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

Bad Girls: Let’s Be Honest Ladies, Aren’t You Only into Him Because He’s Not into You?

The authors, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, left out one very important piece of the puzzle in their bestselling book He’s Just Not That Into You. Deep down every female knows what that little piece of the puzzle is. Our perception and our reality are worlds apart when it comes to relationships today. Although our reality has drastically changed, our perception continues to remain the same.

The tired but lingering perception still holds men responsible for the majority of problems experienced in relationships, which is not to say that women are unwilling to take a little responsibility. Women often blame themselves for giving and loving too much. Interestingly enough, females tend to give and love too much only when they are involved with males that treat them badly or, at the least, males that show them little interest. Could it be that females continue to love males like this because it is simply in their nature to be giving and nurturing, or could it simply be that females love a challenge? If you are a male reader, you probably suspect it’s the latter. Although, if you are a female reader, you know it’s the latter.

Females chase after commitment in the same way that males have always chased. Males often lose interest in females after they get them into bed, and females often lose interest in males after they get them to commit ? that’s the reality ? but it’s certainly not the perception that most people have about women. Why? Because it doesn’t fit the males are “bad” and females are “good” stereotype to which we have become so accustomed.

The females who claim to love too much are the equivalent of males who will say or do anything to get a female into bed. These females will put up with anything and will do almost anything to accomplish their goal, getting a man into a commitment. However, once they have garnered their commitment, they usually become bored and resentful. Eventually, after finding a reason to blame the men for their unhappiness (i.e., boredom), they move on to their next conquest. This is the commitment game ? it’s the female version of pursue and discard.

I found it interesting, having interviewed more than two hundred people as well as having recently written a book about females, to hear that large numbers of women were ending their relationships as a result of reading He’s Just Not That Into You. Interesting, because I knew from my research that these women were most likely ending their relationships for the same reason they had stayed in them: they viewed the men they were seeing as a challenge.

I was curious, so I set out to find out what was really behind the apparent phenomenon. I wanted to know why women were really ending their relationships after their encounter with that little book we’ve all heard so much about.

I discovered that the book’s directness made it difficult, if not impossible, for women to continue to rationalize their boyfriends’ behavior once they had read it; there was nothing left for the women to analyze or to talk about with their friends. They no longer needed to try to figure out what their boyfriends were thinking, or spend time wondering about where their relationship was going. The need for discussing, analyzing, hoping and longing had all been eliminated. As a result, many women ended their relationships. They had mistakenly believed that the men in their lives were complicated and mysterious, or in other words, a challenge. Instead, they found out their boyfriend’s behavior was categorically identifiable and even predictable. However, what must not be overlooked is the fact that it was the apparent “cookie cutter” behavior of men, meaning the men’s loss of mystery, which caused the women to end their relationships. It was obviously not due to the way men were treating them; otherwise women would have ended their relationships prior to reading the book. So, it seems women are ending their relationships after reading the book for the same reason they often ended them prior to reading it. They think the men in their lives are boring.

Greg Behrendt, one of the co-authors of He’s Just Not That Into You , has co-written a new book with his wife, titled It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken . Even without reading the subtitle, one could easily assume that the book is intended to help women deal with the difficulty and aftermath of a breakup. One could assume this due to the book’s cover, which prominently displays a container of ice cream.

It will be interesting to see if this new book will sweep the nation, too. Although, I must say, I don’t think it will. The reason is due to a little known fact: it is women, not men who end the majority of relationships. I know what your preconditioned mind must be thinking. You must be thinking “well, women wouldn’t be ending the majority of relationships if it weren’t for men’s bad behavior.” But this isn’t necessarily the case. Growing apart is actually one of the most common reasons cited by women for ending their relationships, and during my research, the reason most frequently given by women for ending or wanting to end their relationship was “my husband/boyfriend is boring.”

Bearing this in mind, one has to wonder why the new breakup book doesn’t have a big frosty beer on its cover. The answer to that one is probably pretty simple:

A) As a society we keep women’s bad behavior a secret; trust me, if it had been Hillary instead of Bill, you would have never been the wiser.
B) Women buy a lot more books than men.

These types of books are obviously intended to empower women. However, I believe the opposite is true. Women will never be empowered by the media’s false bravado, which is constantly being used to feed their egos and somehow make up for their past oppression. Women will only become truly empowered when they own the dark side of their nature, when they are held accountable and take responsibility for their own bad behavior as well as the harm they often inflict onto others.

In our culture men have been reduced to nothing more than their animal nature, while women on the other hand, are still somehow separated from theirs. The devil and the angel, so to speak, live inside every human being. Females are in no way excluded from this fact of human nature. At some point in history, many societies assigned and deemed certain characteristics and behaviors natural, meaning acceptable, for each of the relationship. To this day, people are inundated with these same exaggerated and fictitious images of male and female behavior. Women, as well as men, have been sliced down the middle ? able to own only part of who they are.

In order for females to achieve real equality and to stop being their own oppressors, they are going to have to acknowledge, as well as take responsibility for, the disrespectful way in which they often treat males. In truth, women are just as often the villains as they are the victims. Acknowledging and accepting this fact is the only way for women to truly become whole.

This process may require women to ask themselves some pretty tough questions, to which they undoubtedly will not like the answers, questions such as:

How many guys have I blown off? How many times have I not returned a guy’s phone call? How many times have I lied to a guy? How many times have I cheated on a guy? How many times have I strung a guy along? How many times have I used a guy for his money? How many times have I used a guy for attention? How many times have I used a guy for relationship?

Females regularly do all of these things and more. What’s more, they typically do them to males who really like them and are trying to treat them well. Unfortunately, the nice guys are often viewed, as willing, willing to commit, which translated into male terms means . . . an easy lay.

Women didn’t need to read a book from a man’s perspective in order for them to understand and gain insight into male behavior. All they needed to do was ask themselves why they treat some males in the same way that they often complain about being treated.. And of course, without any hesitation, an answer quite similar to the title of that little book would roll right off every woman’s tongue: “I’m just not that into him.”

Written by Sudesh Wadhwa

Reunion

Colours seen by candelight
Will not look the same by day.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

When I was 17, a senior in high school and ready to graduate, I was very eager to set sail and go.  As for many, high school was a very traumatic time for me. I had challenges to face at home and challenges to face at school. I had to avoid bullies that would follow me home, and I had many disagreements with my parents. I guess as with all teenagers I began to embrace my own vision of the world and shun the one my parents tried to give me.

I took refuge in being friendly, making friends, and sharing warmth with others; but because I was trapped in my head with intense feelings of loneliness, I was unaware of the many lives I’d touched. I had a few good friends, but I didn’t realize just how much they thought of me until many years later while attending my 30-year high school reunion. After all the warm hugs, friendly smiles and recognition of me by people I hardly remembered, I realized that while I was reaching out to others in high school, they were deeply affected and may have reached out to me as well. I was constantly asked, “Where have you been in so many years?” Also, a dear friend I left behind so long ago embraced me and said, “Please don’t leave me again.”

Along with the others I left behind, I left myself behind. I thought I left behind a person who was not popular, who was not liked, and maybe had a handful of friends. Boy was I wrong! I felt like the guy in It’s a Wonderful Life , who was given the chance to see what life would have been without him, only to discover that the many people affected by him would have perished in one way or another. It felt very good to be reminded that I’ve had a wonderful life and that those I’ve encountered have been deeply touched by me. I discovered also that I have been deeply touched by them.

I lived across the street from a very cute boy and his very cute surfer friends. Sometimes we would speak. I was very close to his mother, and to my surprise, they remembered me! Those very same surfer dudes liked me. I wish I hadn’t been so shy. I would have been the only black surfer girl on the street. I don’t know if my parents could have coped with me being exposed to the turbulent waves of Southern California, however. This Lisa that I left behind I soon began to realize has been hanging ten in an alternate reality.

I remember belonging to the Asian Club, the Iranian Club, the International Club, and the choir. I was like a butterfly floating and touching everything and everyone. I couldn’t stop smiling. And now I can’t forget the good things that happened to me even in the midst of some bad things. So that 17-year-old girl is accompanying me now, along with her memories and her personality.

The following Monday after the reunion, I plummeted. I’ve gotten older, a little heavier, and a little more self-conscious, it seems. I need to work out, go on a diet, get a better career, and on and on. Now, it is the Monday after that, and I have embraced the person that I have become, and reunited with the “me” I left behind. I am embracing what I’ve become and realize that I have a whole lifetime to accomplish the things I have yet to achieve.

I realize that I saw myself and others through the night lit dimly by candlelight; and now by the light of a day lit with sunshine, I see things more clearly. So, I am embracing the people I left behind and hope we find opportunities to celebrate together much sooner than the next high school reunion.

My Winter Wardrobe

When I was a child, I couldn’t wait until it was Chanukah. The taste of latkes and relaxing by the fireplace are memories I shall never forget.

As for gifts, my parents usually had at least some sort of clothing wrapped up for me. This was in addition to new journals, fun Hello Kitty pencils, and new multi-colored strings for my friendship bracelets. I loved the thought of ringing in the winter season with something new to wear. I never expected a new wardrobe for Chanukah – and I wouldn’t have received that anyway! (My mother is a firm believer in “it’s the little things that count.”) Still, I couldn’t help but squeal in the delight that I would be able to add to my wardrobe.

One of my favorite gifts was a pink puffy button-up coat with a turquoise attached scarf! It was so perfect. Valuing that jacket so much, I decided to take the scarf out and save it. I still have it after 20 years.

Sometimes, I would get new slippers, a new robe, sweaters, or comfy turtlenecks. I never realized how smart my mother was until I was an adult. She would buy us what we truly needed ? practical gifts. However, she would make it fun. I really needed that jacket, as the hail poured down from our Southern California sky. Slippers, but in a royal blue, pull-up boot style, were to keep my feet toasty throughout the winter nights.

As an adult, I now like to treat myself to my own Chanukah gifts. And I do so following my mother’s standards – take what you need and put your own twist to it. So what do I need this winter? Well, my shopping list entails a top three must-have check-off: short, black leather bomber jacket; a man’s navy blue blazer jacket (which I may just snatch from my boyfriend’s closet to save money); and a faux fur cream jacket. I have plenty of boots ? the over-the-knee boot is too dominatrix for me. I also already own various plaid pieces, a print which will continue to be a hot style for winter. So my list is minimal and practical, these three items that will add classic, couture-inspired style to my wardrobe.

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas! May your wardrobe be filled with pieces that are practical and exciting.