I always thought only rich ladies got plastic surgery, but a recent encounter with my 42-year-old neighbor has almost changed my mind. She works as a plastic surgeon’s assistant. I have known this lady for about two years. She is normal in every way (average appearance, middle-class income, and nice)–with the exception that she’s excessively tomboyish. When the Superbowl was on several weeks ago, for example, I could actually hear her yelling—including bouts of both cheering and cursing—from my place a few doors down.

Why am I telling you about this lady? Well, she clued me in on some shocking information. First, she has had at least two plastic surgery procedures performed. And secondly, she informed me that some procedures are affordable for people like her and me. (By “people like her and me,” I mean people who look relatively plain, are not hideously ugly, nor atrociously rich—and by no means glamorous or high-maintenance.) We ended up talking about common procedures. I’m just going to share what I learned, and you use this information as you see fit. Here’s the nitty gritty:

• Breast augmentation: The cost ranges from $5K to $10K, but could be more depending on where you live and how famous your surgeon is.
• Breast lift: This procedure is for those who simply need a little help fighting gravity in the chest area. It costs about $4 to $9K, again depending on where you are located and who the surgeon is.
• Forehead lift: This one was a surprise—it is very, very common and costs $2K to $8K. See, I could actually do this one.
• Liposuction: This can be done all over the body. The cost could be as low as $2Kto $5K for the outer or inner thighs to $3K to $8K for the abdomen. Many patients apparently request a combination of areas, but these price ranges are for individual areas.
• Tummy tuck: The cost ranges from $5K to $10K—it can get pricey because this procedure is often combined with liposuction.

No one is saying that I am sprinting to the local plastic surgeon to get my breasts, forehead, and tummy fixed. But I am a little surprised at the costs—I thought they were much higher. In addition, the fact that my neighbor works in an office and feels safe doing the procedures just kind of made me realize—hey, this stuff isn’t just for glamorous movie stars who get plastic surgery in Orange County and Hollywood. Apparently, regular people can enhance their appearances through plastic surgery too! If they so choose, of course. That’s an interesting revelation for this normal girl.

Do you know what I love? Discovering that I can afford luxurious things. I recently visited a tanning salon and spa—and guess what—it was completely affordable. Do you know how excited I am about this? Well, if you could see how hot I look right now, you would understand. Sorry—that sounds immodest. But it’s true–tans make people look attractive, thin, and healthy—and that’s exactly the effect this visit had on me!

For over a year, one of my close friends has been going to this salon called Planet Beach. They recently had a special (which they are still having); my friend gave me a coupon, and I finally went for a visit. My only regret—I should have done this much sooner. Planet Beach is the largest spa franchise in the world—they have 360 locations. You can tell because they clearly know what they’re doing. They have really state-of-the-art equipment and tanning methods like Mystic Tan (spray-on tan). I visited the location nearest my current humble abode in West LA. For readers in my area, this branch is located at 12203 Santa Monica Blvd. It is one block west of Bundy Dr. in the heart of West L.A. They have three levels of free parking.

So, I walk in and sense they must be doing aromatherapy—the place not only looks, but also smells exquisite. The attendant was really polite and told me about the different tanning beds: lay-down, stand-up, and the one I finally chose–the massage bed. Do you have any idea how nice it feels to lie down on a massage bed? If not, suffice to say you really should give it a try. My skin is still tingling. They also offer facials, skin care, and hydration therapy there. I am going to try each service.
If you want to try out any of these services, now is the time. The salon I visited is offering 3 Free Tans or 1 Free Spa Session. Coupons can be printed at http://www.westlatanning.com/coupons.html. I truly recommend it–I am so glad I visited!

The decline of the dollar has made European travel frustratingly expensive! For any of you who are unwilling to just sit back and accept that you’ll never again be able to make an exciting, exotic trip abroad—I have a suggestion: start researching Cape Town.

Cost and exchange rates aside, Cape Town a must-see tourist destination. This city is the most popular destination for visitors to South Africa—and there are many reasons. The natural surroundings include mountains and breathtaking views of both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The infrastructure of the city is well-developed, and there are several natural landmarks in the area. The most famous of these is Table Mountain, which branches into Table Mountain National Park. This is located at the end of the City Bowl. Tourists can take a cable car to the top of the mountain; however, hiking up is also an option. Chapman’s Peak Drive is a narrow road that links Noordhoek with Hout Bay—tourists drive along it to soak in unforgettable views of the Atlantic Ocean and nearby mountains.

Many tourists come exclusively for Cape Town’s beautiful beaches. Each beach has a different setting and atmosphere, and it is possible to visit several in the same day. Get ready though—the Benguela current from the Southern Ocean makes the water along the Atlantic coast very cold! False Bay beaches are on the Indian Ocean side of Cape Town–and tend to be about 15 to 20 degrees warmer. Both coasts are equally popular, though the beaches along the Atlantic Coast are more lively with restaurants and cafés, including the well-known strip of restaurants and bars at Camps Bay. Close by, visitors travel to Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town to see its colony of African penguins. This is also a popular destination for surfers, as this city hosts the yearly Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing competition.

Cape Town is an excellent city to visit—both for experienced travelers or those taking their first trip abroad. It is a navigable city close to every kind of destination tourists love—beaches, mountains, fine dining, and great shopping. Anyone interested in visiting Cape Town or other destinations in South Africa might want to take a look at a site like LuxExperience, which offers local tour packages in the region.

Is your wardrobe suffering from the economy? I know mine is! In the constant quest to keep myself looking at least semi-professional, I am always on the lookout for classic styles and high-quality fabric. Now more than ever seems like a good time to buy classic styles rather than the latest trends, items in colors that all match one another, and shoes that will match every possible combination of colors! It never fails that after a day of really prudent shopping, the rebel in me insists on getting something like florescent pink shoes that will go with nothing else I own—but I’m fighting that urge like mad these days.

There are numerous other issues with my personal wardrobe recession. Like everyone, I have other things that need purchasing. Things around the house need fixing. My car needs a ton of fixing. I need to make a trip to see my family…in the order of priority, my tennis shoes that are falling apart just aren’t really making it to the top of the priority ladder. However, it’s time to buy some clothes. This afternoon, I’m going to reward my recent fashion deprivation efforts, which have resulted in wisely allocated funds to my 401(k) account and my immediate savings, with an online trip to Chic Star. This store carries everything from capri pants to jackets, fabrics ranging from shimmery to denim and everything in between. However, because it’s also affordable, my little shopping sojourn will neither deplete my bank account nor ruin the progress I’ve made in getting my finances in order!

Wish me luck. And by that, I mean self-control! I want to take a small online shopping sojourn, not an online shopping rampage!

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.

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!