Category: November 2009

November 2009 Face of the Month – Niki Dean

Niki Dean, you wore cutoffs last summer, and we drove the jeep down to the lake with a guitar. It was perfect! I understand you lived in Canada?

Yes, I grew up in Canada, but spent my early childhood in Grenoble, France, a beautiful city at the foothills of the French Alps. It’s known as the Capital of the Alps.

French was my first language until we moved to Canada. I was just turning ten. But I feel like I have since become a citizen of the world.

Tell me about when and where you born?

I was born September 18 th . I’m a Virgo. I was a child of the 90s. I went to school in Ottawa and was the only non blond-hair-blue-eyed kid in my school. Ottawa was considered to be multicultural, and I had this awful mushroom haircut . . . this bowl haircut, which is only cute now in retrospect.

But you got out of Ottawa . . .

After a year, I moved to Toronto, and that’s where I really began to grow up in Canada. Although I started traveling the world modeling when I was16 and found myself going all over Asia, Europe, and South Africa.

So finding yourself . . .

I grew up as a bit of an outsider, living for 90s rock music. I started painting, sculpting, acting, and just being creative. I realized I was the freest when I was being creative. I was always fond of people and all aspects of them, hence why I love acting, and I always seem to be painting human figures, particularly women.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

Inner turbulence.

What do you want to be?

Creative.

What qualities do you most like in a man?

Passion and integrity.

What is your favorite drug?

B-12.

What in your mind would be the greatest misfortune?

To never have loved or been loved.

Who are your favorite painters?

[I like] Amedeo Modigliani, Andre Berton, Edvard Munch, and Claude Monet.

What do you most dislike?

Stupidity.

What is your present state of mind?

Free.

Motto?

. . . In Latin I think it’s,

“Expectare nihilum,

. . . In Latin I think it’s,

timere nullum,

sum liber”

or

“Expect nothing,

fear no one,

be free.”

By Studio 838
Ash Gupta

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York Spring 2010 Exclusive Backstage and First Looks coverage of Oscar de la Renta Photographed by Arun Nevader

Oscar de la Renta presented a very lavish show with rich details, vivid color schemes, updated wide sleeves, draped necklines, cropped pants, and heavy fabrics.

Backstage and First Looks

Oscar de la Renta Backstage Photographed by Arun Nevader
Oscar de la Renta First Looks Photographed by Arun Nevader

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Exclusive coverage of Arise: African Fashion Collective Spring 2010 Collection Photographed by Arun Nevader

Arise: African Fashion Collective was filled with an array of flowing fabrics, iridescent colors and deep corals reminiscent of traditional dress from the region, and a tribute to soft elegance and feminity. See what this collection of talent had in mind moments before they hit the runway.
First Looks

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Exclusive coverage of Vivienne Tam Spring 2010 Collection Photographed by Arun Nevader

Vivienne Tam’s 70s-inspired collection features both figurative and abstract butterflies in print, with an array of suede and chiffon thrown in for contrast. Color palettes consist of purples, acid tones, and warm, muted colors for spring.   See the Spring 2010 collection.

Lindy Flowers – Fabulous Fall Finds

Hi I’m Lindy Flowers. We’re here at EM and Co located on 3rd Street in Los Angeles bringing you Fabulous Fall Finds.

In this segment I’m going to take three key fall trends, separate them, and come up with complete separate fall looks.

1) Starting off with this updated biker jacket, this fierce black dress, and must have skinny pant.

2) I kept on my skinny pant from the last outfit and paired it back with another fall trend—the cozy sweater. And for a splash of color, added that tall, fall boot.

3) I put on the updated biker jacket form the first look, put on a pair of blue jeans, spiced it up with a fuchsia tee shirt and added a few key fall trend accessory pieces, including the peep-toe bootie, the layered chain necklace, and the great leather handbag.

4) Finally, I kept on the fierce black dress from the first look, took off the updated biker jacket, took off the skinny pant, stepped into a striking pair of stilettos, accessorized with some bling, and picked up a metallic clutch.

So there you have it, this season’s trends. You too, can look fabulous in your fall fashion finds!

All clothes and accessories from this segment are available at EM & Co.

By Lindy Flowers

Watch the video.

More Steps to Getting a Record Deal

After you have promoted yourself on the internet, performed in a few shows, and sold at least 15,000 units of your songs, there are additional steps that you should know on how to get signed.

1. Create a promotional package or press kit. Make a brief, professional looking and very interesting bio about yourself. Write about what your goals are and what you can “bring to the table” of any record label that gives you the opportunity to get a record deal. Add several pictures with the swagger of your type of music, a few business cards, and a copy of your best singles. Record executives will only listen to each song briefly, so make sure your songs have the potential to impress them during the first 15 to 30 seconds. And, make sure your package will stand out with loud colors, images, or anything else that will grab the executive’s attention over any other package. Keep it clean and professional, though.

2. Find the appropriate record labels that sell your kind of music. Send your package only to the labels that deal with the type or genre of music that you make. These are the labels that will already have a market of potential fans in place that you can tap into. Go for the independent labels. You will get more response and better results from them than you would a major record company. That is unless you are another Madonna or Michael Jackson, of course.

3. A label responds. Contact a&r of that company. Set up an appointment and be prepared for the interview. Do research on that company. Make sure the label has a good reputation. There’s nothing worse than a shady long shark record label that kills an innocent person’s dreams. When you get ready for your interview, you have to look the part. Display the image. Leave the right impression. That means if you’re a rock band, dress like one. Don’t show up at the interview in a three-piece suit looking like you’re going to Sunday service.

4. The interview goes well, but don’t stop. It may take a while for them to call you back. Keep in contact with that label while sending packages to other labels. Contact a&r of other companies and set up interviews with them. Make more options available and avoid disappointment.

5. Getting signed. Okay! You’ve found the label that you believe will make you rich and famous. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Read the contract before signing on the line, especially the fine print. A two- or three-album record deal may be cool. But, something like a ten-album deal may not be a good idea. You’re obligated to record those ten albums, which could take a very long time. That may sound sweet now, but you might be stuck in a bad deal for years, making less money than you are worth. You should try to get legal representation to advise you during the deal.

6. Signed. AWESOME!! When you finally sign to a good record deal, you won’t be relaxing yet. Now, the real work is about to start. You have to do promotions on a grander scale now. There will be more performances and interviews. You will have a busy work schedule every single day for the next few months before the record sells and royalties start to kick in. And the record label will want you to do plenty of concerts because that is really where the money is during these times in the music industry. Make sure you know what percentage the label is entitled to from your concerts.

Getting a record deal is easier said than done. It could take months or even years to get the attention of record labels. I believe 99.9% of us aren’t lucky enough to get a record deal and have overnight success. We have to work long and hard for it. There is an e-book called “The Easy Record Deal: The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Record Deal” that has thorough info on everything you need to know and do in order to get a legitimate record deal. It has contact information for many of the top independent and major labels. It’s something worth checking out. This e-book can show you what the steps to getting a record deal are.

Written by Ninja Keet

Lose Weight This Thanksgiving Season

Top 10 Survival Tips

It’s that time again, the yearly Thanksgiving battle avoiding that pesky uninvited guest known as weight gain. We love Thanksgiving events and treats, yet hate the Thanksgiving aftermath; so what are we to do? The average individual adds 1-3 pounds (3500-9500 calories) of fat calories to his/her body every Thanksgiving season. Worse yet is the fact that for most it becomes a permanent addition, a 1-3-pound Thanksgiving battle scar that you are not exactly thankful for. Don’t panic. Stop screaming and keep reading as I have lined up 10 of the best tips not only to survive the season, but better yet, come out lighter. Yes, you read that right.

1. Visual Goal Re-enforcement

An average drop in pant or dress size is a 7- to 10-pound loss, so buy yourself a tempting pair of jeans or dress one size smaller than what you are. Next, hang them up where you can see them everyday, the sooner the better. Use positive goal reinforcement instead of guilt to keep you on track. Write the name of the jeans or dress on post-its and place them in those special weak spots (fridge, work, car, etc.) that lead you to lose control to help keep you focused. Harsh restriction is not goal; balance and maintaining control is the name of the game.

2. The Carrot on a String

Buy yourself an expensive gift card to your favorite store to act as the “carrot on a string at the end of a stick,” a treat for reaching your goal. Here’s the catch. Make a deal with a trusted close friend who would love that card. Tell your friend to hold that card, and if you lose 7 to 10 pounds by December, he/she must give it back. If you don’t, the friend gets to keep it. Earn that card and buy yourself some new clothes for that smaller body. Otherwise, your friend will be getting an early Christmas present.

3. Portion Control . . . Portion Control . . . Portion Control

It’s typically not the food that does our bodies in. It’s the amount of food. This year stock up on low-cal grazing food like fresh cool sliced cucumbers with lemon juice to snack on when tempted at home. Keep yourself busy, and you will be surprised at how much less you will want to nibble. Order seltzer water with 1/4 fruit juice and sip slowly at social gatherings. Just taste food rather than loading up your plate. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with tasting good foods. Again it’s the amount that does us in, so taste away, remove those cravings, and then move on. Serve yourself less on a saucer instead of a plate so you don’t feel inclined to overeat.

4. Chew Slower

It takes 15 to 20 minutes for your digestive system to tell your brain that you are full. The hormone called CCK delivers the message to your brain but takes a few minutes to arrive; this is why eating fast leaves you feeling so uncomfortable?you were full a long time ago. Eat slower, take breaks to chat with your guests, read something, take a sip of water, and enjoy each flavor. The difference between feeling stuffed and satisfied can be over 500 calories. Would you rather clean your plate or look better than when you came into the winter holidays? I thought you’d see it my way.

5. Bring in the Fiber

Two actual elements that trigger that CCK signal to inform your brain that you are full are triggered by fiber and good fats: almonds, olive oil, walnuts. It takes about 60 calories of good fat and 5 to10 grams of fiber to trigger the satiety chemicals. This is a reason why it takes so much greasy high calorie food to satisfy you. It contains little fiber or good fats. Fiber from veggies and whole grains in your Thanksgiving meals will make a world of difference in the battle of the bulge.

6. Replace Calorie-Laden Foods with Low Calorie Choices

It is always a great idea to host the dinner and cook low calorie, yet tasty, dishes for dinner. Your lower calorie choices do not need to lack flavor either. Grab a low calorie cookbook or surf the web for recipes. Trade cream sauces for broths, and high fatty flavoring for fresh powerful herbs. Swap out fried foods for baked dishes. There’s nothing wrong with having a “bad” treat or two, but keep the treats special.

7. Buy the Sweet Stuff Last Minute

Avoid temptation by simply not having the worst goodies lying around the house. Out of sight, out of mind, and out of your mouth, for that matter! If your guest must have pies, then buy or make them just before the big dinner. Willpower is not about just physically resisting, there are actually powerful chemical reactions occurring in you brain that force you to indulge when you know you shouldn’t, so make it easier for yourself.

8. Don’t starve yourself

I refuse to let you think that it is O. K. to avoid eating all day so that you can load up at night. No deal. The problem that stems from starvation tactics is your body not only stores larger percentages of your meal into fat cells, but it will also load significantly more calories from the hunger. Eat evenly throughout the day and enjoy the family time and your guest. Your midsection will thank you.

9. Freeze Leftovers

By freezing leftovers you are a lot less likely to nibble on extras simply out of habit since you’re going to need to defrost and heat your meal.

10. Extra Exercise – Obviously

Weight loss is simple. One pound of fat is 3500 calories. Every 3500 calories you burn is a one pound loss. To maintain your weight, it is recommended to work out about three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each time. If you want to lose weight, you will honestly need to get in about 45 to 60 minutes of exercise at least four to six times a week for dramatic effects. Try to burn between 300-1000 calories max, make sure not to starve yourself, though, as it will backfire and put your body in starvation mode. Simply multiply your body weight times 11 for a good estimate of how many calories your body needs. Once you have your estimate, eat about 500 fewer than you need and work out 4-6 times a week. You will reap a 2- to 3-pound loss a week. Remember fun counts as exercise, so go dancing and find outdoor adventures. Happy holidays, Agenda readers!

Surviving a Breakup – Follow These Simple Steps

Going through a breakup is a very difficult thing. At times, surviving a breakup might seem like the toughest thing in the world; but believe it or not, you can and will survive it. Of course you feel emptiness inside, which makes moving forward and getting back with your life even harder. All you really want to do is lie in bed and hide under the covers. But you need to look around and realize that most people have gone through a hard breakup and they have survived, just like you will. Before you know it, you will be getting back to enjoying your life.

When it comes to coping with a breakup and the pain that goes along with it, you can’t keep your feelings inside. Spend time with a close friend you can confide in and share a good cry and tell that friend how you are feeling. If nothing else, get a pen and paper and write your feelings down. You could even get a special journal and write all your feelings down; and after you have gotten it all out, you can burn the journal, in a symbolic moving-on ceremony. Whatever you do, you have to try to get the pain out. Don’t keep it bottled up.

As you start feeling your old self returning, you can begin to look at your relationship to understand what was good about it and what was bad. Understanding what happened in the relationship will allow you to make the best decisions regarding your next move. If things were good for the most part and you enjoyed being together, there might be a chance to get back together. But if you were having serious problems, there’s a good chance that you two are done.

Now that you’ve taken the time to know what happened in your relationship, it is time to decide if you will try to get back together or if you will throw in the towel and move on from this relationship. If you realistically think there is something still there and you want to get back together, there are important steps and techniques you need to follow to make it work. Many of these are based on the differing psychologies between men and women.

If on the other hand you have decided to move on, you and your partner need to separate your lives. In a relationship, especially a long term one, it can be surprising how much your lives have become intertwined and splitting them up is not always an easy thing. You need to make this change; you don’t want any landmines left over that can emotionally destroy you.

Dealing with a breakup is really tough, but it definitely can be done. Use your friends and family as a support system to help you get through this tough time. People have compared breakups to having a death in the family, so obviously it is tough to deal with. Some of this is just too emotional to tackle all by yourself.

Written by John R. Roberts

Nora Roberts Rediscovered

There are so many good authors out there that some of my past favorites have been neglected, being the avid, voracious reader that I am.  So what a delight and a surprise upon rediscovering Nora Roberts, whose books I used to read, seemingly, ages ago. On a whim, my sister, a reading buddy, sent me Nora’s trilogy, Born in Fire (1994), Born in Ice (1995), and Born in Shame (1996).  Starting with the first, I simply could not put the three-volume hardback down until I had finished all three.

Set in Ireland, the trilogy is the rich and engrossing story of three sisters, each respectively featured in one of the books, and the men with whom they fall in love. Each of the sisters is an artist of some type. Maggie Concannon, the oldest sister and the heroine of the first book, Born in Fire, is a glassmaker. Next, Brianna Concannon, the heroine of the second, Born in Ice, artistically runs a bed-and-breakfast and is an artist in her kitchen as well as in her and others’ gardens. Finally, Shannon Bodine, born and raised in New York, is the heroine of the third book, Born in Shame. She is a painter. Each book is light, romantic reading with all the elements of good fiction: plot, characters, setting, the themes of family and friendship, even intrigue. If you like happy endings, as I do from time to time, you will enjoy this trilogy as much as I did.

ISBN 0-399-14388-2