Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

What's YOUR Vision?


Singlelistas, I have to ask! Are you following your resolutions?



Are you going to the gym everyday?

Have you scheduled your trip to the Mediterranean?

Have you paid off that credit card debt that you’ve had since college? 

I don’t know about you but I’m still paying on acrylic nails that I bought way back in 2001…

Oh, the shame!

I digress.

The reason that I’m checking on YOUR resolutions is because I really want this year to be all about YOU!



We declared that 2011 would be the Year of the Single Woman, but we never really talked about what that meant.

You’ve been heavy on my heart lately because I’ve been thinking about all of the phenomenal things that we, as single women, could be doing with this time of freedom and independence in our lives, yet I wonder how many of us actually use this time to really fulfill that.


I thought about this because not too long ago I had a Vision Party with a gaggle of my girlfriends, which if you haven’t been to or hosted one this year, I highly recommend that you do!

Anyway, as we were sipping sangrias, eating Asian-inspired tapas, and creating 2011 vision boards, complete with enough glitter to prompt the sequel to Mariah Carey’s cinematic catastrophe, I was really taken aback by the number of women who kept putting wedding-themed icons on their boards.


There were wedding rings, wedding dresses, wedding venues (castles of course!), and wedding favors literally spilling off of their pages, yet not a single one of them had a boyfriend, a strong suitor, or even a blind date on the horizon.

Now, I didn’t say anything then (and I imagine my phone will begin rigorously ringing as soon as this posts!) but I really thought for a moment that I had entered the bridal twilight zone.


Like, maybe it’s just me but how do you plan to be married this year, and you haven’t yet found a suitable mate?

*blank stare*

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m as much of a hopeless romantic as the next chick. I carry my glass slippers around in my purse and I allot extra vacay time in my Blackberry just in case Prince Charming comes riding along unannounced and whisks me away to his paradise in the sky.


But in looking at the boards as they were being designed and blinged, I couldn’t help but think what a waste of space it was to plan for something over which you have such very little control.

Call me old school, but I honestly believe that men decide when they are going to propose, and we decide whether we are going to accept.

Now I know there are some lovely ladies out there who proposed to their husbands and rode off happily into the sunset, but for the most part, that’s not really how it works- and it's certainly not the way most of us envisioned it as young girls- because yes, we’ve all been planning these weddings since we were four!

I may have actually began planning immediately after my birth, but that’s a totally different story!


My point is, that fairly or not, for most women it’s pretty much a waiting game.

We have to wait for a man who doesn’t repulse us to come along.

We have to wait until he decides that he can’t live without us another day (even though we’ve known that all along!)

We have to wait until he’s ready to purchase our 10-karat ring (yes, I said 10!).

We wait until he's willing to withstand the ridicule of “the fellas,” and  we wait until he buys the proper knee guard equipment that will enable him to comfortably drop down in front of all of humanity, and whimsically declare his undying love.

Whew!

And as most of us have noticed, ummm…we just might be waiting a while, especially for those of us who are waiting on the right guy to come along. 
Which brings me back to my vision boards.

I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and I’ve decided that the difference between being a "single woman" and a "singlelista" is all in how you wait.

Instead of filling our resolutions with goals that we may or may not be able to achieve, based on factors…ahem, men…beyond our control, what if we filled our visions with the other things in life that make us happy?

As modern women, we want it ALL-- The man, yes.

But also the houses, the cars, the clothes, the careers, the vacations in Venice, the summers on the Vineyard, the pup, the nonprofit, the Grammy, the Tony, the Oscar, the Golden Globe-it ALL!

Recognizing that, we should resolve to fill up our vision boards with things that remind us to be our best selves- to be stunning, kind, fashionable, charitable, brilliant, healthy, whole, spiritual, and happy!

I believe that if we redirect the energy we spend wallowing in love unfound, and invest it in ourselves, on an uncompromising journey to become better everyday, we can truly find the happiness which we all seek.

Singlelistas, I want 2011 to be all about YOU.

Do the things you’ve always wanted to do.


Redesign your wardrobe. Buy your house. Charter a plane. Travel the world. Parachute out of the sky. Open your business. Start a nonprofit. Run for political office. Buy yourself a diamond (OK, maybe not a 10-karat one, but you see where I'm going with this)!

 LIVE FOR YOU!

And by the time you finish loving and investing in your phenomenal self, as luck would have it, I’d venture to bet that the love you’ve been searching for will be much closer than you imagined.

Stars attract stars.

So go ahead singlelistas, SHINE!



This year is all about YOU!

Write YOUR vision. And make it plain.


Love life…every SINGLE moment of it!
-xoxo
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Sunday, January 2, 2011

Single Celebs We Love: What Chilli Wants


Happy New Year Singlelistas!

I hope you all brought in 2011 with grand style. 

We told you last year that 2011 would be the Year of the Single Woman, why else would it begin with 1-1-11?!?

If you're rolling solo then this is sure to be your year, so if you didn't toast to yourself when the clock struck midnight, then I think now is a great time to raise a glass in honor of your fearless, flawless self! 

This year The Singles' Salon resolves to continue to give you the news you need to live life freely and happily. 

We hope that you will resolve to continue to give yourself permission to find happiness within, and use the time and the freedom you now have to live your best life and make an indelible impact on the world!

Okay, ladies enough of the sappy talk.

Let's get to the fab at hand!

Last year (i.e. last week. Lol! I love that!) we told you that we were working on a really cool article for you. Now you know that we don't normally post on Sundays here, but tonight is a big night for single women everywhere so we had to make an exception.

This evening at 9 PM EST, superstar singlelista Chilli, from the iconic girl power group, TLC will debut season 2 of her hit reality show, What Chilli Wants!

Now you should know that I absolutely LIVE for this show, because unlike other dating shows out there, this isn't about Ms. Chilli's search for a man.  Instead it chronicles her commitment to dating and waiting until she finds THE man.

This singlelista may not be too proud to beg, but she certainly is too fly to settle, and that's why we love her so!


The Singles' Salon had the privilege of  attending the sneak peak party of What Chilli Wants, and one thing we can tell you is that Chilli is dishing out lots of eye candy for all of us single girls at home. 

Now, while most of the cuties won't measure up to her standards, they are just right for spending your Sunday nights at home on boy watch- after all, what better way is there to kick off the start of a brand new week?

*cue It's Raining Men*

Halleluiah!

Season 2 of What Chilli Wants promises lots of fun, cute guys, and great entertainment, but more importantly- a weekly reminder of the importance of owning your self worth

In tomorrow's post, we'll share what we learned from our one-on-one interview with the crazy, sexy, cool singlelista.  But today we thought we'd give you just a sample of the amazing time we had at her premiere party.

What Chilli Wants airs tonight at 9 PM EST on VH-1.  What we want is for you to grab your favorite bottle of wine and watch this wonder woman hold it down for all the single ladies everywhere!




Quick Q&A with Chilli






Q: Are you excited about the second season of "What Chilli Wants"? How does it feel to watch it with all these people [at the party] ?
 A: "I'm excited! It's weird to watch it with everyone but I'm very happy about it."

Q: What's the weirdest thing about dating on national television?

A: "It's strange to go out with guys who know things about me but I don't know anything about them."

Q: How do feel about viewers' reaction to the infamous "list"?

A: "I think every woman should have a list. I'm not asking for anything that I'm not bringing to the table."

Q: What have you learned about yourself (as it relates to dating) since the first season of "What Chilli Wants"?

A: "I learned that I was right. You should have standards. You should always know what you want."
 
A Single Sound bite- Audience Reactions
 
 




"I'm very excited...I really like [Chilli] as a person, she's really down to earth."

"That's one reality show I watch because she's real whether you like it or not."

"I loved the first season. I'm sure she's grown since then."

"I think she's awesome!"

"I'm glad they came out with another season...I'm ready to see what happens....the snippets are like teases." 

"I think it's interesting to start off [the first season] with Mayweather. I think she'll end up with him."

hmmm....!!!

"I  like [the show]. I think she's adorable. I get where she's coming from."

"I hope she finds love. I'm not sure if [the show] is the most traditional way but it gets a lot of attention. I'm rooting for her."

And so are we!

Whether Chilli finds what she wants this season or not, we are certain that she found the key to happiness a long time ago-- loving yourself first.

And that is...Ooooh...on the TLC tip!

Sorry! I just had to get that in there!

Love life...every SINGLE moment of it!
-xoxo

Contributing writer: Evita Broughton
Photo Credits: Antonio Scott
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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Every Single Penny: Post Holiday Savings


Sooo... about those 12 days of Christmas...yeah... That  didn't really happen the way I envisioned it. 

LOL!!

I had some unexpected holiday travel, which I honestly can't even pretend to be mad about!

Just look at it as another perk of  living the single life. You can go on last minute vacays without having to explain it to anyone, or apologize when you get back. 

OK... I'm pushing it.. I know!

Anyway, I hope your holidays were fab nonetheless. 
In the spirit of bye gones being bye gones, let's turn our attention away from Christmas past and towards the new year that awaits us!

2011 is going to be HUGE for you, for me, and for The Singles' Salon as a whole. We can feel it and we hope you're ready for it! We'll clue you in on some of the major changes coming in the year ahead as the time draws nearer, but for now we have some news that I'm sure that every one of you can use!

Our financial expert Cristina Briboneria of oXYGen Financial is here with some tips to get you out of the red from this year's holiday shopping frenzy. 

Grab your notebooks and your calculators ladies, we're heading into the new year financially fab!

Every Single Penny: After Holiday Savings Tips




Here are a few ways to save money during those after-Christmas sales leading into the New Year.


1. Consider doing your Christmas shopping for 2011 now.
I know you’ve seen the commercials – virtually every retailer is having a sale. I’ve found that most items are 30% to 50% off of their original price. If you spent, on average, $2,000 each year during the holiday season this strategy could save you up to $1,000. This includes gifts, greeting cards, wrapping paper, Christmas lights, etc.


2. If you’re thinking of getting a gym membership – don’t procrastinate, join this week.
After all, singlelistas need to stay in shape somehow, right?!

I’ve joined a few gyms in my day and have found that most will waive the initial set-up fees and offer major discounts on your monthly membership fee during this time of the year. Deal or no deal - make sure you read the fine print and are aware of any contracts or early termination fees. Another thing to consider when buying a gym membership is location, location, location. In order to take full advantage of your membership, be sure to find a gym that is near your job, home or a place you frequent often.


3. Lastly, go on vacation after the New Year.
As a jet-setting singlelista, you know that fab U.S. hot spots like Las Vegas, New York, and Miami typically have an increase in airfare and hotel rates around New Year’s Eve. If you can wait until the weekend after New Year’s you will see a 25-50% decrease in rates, not to mention more options.

Not in the mood for a delayed celebration this year? Consider booking early for your 2012 travel at websites such as www.farecast.com or www.lastminutetravel.com for some great deals.

Just another breathe easier® tip from Cristina Briboneria at oXYGen Financial, Inc.



OMG! How great was that?!?

*Swoon*

Want more information on how YOU can be more financially fabulous next year? Put getting your finances in order at the top of your 2011 resolutions and call Cristina today at 678-551-7955 for a complimentary consultation!



oXYGen Financial, Inc. Private CFO Cristina Briboneria is one of the foremost knowledgeable professionals in giving financial advice to the X and Y Generation.

CRISTINA BRIBONERIA IS SECURITIES LICENSED THROUGH INVESTACORP, INC. A REGISTERED BROKER/DEALER MEMBER FINRA, SIPC. ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH INVESTACORP ADVISORY SERVICES, INC. A SEC REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISORY FIRM.
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Love life...every SINGLE moment of it!
-xoxo
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