shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise to anyone who has been following the news. The retailer filed Chapter 11 back in November, and any company would be hard-pressed to find a buyer with the economy the way it is at the moment. But still, it is a sad day, and a sign of just how hard the current recession is hitting retailers. This is one of the largest retailer bankruptcies in recent months, and we can only hope that there aren’t more to follow.

While many people still consider tech to be a “guy thing”, the truth is that plenty of woman these days are quite savvy when it comes to the latest developments in gadgets. After all, we use computers, take photos, listen to music, and make cell phone calls just as much as (or more than) our male counterparts. Everyone loves devices that can make their life easier, and quite a few of us enjoy shopping for them too.

One of the newest trends in computers that we’re really excited about are netbooks. If you haven’t heard about them, netbooks are basically ultracompact laptops–and we when we say ultracompact, we mean under three pounds–perfect for taking with you on the go. The screens generally range from 7″ to 9″ in size, the operating system is usually Windows XP or Linux, and options are available for standard hard drives or solid state (much smaller but far sturdier when on the go.) Because of the small size, the keyboard on a netbook can be somewhat cramped or uncomfortable to use. But if you’re jotting down notes, sending off a few e-mails, surfing the Web, or watching a movie, you probably won’t mind it too much.

Asus was one of the first brands to get on this trend, but now more well-known companies such as HP and Dell are jumping on the netbook boat. With so many options available, you’re pretty likely to find a netbook that meets your needs. And the best thing about these little beauties? The price matches the size, with most available for under $500.

The credit crisis might seem like old news with the current downturn in the economy. Everyone is focused on ugly little words like “recession” and “unemployment.” Who has time to worry about issues like credit, either on the national or personal level?

You should. As more and more people find it harder to make ends meet each month, they may find themselves tempted to try and maintain the lifestyle they’re accustomed to by simply charging what they want and paying it back later. No harm, right? After all, when times are tough, we do what we can to keep our spirits afloat. A night on the town here or a new bit of tech there certainly can’t hurt.

Except that it can. That is the mindset that has gotten quite a few people in trouble, from individuals to multinational corporations. The whole mindset of operating beyond our means has become embedded in the national consciousness. It’s something that needs to change and soon.

There is a question of whose fault that would be (one of the other things people love to do is point fingers.) In this case, it’s hard to say. On the individual level, there doesn’t seem to be an actual system for educating people on the responsible use of credit cards. Many youngsters getting their cards for the first time immediately dive into unhealthy spending habits that will take them years to make up for. Perhaps they’re emulating the same behavior they have seen from their parents. Until someone finds a way to break this cycle and change this mindset, the best we can do is be as responsible as we can for ourselves.

Everyone wants to have the kind of perfect skin that they see on TV and in magazines day in and day out. Even though most people know that makeup, lighting, and airbrushing are actually responsible, it can still seem like we’re being inundated with perfection, brining our own flaws to the forefront of our minds. While it’s important to remain realistic about what we can expect from our bodies and ourselves, the fact remains that the beauty industry is a massive one as women like us (and men as well) try to reach for the unattainable, or at least be the most beautiful that we can be.

With so many skin care options available, it can seem impossible to narrow down the possibilities to the ones that are worth trying and buying. One new line that we feel looks promising is Skin by Monica. What makes this skin solution stand out from the rest of the pack? The line was founded by model Monica Olsen — who better to know what your face needs than someone who makes a living off of hers? The aim of the line is to provide the best nature has to offer and incorporate the latest scientific advances. You can check out all of the products in the line and learn more about Monica’s philosophy for skincare by visiting skinbymonica.com. Maybe you can’t achieve the flawless features of your favorite model or actor, but it doesn’t hurt to take care of your skin and put your best face forward.

You know what occurred to me after having a fine lunch with an old friend today? Everyone who wants to be a rich girl needs to know all about martinis. Fortunately for me, you don’t have to be rich to drink a martini. You can even make your own—which is precisely why I’m able to drink them non-stop. Ha ha! Kidding, just kidding.

So, what do beginners need to know about martinis? For starters, this fine beverage is made with gin and dry vermouth (pronounced “ver-mooth”). Gin is a type of liquor flavored with juniper berries, and vermouth is a fortified wine flavored with herbs. Moving right along, a real martini is never truly complete unless garnished with an olive. In some cases, a sliver of lemon peel will do. However, if you want to look like a pro—and we rich-girl wannabes sure do—go with the olive.

For a classic martini, you want to mix four ounces of gin with half an ounce of dry vermouth. Some prefer to go lighter on the vermouth, however, which is perfectly fine. In this case, rather than a four-to-one mix (meaning four parts gin, one part vermouth), go for a five or six-to-one mix. If you want to look like you know all about martinis, don’t mix this drink in a shaker. Serve it straight up (without ice), and by all means, chill that cocktail glass. Please note that at a party, my best friend once tried to serve a martini in a wine glass—unless looking dumb is your thing, avoid such faux pas at all costs. And about the olive—simply slip it into the drink as the last step. If your guests want a “dirty martini,” add a little olive juice to the drink before placing the olive in—this relaxes the taste of the fine drink you just mixed.

Now, more on the glassware. Hopefully we all understand that a martini requires a certain type of glass! If you didn’t know that, well, water under the bridge…but by all means, keep reading and stay focused. A cocktail glass (otherwise known as a martini glass or stem cocktail glass) looks sort of like a wine glass, except rather than a round bowl, it is cone shaped. In addition, whereas wine glasses have a narrow rim, cocktail glasses flare outward. So in laymen’s terms, martini glasses kind of look like an upside down triangle. See examples at a fine online store and just all around fun website to browse–MartiniWare.com. Here, you can truly get a taste of all of the thought and preparation that go into making and serving martinis.

Hopefully you will have some very fun uses for this informative post! When you mix your first martini, be sure to let me know how it goes!

There’s nothing more annoying than going on a hot date looking dazzlingly gorgeous when your beau looks like a total slouch. As evidenced by articles and blogs by women all over cyberspace, the clothes guys wear can make marriage funny and relationships annoying! Sometimes a girl just has to step in and give her guy some tips. Or even better, just buy him some darn clothes.

I don’t know about you, but the places my guy seems to have the most trouble dressing for are events like job interviews, weddings, black-tie-optional events (i.e., basically any occasion requiring a suit). Some guys don’t have suits. Even worse than this, some guys have old, ugly suits that they think look just right. That’s really annoying, but it can be fixed without too much hassle.

Considering the sales going on right now, you rich girls can buy a ton of clothing for your well-intentioned but poorly dressed significant other. One of my favorite online stores is Menswearecollection.com (don’t forget the “e” in the middle). This place has every type of suit you can imagine and more. Here is just a brief list of what your guy can find here:

• Four-button suit
• Two-button suit
• Suit separates
• Tuxedo
• Sport coat and blazer
• Winter coats and raincoats

This is a great first stop for anyone looking to spruce up the wardrobe of your favorite guy. Be it your boyfriend, hubby, or even dear ole Dad, he might need some assistance in the wardrobe department. Be there for him (and yourself). No event is fun when you feel embarrassed about looking drab. Get that guy some clothes, and then reward him by taking him out for a fun night on the town!