Marilyn Anderson’s Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp

“Someday my prince will come. What a romantic thought! And like millions of little girls, I grew up believing it. Why? Simply because I loved fairytales.”

-Marilyn Anderson, Author

Marilyn Anderson is an author, playwright, dating expert, spokeswoman, comedian, bio-chemist, and founder of Frogaholics Anonymous.  Her book, Never Kiss a Frog, has made quite an impact on single women everywhere. People have named her the “dating guru.” And she has offered dating advice to Complete Woman, and Teen People Magazine.

Since writing her book, Marilyn has been interviewed on several talk shows, and she has appeared on “Extreme Makeover” as a dating expert. Her popularity from her book, Never Kiss a Frog, hit a familiar nerve with both men and women worldwide.  It is now published in several languages. Marilyn boasts that Never Kiss a Frog has even been pirated. (To her chagrin, she actually prefers the pirated version). Since the book’s popularity in 2003, Anderson has been in the process of writing part two, Never Kiss a Frog Again.

What makes Marilyn an authority?

“I’ve been single forever. I’ve dated the rich and the homeless, the tall and the pygmy, the tan and the albino. I’ve met frogs on beach towels and ski lifts, in supermarkets and meat markets. I’ve met them on park benches, bench-pressing, and one who was pressing his pants. Once, my hairdresser’s gynecologist gave my number to a man on a passing gurney! Oh yeah, I’ve had blind dates and bland dates. The only date I haven’t had is a wedding date.”

While reading Marilyn’s book, I laughed so hard at her hilarious dating mishaps and ironic truths. I honestly don’t know one woman who hasn’t bought into the myth that if you kissed enough frogs, one of them might eventually become a prince. Or maybe somewhere in this world there is a prince disguised as a frog. I can recall recent conversations with my female friends, telling them not to be so critical of what Marilyn describes as frogs, and to give their poor toads a chance. But just as my mother and grandmother did, I too am guilty of passing down this perverse falsehood that maybe a frog could turn into a prince.

In Marilyn’s book, there are a plenty of examples of frogs. Anderson manages to add a comical tone, along with the unflattering comparisons, to the wart-infested reptile. She came up with several interesting, yet disturbingly true, descriptions for each type of frog we should definitely avoid, and the list is very long.

First, there is the Long-Term-Go-Nowhere Frog. This wart-infested undesirable is afraid of commitment, yet he will continue to string you along until only you are strong enough to break it off. I have experienced that frog before—more than once in my lifetime. Marilyn gives an example of how she and her boyfriend hung out for years but never really had a commitment.

“This kind of relationship is dangerous, because you can get lulled into a false sense of security, and your best years are wasted.”

Another one of Anderson’s frogs I dated was the Really-Nice-Guy-But-Really-Bad-Kisser Frog. How many of those did I encounter when I was single? There were too many to count. The other frogs consist of Horny Toads, Mama’s Frogs, the Flattery Frog, Obsessed-With-His-Body Frog, and the list continues to grow.

When it comes to self-help dating books, I am a veteran; I’ve read the gamut:Maybe He’s Just a Jerk; Women Men Love, Women Men Leave; Men Who Can’t Love; Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus; Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives; The Sensual Woman, etc.; yet I am by no means an expert on the subject. If I were, you would think I could have gotten it right eventually. But just like a-hard-to-rid tick, dating for me was more a knee-jerk reaction, not the satisfying, potentially pleasant experience I was promised. Instead, it was a horrible journey from which I barely survived.

Never Kiss a Frog brings everything into perspective. Marilyn Anderson’s cute little quips make light of an otherwise arduous, and in my opinion, overrated, outdated ritual. I asked Anderson how she was able to identify these frogs so easily. She stated that she dated most of them. Then again, who hasn’t dated a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Frog, or even a Toadal Makeover? I wish this book had been handy when I was dating amphibians. I must have kissed at least a few dozen frogs myself. Damn that book The Frog Princess. This fairytale by Sondra Eklund is about a princess who meets a frog, kisses him and breaks a witch’s spell.  The frog transforms into a handsome prince. They marry and live happily ever after. That one book may have single-handedly caused even the most rational women to act irrationally when it comes to dating. And Marilyn thinks the fairytale is the most likely suspect responsible for today’s dating woes.

During our interview, Anderson also pointed out that part of meeting the right guy is about making the right choices. But how does a girl recognize a frog? That has been a burning question for centuries. From Casanova to Henry the Eighth, women didn’t stand a chance back then, and we can barely survive the dating swamp now. With the abundance of dating books out there, sifting through the mire can be a complicated, time-consuming, icky job. Luckily, Marilyn’s Never Kiss a Frog simplifies the process for us. She explains in detail which frogs we must avoid.

The book’s packaging is very clever, too. The artwork was deliberate on Marilyn’s part. Resembling a pamphlet, the cartoon frog ne’er-do-wells appeal to a surprisingly wide audience, ranging from pre-pubescent girls—to fed-up divorcees—to single moms. If pre-teens memorized Anderson’s book before they turned sixteen, they might just escape the horrors the past generations endured.

Even though Marilyn Anderson’s book is an easy read (it took me less than an hour to get through it), don’t be fooled.  There are pearls of wisdom jumping off her double-spaced ninety-six-page book. I advise all single women to keep this “reference guide” close at hand. You never know when you’re going to need to quickly identify a frog.  Anderson even guides those women who are not sure whether or not they are actually dating a frog. She has various hilarious sections to help you remove all your doubts. She has footnotes disguised as cooking recipes.  She even devised an adorable frog family album with disturbingly familiar tender frog-types. For the game board lover, Anderson’s Frogopoly is the next best thing to Monopoly when it comes to spotting the hard to detect frogs.

But in all seriousness, Marilyn does point out that just as one person’s junk might be another person’s treasure, one woman’s frog could give another woman pleasure; and don’t throw out your prince if he has only a few minor frog qualities. After all, nobody is perfect. Her light-hearted tone is a pleasant reminder not to take this whole dating thing too seriously. Keep in mind, if you notice early in your relationship that he has frog qualities, just toss him out before you get too attached.

“A frog doesn’t have to be a bad guy.  He could be a good guy, but if he’s not the right guy to walk you down the aisle, he’s a frog, and you should throw him back into the pond.”

To learn more about Never Kiss a Frog, visit Marilyn Anderson’s website atwww.neverkissafrog.com.

Interview and book review by Kaylene Peoples

Chaz Dean, Creator of WEN: Changing the World One Head at a Time.

Chaz Dean, the Creator of WEN: Changing the World One Head at a Time

Chaz Dean is a stylist, photographer, and inventor. He has a celebrity client list that includes the cast of “Desperate Housewives,” Alicia Keys, Ellen Degeneres, Paula Abdul, Laura Dern, Charlize Theron, and countless more, and his revolutionary non-shampooing cleanser is changing the way we view our hair.

Harsh detergents and sodium laurel/laurel sulfates found in most shampoos inspired Chaz’s ingenuity. We agreed that most inventions came about out of sheer necessity. The development of WEN, Chaz’s universal hair cleanser, was no different.

WEN is formulated with the perfect balance of herbs and natural ingredients to eliminate shampooing without sacrificing the beauty of your hair. WEN is a new approach to the way you cleanse your hair.

In high school, Chaz Dean started in photography. After he completed high school, he wanted to incorporate those visions he saw in his head with photography without relying on others. It was that very element that got him into hair. So he went to school for hair, andafter graduating, he moved back to Los Angeles and pursued a career in hair and color. Hair was a passion for Chaz. Eventually, his photography took a back seat. In 1985, Chaz worked for a company that had its own product line, but the company didn’t have its own deep conditioner.

“I always wondered why we ordered high pro packs from other companies.”

That very company asked him to develop a deep conditioner. In 1986, he jumped at the opportunity, and 9 months later, the same company asked him to help them develop a “natural” product line. At the time, Aveda was the only natural product line out there. And a year later, Chaz developed another product which is now called Sexy Concepts for which he developed the Primrose Shampoo, Sage Conditioner, and Rosemary Conditioner which arrived on the market in 1989. Shortly after that, Chaz began developing his own “non-shampoo.”

“I got tired of my clients complaining that after their salon visits, in approximately two weeks their hair color faded, became brassy and dried out. I knew the detergent and the lathering from the shampoo was causing this. I compare it to when you use a cotton swab with alcohol, and you wipe your t-zone. In five minutes it’s squeaky clean, and within ten to fifteen minutes it’s oily like an oil slick. This happens because your brain tells your body that it needs to replenish the oils, so it works overtime at a really rapid pace.”

Chaz knew that the detergent was stripping the hair of its natural oils. He began mixing and matching and pulling things from his garden and his courtyard to see what could cleanse the scalp and still keep the hair hydrated. From there, he developed the product-line which took five years to perfect, creating a universal product for every type of hair without the heavy residue that weighs the hair down. While testing his products, Chaz’s clients complained about having dry scalp, or other scalp disorders, and they requested he also develop a non-medicated hair product. That’s when the Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner (which has medicinal and healing properties) was developed.

“In the 1980s people would get their hair colored in the salon, go home with a bag full of products which included shampoo, conditioner, deep-conditioner, de-tangler, leave-in conditioner, a gel for hold, a polishing gloss for shine, and a hairspray. They would go home with a minimum of five to eight products. When they came back in for their next treatment, they complained that they never used the products they took home. It was too confusing and complicated to figure out, or they didn’t have time, and they just wanted the whole process simplified. This is the reason I condensed it. (My products are also great as a body wash, and they are amazing for shaving because of their astringent and anti-bacterial properties). I also created the styling cream, which replaces light weightless leave-in conditioner for moisture, polishing gloss for shine, and a light gel for hold. I found that with every client I worked on, I always used a minimum of those three products. I wanted to put all of those into one.”

While developing WEN, Chaz continued to listen to his clients’ feedback and took them from eight products down to just two, sometimes even one.

The WEN is great for ethnic hair, too, particularly African American textures. The complication of ethnic hair was the impetus for his creation of the Fig Cleanser, which has been out since April 2003.

“I developed the Fig because everyone was flat-ironing, bleaching, and straightening their hair. Their hair was so brittle and dehydrated that the Fig Cleanser is the most moisturizing, and it doesn’t weigh the hair down. Ethnic hair, particularly African American hair, in most cases, needs more moisture than other hair types.”

(He describes Fig like a sponge—it retains moisture.)

During the first two years of its development, Chaz refused to wholesale WEN to any outside vendors. He wanted to hear all the feedback. Ninety percent of the feedback was extremely positive, but the remaining ten percent concerned Chaz. After careful questioning, Chaz discovered that his clients were either not leaving the product on long enough, not using enough of it, or not rinsing it out well enough. Once his clients stepped it up, they were really pleased.

“That’s why WEN really has to be explained because there is nothing out there like it. From birth we are taught that the more lather, the more suds, the more bubbles, the cleaner, the healthier and shinier the hair. This is just not the case. Imagine that you had a saucepan and you made pasta and you poured out the sauce, or imagine your four-wheel truck was covered in dirt. You are not going to take a sponge and start smearing all the dirt around. You’re going to rinse it thoroughly first to get most of the dirt off the truck, or most of that sauce out of that saucepan before you start taking that sponge and smearing it around. It’s the same principle with your hair. You want to rinse it thoroughly and completely first to get all the dirt, grime, hairspray, gels, oils, whatever is in there already, out. Once you’ve done that, your hair is no longer robbed of its essential oils which are beneficial to the hair and which give the hair its shine and body.”

As with most new ideas, Chaz did encounter resistance, but he knew how to win people over. He was doing hair for the HollyRod Foundation fashion show, a charity event for Parkinson’s disease.  Nicole Murphy, who is on the board of Design Cure, attended the event regularly.  After seeing her at several events, Chaz finally approached her in April 2005 at the Rock N’ Republic show and rounded up the courage to introduce WEN to her. Nicole looked at him with the usual skepticism he received from women of color.

“I explained that Holly Robinson Peete, Halle Barry, and Tisha Campbell-Martin regularly use my products. Then, I explained the process to her and invited her to my salon.  Now she is one of my regular clients. When clients leave my salon, they are amazed at how wonderful their hair feels.”

Chaz Dean’s Highest High:

Since November 2000, my intentions were QVC, Guthy Renker, and Oprah Winfrey because I am trying to change the world in the way people cleanse their hair. These three are a platform to explain the product. In January, I met Oprah on the set of Desperate Housewives and handed her a gift bag of the product, and I ended up in O Magazine October 2005. Three weeks later, QVC called me, and I was on in August and October of 2005, and three times last December. I am now in negotiations with Guthy Renker and there is an offer pending.

Chaz’s Lowest Low:

When I started Chaz Dean Studios, it was burglarized, and in September 1997, my mom was re-diagnosed with cancer (she passed away February 2001), my partner and I of 2-1/2 years broke up, and my brother drowned. All three events happened in the span of one month. This made me realize how short life is, but because of that I have grown in tremendous ways.

Chaz Dean wants to change the world one head at a time. It’s the joy, the happiness, and the testimonies of people who’ve hated their hair their whole lives that propel him forward.

“ I believe you won’t know the changes you’ve made in someone’s life until you’re on the other side. And then you have that panoramic view of ‘wow’ I can’t believe I had such an impact—it’s the ripple effect. It’s so important for people to search deep down within themselves and decide what it is that will make a difference.”

To learn more about WEN, visit www.chazdeanstudio.com.

Written by Kaylene Peoples

SANJANA JON – Following Her Own Footsteps

SANJANA JON
Following Her Own Footsteps

Sure, Sanjana Jon may be known as the adorable sister of creative couture designer Anand Jon. But take note—this vibrant New York based Indian designer is pouncing on the world of fashion to make her own footsteps. With her recent launch of three indepenrdently driven lines of women’s wear, Sanjana is sprouting to stardom.

She showcased her Spring 2006 debut collection during New York’s Fashion Week early September, and with delight, recalls the standing ovation that closed her big night, citing in attendance “very, very important people.” Sanjana’s spring collection is lifestyle-conscious, offering diverse ideas for women to utilize. Her prêt line consists of daily wear for teenaged girls to the 30-something year-old; the diffusion line includes Western and office wear for women; and her beloved platinum line introduces custom-made high-end bridal wear.

“It’s a passion for me, and I want to share that special day in a girl’s life,” Sanjana says about her platinum line, which embraces a time of new beginnings.

It may have been the “girly” rebellious gifts of halter top-like fashion her mother would bring back from London to a “conservative India” or the years spent creating jewelry with her grandmother and Anand growing up—or both—that has inspired Sanjana’s adoration of art and fashion.

Marketing consultant of the Anand Jon brand since 1998, Sanjana has co-designed his fine jewelry line as well as his upcoming men’s AJ Jeans line, admitting that her brother’s push and encouragement helped her creative fashion ideas come to life. And with adoration from all around, Sanjana acknowledges the support from her family, including her grandparents.

Having designed for Hollywood notables like Paris and Nicky Hilton, as well as for models Ivana Trump, Amanda Hearst, and Devon Aoki, Sanjana is busily meeting with buyers for her collection’s US availability—most likely landing in flagship stores first. Yet overseas, stores in her name have opened this October in Delhi, Bombay, and South India.

Backed by IG International, Sanjana has taken part in the Miss Universe campaign for the last three years, designing chic ensembles for each winner, and accompanying their trips on behalf of charitable causes. This year, she kicks off the “Aids Awareness Tour” to India mid-November with Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova.

From first showing off her brand during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2004, prior to her coming out during New York Fashion Week, to being named the “Vancouver International Rising Star 2006,” and now her gusto toward directing a feature film, “Spirits and Spirituality,” set to show in 2007, Sanjana Jon is as humble as they get.

Yet as impressive as can be!

Written by Elana Pruitt

Biatta’s Jaymi Zentner: The Designer Behind the Line

Jaymi Zentner has been the head designer of Biatta for nine years. Originally working in surf, skate and snow active wear, she freelanced as a bathing suit designer until she was offered a position at Biatta when she was only twenty-one. Jaymi took the position and commuted for two years from San Diego to Los Angeles, a two-hour drive. Because she was so young, she never really expected to stay with any one company for very long. But now, almost a decade later, she can’t imagine doing anything but lingerie.

“I actually thought I was going to be a lawyer from the age four to seventeen. I was in a Poly-Sci class, and the professor saw me drawing dresses. In the middle of the lecture, he told me that my doodles would never make me any money. That day I dropped that class and decided to go to FIDM. I told my parents I wanted to be a fashion designer, but they had great plans for me to go to Stanford, Harvard, etc. It really didn’t go over that well. I knew I couldn’t be happy arguing for the rest of my life, but since I had to appease my parents, I attended both UCLA for communications and Korean language, and FIDM for fashion design concurrently. I never really thought I could make money with anything that had to do with really creative things. My father, who is a businessman, was also an amazing artist. He just did his art as a hobby. So I thought I would do the same thing, but quickly realized that wasn’t going to work for me.”

Jaymi designs pretty much everything that is Biatta. Kim Munoz, her associate designer, designs the Miss Fifi junior line, as well as assists her when she needs to get things done. She also has assistants that help with fabric buying and other processes.

“It’s great because I have this creative bond with four other people who really get what I want, and they really give me great input. We learn from each other.”

There are several segments within Biatta: one line is geared toward young contemporary; another line follows trends. There is the Biatta Collection, your day-to-day panties and bras. These garments have a lot to do with mesh and lace. There is Linear Essence, which is a basic sheer, striped fabric with a lace trim and high contrast colors. And lastly, there is the “seamless” program, a process done mostly in Europe in a special Santioni machine.

Most people do seamless in an athletic way, but Biatta does it in a pretty, feminine way. You can wear it under anything without panty lines, and at the same time, it is still really sexy and pretty. There are only a few fashionable seamless in the industry, and Biatta’sseamless has been well received. Jaymi describes the entire seamless process as somebody putting yarn into a dryer, and then opening the dryer, and suddenly there’s a garment.

“When they showed me the seamless process, I thought to myself, this is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen! I was amazed, and I must have stood there and watched fifteen garments get made. It was incredible. It’s definitely like a little magic dryer.”

When Zentner thinks about the lingerie customer, she considers herself to be that customer—a fun person with a lot of personality who isn’t afraid of color.

“When you design for that person, it’s so much more fun because it’s not this basic ho-hum black-white, nude kind of thing. Although we have that business, but Biatta is known for their colors and prints.”

When putting the colors together for Biatta, Jaymi attends a lot of trend seminars. She pays attention to what colors she innately feels are becoming stronger colors. She even looks at interiors. She’ll shop at furniture stores just to see what they’re doing. After Zenter researches the trends, she puts together a palette. The front part of her palette is most likely her primary colors that she will be working with for that season. The secondary palette will be her accents, or more contemporary colors. Both palettes work well with both the younger, as well as older customer.

“I think lingerie traditionally has been more pastels, but I think that there are other women who feel sexier in brighter colors. So I went through a phase where I was doing a lot of bright fuchsias and oranges and teals. If you look through our line, I work with all colors to complement everybody’s skin tones.”

”After fifty-five seasons, I can still remember my first couple of seasons. I remember the infant stages of the company. It has changed so much since then. I remember back then we were designing these panties that literally went up to your belly button. It was insane. And now I look back and realize it has changed so much. The fashion now is to be quite low because pants are lower.”

Jaymi Zentner’s Highest Highs:

“There have been so many highs. I can’t even really pick just one. I think just seeing my stuff on stage makes me ecstatic. I also love it when I see someone wearing a Cami of mine as a shirt. Every once in a while a woman will wear my lingerie as a top to go out in. I was at a concert the other night and I saw someone wearing one of my tops. Another high is every time something comes out that I think looks really great, and there is a huge reaction to it. Those moments are precious.”

Jaymi’s Lowest Lows:

“When something that you loved in concept did not end up looking the way it should have, or didn’t sell—it makes you question yourself. It makes you feel like, gosh do I know what I’m doing? The self-doubt, those are the lowest times. Nobody wants to feel like they don’t know what they’re doing. But there will always be that group that doesn’t sell, and I don’t like it.”

Jaymi’s advice to young designers:

“Get an education, and then intern to get a feel of what you want to be doing. Put in the time because it’s really hard when rookie designers come in and they feel like they’re entitled. You have to work really hard in this business. It’s really competitive. You have to be willing to put in the time for free sometimes. The other thing that young designers need to know, and I don’t think schools are teaching them enough of, is they have to be computer proficient—that is where the competition comes from. Once they get the experience, and can actually draw everything on a computer efficiently, they have to pay some dues and be ready to be an assistant for a couple of years, and then good things can happen. There’s nothing better than a person who’s really excited about design. But people have to realize that part of design is not glamorous. It’s the follow-through and the production of it all. It’s making those great ideas come to fruition. If you can just get through that, then you have a lot of time to be creative. It’s awesome!”

Written by Kaylene Peoples

Shani: Independently Breaking Her Own Ground

Shani – Independently Breaking Her Own Ground

I have always admired pioneers, maybe because I’ve been trudging through the trenches trying to create my own place in the world, or maybe it’s because what seems so effortless is really one of the most daunting tasks, or maybe because there are so few “individualists” who actually succeed in breaking those barriers, and getting heard.

Well, Shani, a beautiful, and powerfully gifted talent, is who I might call a pioneer. Shani is a recording artist, actress, and producer, and she has recorded four albums. She has appeared in films, and is nominated for several Grammys this year with her newest CD entitled “At the Casbah.”

Imagine that you are a sweet young girl from Arkansas. Imagine you are pretty and sexy. Imagine entering a world where the proverbial “casting couch” is commonplace. Now imagine a salmon swimming upstream, but instead of preparing to lay her eggs and die, she plants her seeds, and actually reaps a harvest.  Shani is that salmon. She recently won Best New Hot AC artist for New Music Weekly Awards, and her hit single “Destiny” is in the Top 10 Hot AC radio charts. Her hot new single “Get Somebody” is the Top 3 “Most Added” / Chart bound. Shani’s music has also been featured in the motion picture Crash, and she was a featured vocalist for The House of Sand and Fog and “Sony Playstation.”

I had never heard of Shani before. Since I am a jazz aficionada and Broadway enthusiast, her genre of music wasn’t my usual staple. But my curiosity was peaked when I was at the Independent Music Network (located in Studio City, California), where I met the publicist, Debi Fee. Debi told me a little about the rising star, so we set up a meeting at the local Starbucks. During that brief “meet and greet,” Shani exceeded my expectations. She was incredible!

I later met Shani at her home in Studio City.  Just as I had expected, her home was decorated exquisitely—all her own doing, of course.  (After meeting her, I wouldn’t have expected anything less). Shani was a gracious host, and she, along with her three well-groomed dogs, met me at the door. We chatted for at least an hour before I had even set up for her interview, during which she spoke candidly about her experiences as an independent artist.

Shani has successfully combined today’s hip-hop sound with polyphonic beats and Eastern modes and instruments. Shani’s music has layers, and with each listen, it grows on you more and more.

Shani’s music reminded me of Omar Sharif’s Laurence of Arabia and those sweeping epics that were made 60 years or so ago. If I closed my eyes while listening, I saw sand dunes and Middle Eastern princes riding their camels, and I thought about the big movie studios that had signed actors and actresses like Rudolph Valentino, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall.

“There are a lot of things that I’m dabbling in today, which are helping me to push the envelope. My new CD is called “At the Casbah,” which is a little bit of an exotic title. I tend to use exotic instruments and world music melodies. It’s also a hybrid of other musical styles. It has hints of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop. It’s sort of a thematic concept record in that it takes you through a musical journey, almost like theater in a way.”

First and foremost, Shani is a writer. She writes her own music and lyrics, and loves to collaborate with other writers. On her current project, there are a lot of featured writers. She never set out to be a producer, but she really wanted to get her vision realized.

“Lyrically, I wanted to tell a story. It’s like soundscapes. For me the transitions of the songs, and while putting the order of the songs together, there needed to be a flow. Where you start and where you end are completely different places. Hopefully you’ll go through this big ride once you sit and listen to the CD for an hour. That was my intent anyway. It’s bizarre to be in the ‘swinger’ era, and then all of a sudden you’re in modern day hip-hop. But it works.”

When Shani was a child, her father had introduced her to rhythm early. He was a drummer and had a huge record collection ranging from Stevie Wonder to Diana Ross.

“ I liked singers who didn’t show off vocally, but knew how to interpret songs. Sting was a big influence, and Prince was too. I think I zeroed in on Prince because here was a guy from Minneapolis, playing rock guitar with a Beatlesque influence, and then he goes into this funk zone. There were elements of jazz too. I loved his records because they had such a mixture of styles. What came out of Prince was this unique, very unpredictable presence. It wasn’t one of those records where all ten songs sounded alike. I loved that about Prince, and I always felt like I got my money’s worth. So for a young writer, that was a big wake-up call. It was okay to venture out and try new things. The hardest part was getting the business people you are working with, to understand that as an artistic statement.”

When Shani moved to Los Angeles, she was exposed to Middle Eastern influences. She knew instantly that those influences would become a big part of what she did. She immersed herself in that culture and learned the intricacies of Middle Eastern music.  She has worked hard to bring that to a Western audience. This was very difficult without the support of the industry.

“At first, nobody got it. I was constantly going back to the drawing board, and trying to improve upon my formula. As a result, each one of my albums sounds a little bit different.”

Shani sings in three languages: English, Farsi, and Spanish. To Shani, her music is very pop, but she admits that for an industry person working in a pop field, it was very left of center.

“A lot of times when people think of world music, they think very serious, solo instruments, and people sitting on the floor playing traditional instruments. Inside of world music, there are a lot of layers. To me, my records are pop, but the industry doesn’t really look at it that way.”

The natural evolution of Shani’s sound is obvious when you listen to each one of her albums: “Undercurrent,” “Call of the Wild,” “Velvet,” and the completion of the Middle Eastern/Western cycle is most apparent in her latest album “At the Casbah.”

“Surviving in this industry as a female has been one of my biggest challenges. Being a female who is not afraid to be a female, for example, I am not downplaying my femininity. Back in the 90s, there was a movement of female singer/songwriters—not that they weren’t feminine––but I think of artists like Alanis Morrisette. When she came onto the scene, she had this very intense, almost angry angst. When you see her now, she’s actually quite feminine and soft. And not that musically you can’t have that range, but I personally believe that was by choice. Because it’s very hard to be feminine and soft, and also be taken seriously.

“I went to a party with a guy I work with, and we were meeting someone new, and a question came up about the album. It was interesting to watch the eye contact of the person going to him. The new guy asked, ‘Oh, so how long did it take you guys to record?’ and I would answer, and his eyes would have to go back to me. This went on for a couple of minutes until finally my male friend said, ‘I didn’t do anything on the record. She produced it.’ I thought how interesting, that there’s just an automatic assumption that I’m just the singer. Somebody finds my songs, puts it all together, and I just show up in the end. That always irks me. You don’t hear people questioning that with men at all.”

Shani attended junior college and studied architecture, psychology, and art history. Her experiences with those subjects seem to affect her music. These influences are elements that keep you listening. These, along with polished arrangements, clever lyrics, and a pleasing voice, are what make her music work.

What inspires Shani’s lyrics?  It could be a trip to Italy or the plight of her friends or even her training as an actress. She states that while studying acting, she has to be in touch with her feelings at all times, and this plays a big role in her songwriting.

“My influences early on in songwriting were ‘show me don’t tell me.’ It’s almost like channeling and writing in a metaphorical way. There are other ways to say I love you. I learned to open up and hear dialog that could say the same thing without being so blatant.”

Shani always knew that she would be in front of the camera. She started acting when she was only four. When she came to Los Angeles, she immediately got an agent, and her manager was adamant about training.

“This is where I learned about layers. In actuality, all you’re really doing is peeling away the layers to get down to what’s really real. I went through a few years of training while also touring. Eventually people knew me from my music, and began offering me projects in films, and this ultimately led me to producing. Why I keep adding more things to my plate, I’ll never know. But it makes for a very interesting ride.”

So what is Shani’s secret?  Hard work, determination, and a constant presence.  She never gives up. She is constantly educating herself and perfecting her craft. Maybe that is why she’s climbing the charts and winning awards at such a rapid pace. Shani is not only a pop personality in the Middle East, but this young lady from Arkansas continues to beat the odds; but she is helping to bridge the gap between Middle Eastern music and the Western world.

Shani has proven to the world that there is nothing substandard about being an independent artist.

“At the Casbah” is scheduled to release early this year. To learn more about Shani, visit www.shanimusic.com.

Watch the videos.

Written by Kaylene Peoples

Eva La Rue: Holding her Own

Eva La Rue: Holding Her Own

The dark hair, glowing tanned skin, pearly whites, and an impeccable taste of fashion! Yes, Eva La Rue was that knockout doctor from soap favorite “All My Children.” And whether you used to TiVo the love affair between Dr. Maria Santos and Edmond on a daily basis, or now pull up a front row seat to CSI: MIAMI to keep an eye on the likes of Natalie Boa Vista, La Rue ain’t goin’ nowhere. She’s learned how to stay afloat in an industry that is competitive, frustrating, and ultimately rewarding, all the while embracing a unique sense of fashion.

Despite La Rue’s recent leave from her on-and-off 12-year stint with “All My Children,” she continues to explore acting and its many facets. In addition to her role on CSI: MIAMI, she is also a co-host for E! Style Network’s “Modern Girls’ Guide to Life.” And due to network demands, La Rue had to say good-bye to ABC’s “The George Lopez Show,” in which she played the recurring role of George’s sister. So with the “energy” that comes from working on a sitcom, the 40-to-60 page-dialogue grind of daytime acting, and the “instant gratification” of live theatre that she’s also pursued, does she prefer one type of acting to another? Enjoying her time spent with the George Lopez Show, La Rue hopes to one day get a chance at another recurring role on a situation comedy.

As for entertainers that cross over, La Rue is a prime example that actors can do more than act. In 2002, she had the chance to team up with veteran producer/songwriters Clay Ostwald, Tommy Anthony and Jorge Casas to work on a musical project. Hence, her first album was born and titled “Only You.”

With a lengthy list of film and television credits, especially for co-hosting the “New Candid Camera” with Dom DeLuise years earlier, which led her to host “The Miss America Pageant,” La Rue’s smile and vibrant personality are practically impossible to shake out of your head. Having graced the covers and having been featured in magazines like FitFirstFor WomenWoman’s WorldCosmopolitan en Espanol, and People, her image has always seemed flawless and her fashion sense glamorous. When it comes to the world of couture, from sitting front row at Los Angeles Fashion Week shows to livin’ it up at New York Fashion Week season after season, how does she describe her own style?

“I’m not a trendy person,” La Rue admits, describing her style as classic and sophisticated. “But if I’m going to buy trendy pieces, I’m going to go to Forever 21 or Arden B. Then I’ll mix that up with Prada or Gucci.”

She may also want to own up to being simple and chic. Spotted up close and personal at the Spring 2006 Single show at Smashbox, La Rue adorably posed for the press wearing cropped trousers, pointy mules, and a crisp white tank. And to add a little spunk to her outfit, around her neck she wore a pearl necklace clasped with a black ribbon for an incredible finishing touch.

Grounded in her fashion taste and driven by the commitment she has to daughter Kaya, how does America’s Sweetest actress stay grounded with work—a business that has ever-changing standards and expectations?

“You win some, you lose some” is how it goes. And La Rue probably couldn’t agree more; but everyone knows rejection can sting. So keeping herself in tune with the reality of Hollywood and the drama that goes along with auditioning, testing, and flying to and from New York to make that appointment, La Rue gives insight on how to just relax and take it all in stride.

“It’s frustrating—a really crazy-making business,” she says. “When they say ‘no,’ it’s hard not to take it personal.”

La Rue says that staying sane means accepting that “If it’s yours, it’s yours, and if it isn’t, it isn’t. All of heaven and earth will open up if you were meant to have that part.”

Kudos to you, Eva!

Written by Elana Pruitt

World Without End – Ken Follett

World Without End

Ken Follett

World Without End, Ken Follett’s sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, is a must-read. It is the continuing story of the Kingsbridge Priory and its continuing powerful political and religious influence in Kingsbridge, England, beginning in 1337, one hundred years after the end of the prequel.

One hundred years or so before, one of the greatest cathedral—and the central driving force of this historical novel—was built. It was the culminating dream of then Prior Philip and Tom and Jack Builder. Follett has created counterparts to these three main characters in this sequel in the persons of Godwyn, who becomes prior, and builders Merthyn (hero) and Elfrin (villain). Counterparts to other important characters are Caris, Gwenda, and Ralph. This is a must-read, especially if you enjoyed The Pillars of the Earth. Kingsbridge is a “world without end” in this well researched novel. Much of the plot is dominated and driven by the plague, which rages during this period in history. You will enjoy every page of this 1014-page novel, which I highly recommend.

Reviewed by Lee Peoples

Hope with Feathers

Hope with Feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,

. . .

-Emily Dickinson

Earlier this week as I looked up into the sky, I noticed the clouds were as thick as chowder . . . but the sun peeked out still. Its presence indicated that through this darkness there was hope for a brighter, sunnier cloud-free day. And that takes me into the present state of affairs in which the world finds itself. It’s almost Christmas!

People are struggling as more and more get laid off in America. But throughout the world there is much sadness. The total state of Apartheid the Palestinians are experiencing at the hand of Israel is criminal. The fact that peace-loving Israelis are practically being ignored and forced to take part in a system they don’t believe in is also criminal. But there is hope. Only this week the Israeli government allowed the media and humanitarian aid into the isolated region. Will there continue to be struggles, starvation, and even death? Yes, there will. But will there also be salvation on some level? Yes, as people become more and more aware of the situation, not even a stubborn parliament can stop their ears and continue to do nothing. Hope is like the water that breaks down the stone. It takes forever, but the result is dust; and in this case, there will eventually be a sort of freedom for the people of Palestine and Israel as they begin to unify and put aside their differences.

It has happened in South Africa. The people arose. Both black and white defied a racist and unjust government to protest the inhumane treatment of one part of the population. Although there is still much to be done, the freedoms that were implemented were tantamount to climbing Mount Everest, a seemingly insurmountable feat accomplished by the outrage of the country and the greater outrage of the rest of the world.

That sun is burning brighter and those clouds still linger but cannot overcome the intensity of the sun’s rays. So it is that hope will triumph because those at war, those suffering through famine and disease, those going through inner struggles hidden from the surface just have to cry out a little louder, protest a little longer, volunteer a little more, and go on another day. Tomorrow is a better day. And wasn’t it just a few more days until the sky cleared and became the brightest blue? The sun stretched to fill the entire sky? It was there all along, and hope is a sign that we may one day live in peace, where there is no war, famine, or disease.

I struggled with hope this year. It has been a rough one for me and the rest of the country. I’ve been slighted and had to forgive. Forgiving is difficult, and unless I had taken that first crucial step, I would have stayed in a cloudy state. No love can enter in a blackened heart. I discovered that the mere desire to forgive could begin to clear up the pain. I discovered by wanting to love and get past all the slights, I could be like that sun peeking through the dismal clouds. In a few days or weeks or months I would find myself feeling joy.

My heart had been broken by a dishonest lover. The saying goes, “Hell hath no fury, than a woman scorned.” And in my case this was very true. I was so angry that I couldn’t even feel the joy that I found from my treks in the mountains, or from witnessing the sunrise, or by listening to the bells ringing at my front door—these things that sustained me in the past. I was so angry I couldn’t get past the tears that became my constant companion. But one day I spoke aloud into the stillness of my misery, “I want to forgive, I want to love, I want to be happy, and I want to get past this.” And I did in a matter of days. And not only did I forgive this dishonest lover, but I forgave all the dishonest lovers that had hurt me before, and I began to experience the joy that was always there waiting for me to notice as I took my walks, listened to the birds singing, worked on a song, or hugged my mother. The mere desire to see the light that was always there was all that I needed to see it.

As it has been for me, so can it be for the rest of us. If we can get past our differences and have the merest desire to move past our anger, we can learn to live together in harmony, a little at a time, and like the slow dripping of that meager drop of water, we can turn the stone of our bitterness into dust. We can make room for love in our hearts and burn away the hopelessness in our lives.

As the song goes,

Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me.

Let There be peace on earth

the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our father

brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

let this be the moment now.

With ev’ry step I take

let this be my solemn vow

to take each moment and live

each moment in peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth

and let it begin with me.

-Lyrics by Jill Jackson Miller

http://www.angelfire.com/in/omega2/LetThereBePeaceOnEarth.html

Written by Lisa Trimarchi

Make a Loved One’s Closet Turn Chic With the Help of a Personal Shopper!

So what could be worse than having an empty closet with nothing to wear? Having a closet full of fun fashion that you have no ideahow to wear!

Long before my February 2007 launch ofGood Girl Gone Shopping, an affordable personal shopping and wardrobe consultant business, I had noticed how fearful most people are when it comes to trying out new styles, fun trends, and basically, stepping out of the norm. Here are some of the reasons why men and women turn to a professional for assistance:

They can’t get the help they need from a salesperson

They are not aware of which specific cuts and fabrics are right for their body shape and size

They do not know how to stretch their small budgets to still purchase lavish styles

They are unsure of how to stylize what they already own

They want to feel more attractive

They do not have time to shop for themselves (productively) due to a busy schedule

And no time seems fuller of anxiety and apprehension than now, the holiday season. After all, there are family gatherings, employee luncheons, company dinners, and social parties that offer festive times for most of us. But during these events, gift giving is a key focus and typically, a key frustration.

Just what do you give someone?

Maybe you have a friend, coworker, or loved one who adores hot-off-the-runway styles but admits to being clueless on how to put anything together. Sound like someone you know? If you are tired of buying gift cards to his or her favorite stores, especially because you never see that person actually wear the new items, a gift certificate that allows him or her some time to work with a personal shopper for free is a new gift-giving route you may want to explore. Because really, it’s a win-win situation for both of you: You get rewarded for giving the creative gift of the season, while that person can finally find items that will complement his or her wardrobe…while gaining a boost in self-confidence in the process!

And if you are the person needing personal shopping and wardrobe consulting assistance, well, treating yourself to a Christmas or Chanukah gift might be just what you need to alleviate your own stress of the season.

If you would like to contact Elana Pruitt to discuss the many services of Good Girl Gone Shopping, and gather information about holiday gift certificates, please contact her atelana@talkingchic.com or (909) 997-3216. She is based in Upland, Calif., just over an hour east of Los Angeles.

Gifts for the Rich and Shameless

Gifts for the Rich and Shameless

We thought we’d add this category because we didn’t want to leave out the Donald Trumps of the world. We decided to include in our holiday gift guide, outlandish and extravagant gifts, and the above definitions describe these gifts to a tee. Need a $30,000.00 doll house? Or maybe you’d like to carry that $120,000.00 purse to the inaugural ball. Well, here is the place to look for that one-of-a-kind gift fit for royalty.

1942 Willys MB Junior Replica

Price: $9,900
www.faoschwarz.com

What child wouldn’t want his own Jeep from F.A.O. Schwarz? He can read about big wheels and tonka toys when the stock market crashes. Since Christmas is just around the corner, don’t forget to run out and pick up this fun Willys MB Junior Replica. One of these babies will soften the blow of junior’s acceptance into his new military school.

Bugatti Veyron – 2nd Legal Fastest Car

Price: $1,192,057

This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+.  Check it out.Bugatti Veyron. Visit this link to see more expensive super hot rods: http://www.thesupercars.org

Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag

Price: $120,000

Named after French singer/songwriter Jane Birkin, the bag made of crocodile is like the one sold at auction house Doyle New York. The clasp of this 30-centimeter tote boasts 10 carats of white diamonds.

For more information, visit www.hermes.com.

About Lilliput Play Homes – The Ultimate PLayhouse

Lilliput Play Homes offers a selection of high quality playhouses and playhouse accessories that are great for making lasting childhood memories. These playhouses have attracted media attention from established broadcast shows, magazines, and newspapers such as Wall Street Journal and Home and Garden. Lilliput Play Homes customizes play homes to reflect the buyers’ imagination in a replica of their homeBuilt with high grade materials, such as lumber and molded polyurethane trim, these playhouses are created by the finest craftsmen in the small village of Finleyville, Pennsylvania.

Browse Products from Lilliput Play Homes

Lilliput Play Homes gvp – Grand Victorian Playhouse – List Price $28,900

This enchanting play home is picture perfect, including a wraparound porch, a stained glass window, window boxes, a skylight, doorbell, and brass door knocker. Inside, the decorative details continue with a bay window seat, sponge-painted walls, simulated hardwood floors, fireplace mantel, and upstairs loft accessed by a ladder. The most luxurious Lilliput play home, this Victorian is truly grand indeed.

Features:

  • Skylight
  • Wall stenciling
  • Hardwood floors
  • Doorbell
  • Great for children ages 2-10
  • Materials include lumber and polyurethane trim
  • 1 Year limited warranty

About Lilliput Playhomes
These posh playhouses have become the golden standard in play homes appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show, HGTV, VH1’s ‘The Fabulous Life: Celebrity Kids 2006, and in the Wall Street Journal!

Reviewed by Kaylene Peoples