Category: Women’s Issues + Awareness

I am swimming in a sea of estrogen deprivation and wearing a designer life vest

Jessica Abrams

These days I’ve been thinking a lot about choices. How you make a choice to do something that leads you down a specific path, only to be faced with another choice that arises because of the one you just made. Like branches of a tree or tributaries of a river, Read more

Jessica Abrams

Like her character Louise Bice in KNOCKING ON DOORS (www.knocking-on-doors.com) Jessica Abrams is a writer-slash-actress-slash-dog-walker-slash-contributor-to-an-obscure-dance-blog (although truth be told, ExploreDance.com is neither obscure nor a blog). Also like Louise, she had a stint working for the government as a field interviewer, an experience that proved to be creatively fruitful, inspiring IN TRAINING, the stories published here, and KNOCKING ON DOORS, the web series she wrote, directed and stars in. Her plays have had productions and readings in various Los Angeles venues, with “The Laughing Cow” receiving Pick of The Week by LA Weekly. She is thrilled to be a part of this amazing network of talented women.

Why I Want to be Rich

Elizabeth Regen

“Money isn’t everything.” That’s what they say. “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” “No, maybe it doesn’t – but it sure as hell helps.” That’s what my father says. He says, “Here—let’s do this. You have 2 million dollars, and I have $25K a year. Let’s trade places and talk again in Read more

Prenup Agreement: 5 Things You Should Know

Pam Bille

Just as the chocolate mousse and champagne arrive, Jill’s fiancé reaches under the table and pulls out a large envelope, which he sets on the table. The writing on the label is indiscernible under the candlelight, but it looks very businesslike – not a romantic card. “Baby, please don’t take Read more

Pam Bille

I have practiced law for over twenty years, many with top-tier, national law firms. While raising my four children (now teenagers and college students), I have chosen alternatives to working for a law firm. I have consulted for a variety of different companies, acted as a "divorce coach" and handled disputes between people that arise out of divorce settlements. My primary practice area for the past several years has been drafting and negotiating premarital, cohabitation and postnuptial agreements. I have negotiated and drafted dozens of such agreements at a reasonable rate. Please visit my website and feel free to contact me for more details about my services: socalpremarital.com

Table Manners: Downton Abbey Style

Nathalie Findlay

Table manners are a very good way to ensure a meal runs smoothly, so the fine folks can focus on delightful banter and the cheese soufflé. Here are a few tips that will help make you shine brighter than the silver butter dish. SALT When you’re asked for the salt, Read more

Nathalie Findlay

After completing a degree in Fine Arts and another in Interior Architecture, Nathalie began modelling in New York, Hamburg, Munich and Paris where she eventually decided to base herself. Always on the lookout for opportunities to grow, she combined her modelling career with other areas of interest, working for the Canadian Embassy, Christian Liaigre, A Small World and Sotheby's. She has also enjoyed appearing regularly as a presenter and speaker for television and media events and as a pit-lane reporter on Eurosport. Exposed both personally and professionally to the intricacies of etiquette and protocol, Nathalie now focuses on applying her extensive knowledge-base practically, addressing matters of refinement, image and manners for individual and corporate clients with Lifestyling, a consultancy she created in 2007. Nathalie lives in the French countryside with her husband, their baby and two Korthals.

What is the Silent Killer of Women?

Erin Righetti

In case you didn’t know, February is American Heart Month. For the young and healthy, or seemingly so, this is probably not important news; rather just another cutesy label of the month. But there are some pretty big reasons why you should care, and why you should examine your diet Read more

Erin Righetti

Erin Righetti is a professional writer across multiple media channels. She has over 20 years experience as a freelance writer/reporter, and has been a contributor to newspapers and online magazines and blogs. Erin works as a public relations and social media strategist in Carlsbad, California.

Under Eye Issues: Concealer to the Rescue

Tonya Riner

Got a little something to hide? Me too. I know you’ve read about the number one selling concealer. So have I. You’ve probably purchased it. I have too. I’ve tried them all. Some of the concealers with ‘Best Of’ status require the skills of a Renaissance master; blending correctors, concealers Read more

Tonya Riner

Tonya Riner started doing makeup as a teenager in her two-stoplight hometown in Kansas. From there, she declared herself a professional, and has spent the last twenty-five years on fashion shoots and shows, on both coasts, and in Europe. Tonya's work has been featured in Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. She was included in Allure Magazine’s Directory as one of the best makeup artists in the United States. Her long list of celebrity clientele includes Heidi Klum, Erin Wasson, Julie Anderson, Rachel Hunter, Chandra North, and Lauren Bush. Backstage, she has worked alongside Frederic Fekkai and Ted Gibson. She was a member of the beauty team for Beyonce’s Blow video. For Tonya, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is spending time, one-on-one, with models and clients. She finds that ordinary barriers fall away within minutes of the start of a makeup session, leaving space for instant intimacy and the shared pursuit of beauty. Connecting with extraordinary people from all walks of life fuels her passion for her work. As a consultant, Tonya works with creative teams to devise strategies for beauty brand product development, most recently for the company, Beauty for Real. She enjoys working with products from both the manufacturing and marketing ends. Moving forward, she would like to be instrumental in the development of the kinds of beauty products she, herself, would want to use.

Confessions of a Messy Lady: Marie Kondo’s Wise Words of Wisdom for Future Anal Retentives

Jenny Heitz Schulte

First off, I’m not a slob. Not exactly. I’m just someone who probably has too much stuff, and a bit too much space in which to store it all. I like artistic objects and stray buttons, and keep items of clothing around for sentimental purposes. And even though I went Read more

Jenny Heitz Schulte

Jenny Heitz Schulte is a Los Angeles based writer, blogger, certified Pilates instructor, and avid exerciser. Her passion, besides her husband and daughter, is aerial trapeze. She is the creator of the blogs Fem40Fitness and Find A Toad.

25 Typed Pages: How One School and One Teacher Changed My Life

Elizabeth Regen

I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. It was a huge surprise for all of us. Not because I wasn’t smart or because I wasn’t advised to continue my education. Just because I’d been an actress in NY for many years and had made great Read more