Some of the highlights include protecting a woman’s right to choose, making birth control accessible and affordable, and “repealing the global gag rule.” For a complete list of grades and subjects, check out the Planned Parenthood scorecard.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

Post from: Blisstree

President Obama and Women’s Health Care

She announced that cancer was detected, that it probably had spread and that it is incurable.

Not curable, but treatable.

Which tells us that from now on, our National lexicon about Cancer may have changed.

When we hear the word Cancer…we might discuss it with our loved ones in a different way…in much the same way as we discuss Diabetes.

In other words, it might be possible for Ms. Edwards to live with Cancer, operative word: Live.

With medications, therapies and continued efforts within the medical and research communities for a cure…Mrs. Edwards could find herself in the White House some day.

Godspeed.

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Elizabeth Edwards Announces Cancer Recurrence

There is one element of this fabulous change in direction in a woman’s life that people are familiar with…but don’t seem to dwell on.

Memory loss or scatter-brain-ness. (And I am just in the beginning stages, I think.)

It’s one thing when I’m standing alone in my pantry — wondering if I was supposed to be looking for an ingredient, or if I was supposed to go get the mail.

It’s quite another when this gem of a side affect…appears in public.

When hubby and I were in Vegas, I left (his mother’s antique) a black beaded purse in a cab.

(followed by him dragging me through the casino back to the ladies room where I fibbed and said I’d left it). Oh the horr-ah.

On the flight back home I lost my boarding ticket… then I thought I lost my wallet…but didn’t remember I plopped it into a plastic food bag.

(You should have seen my face blanch with fear at the thought of telling him.)

He just kept making these faces at me, as if to say God woman, you are a ditz! What is wrong with you?

I couldn’t even chalk any of it up to being drunk, ’cause I wasn’t! And if I were to tell him what I was going through, he’d then know I was old.

Someone needs to come up with some memory techniques which are designed especially for pre and menopausal women, or I swear they’re going to find out that this is the reason for identity theft!

Post from: Blisstree

Menoupause Is The Word Of The Day

As a business owner, I am a staunch believer that customer service is THE key ingredient to a successful business.

For me, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is a superb example of customer support at it’s finest.

It’s only taken me 20 years to figure out how make-up works, in terms what is appropriate my own color palette and application.

But honestly, if you spend time on a cosmetics site…sometimes you just shut the computer off because all of the choices can be overwhelming.

But what Bobbi Brown has on her site is unique: an on-line cosmetic consultant! You write in what your question is and a “live” person writes back to you (albeit with some company jargon).

But for the most part that person will stay on line with you providing suggestions that suit your personal coloring, age and usage. She (or he) will continue the disussion for as long as you need.

I have to say, because of Carol, my on-line cosmetic consultant, I will probably return to Bobbi Brown to purchase several of the products that she suggested.

The genius part of this is that knowing what kind of shopper I am, I will stay on the site and continue to shop.

Check out Bobbi’s “Looks and Tips”. Mine is “Ageless”.

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Bobbi Brown Provides Premier Customer Service

Everyday, I come across a feature story about a stay-at-home mom who takes a simple idea and turns it into a viable and even multi-million dollar business.

From fabric alphabet letters that ended up as a prop on Friends, to scrapbooking, to door-to-door salon services…the thing these women have in common is their desire to work from home and their courage to take a chance on making their once “kitchen table” idea a reality.

Here are some thoughts from Kim Lavine, author of Mommy Millionaire, on how to take the leap:

Tips for balancing life with love

• 1. Don’t apologize for having kids! Children are special angels from heaven whom God sent you. What’s wrong with this world when you have to apologize for having children beside you as you work? You’re Superwoman. You can manage kids, find your husband’s car keys, and close million dollar deals at the same time. Be proud of yourself!
• 2. If you’re going to be a Mommy Millionaire, you must accept the fact that you will have to burn down your house and build another one after ten years.
• This is especially true if you are the parent of young boys.
• At the end of the day, as long as we’re all happy, healthy and safe, I really don’t care how clean my house is and what kind of car I drive. My success as a mother isn’t measured anymore by how clean my house is or how well decorated it is, but by how happy my children are.
• 3. The argument between working moms versus stay-at-home moms is a moot point:This is the twenty-first century. The technology of email, cell phones and the Internet have empowered us in new and liberating ways, which will radically transform the 9 to 5 workday world and family world. Never before has it been so distinctly possible for us to have it all.
• 4. Just because people have more money than you, doesn’t mean they’re any happier than you.Though my mother-in-law was what most people would call “broke” most of her life, I have never known a happier person than her. She taught me that love of family is what really mattered, and it doesn’t cost anything to love.
• 5. Understand that just as money can’t buy happiness, a lack of it can’t take it away.With every challenge that was levied on me, all I had to do was stare into the beautiful healthy faces of my kids sleeping to feel gratitude. I would thank God for every breath they take, every smile, every “Mommy!” screamed with glee at seeing me, every cute, naughty, funny thing they did produced a pure joy and happiness that no amount of money could buy — or lack of money, could take away.
• And how are you going to have the unique and unparalleled experience of having a millionaire Angel Investor tear up your business plan and throw it in your face, which actually happened to me, if you don’t have a business plan?

If you have any thoughts about starting a home business, do research how Angel Investors can help.

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Mompreneurs Get Rich, Rich, Rich!

I wasn’t sure about the whole packing thing, because I’ve calculated that since I started The Pet Set, much of my wardrobe harkens back to the late 1990’s…(can you say Delorean?)

Years ago, when I was working at Mercedes-Benz, I bought the cutest little spaghetti-strapped, little black dress for, ironically, a business trip in Vegas.

Since that time, I haven’t worn this piece once, although it’s been packed about a hundred times.

It’s been to Vegas, Palm Beach, Phili, Maine, NYC, San Francisco, London, LBI New Jersey, Phoenix, and back to Vegas, but never worn.

I know what the problem is, I know longer have my 1990’s body and plus it never really fit that well.

So, while I was sitting at the pool, feeling so self-conscious about my 2007 body, a light bulb went off…this little black dress would make the perfect beach cover-up!

So, there you have it, my dress replaced my 1980’s beach cover up, that has never been worn!

Can ya’ say make-over!

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The Dress That Went To Vegas

How’s this for a fabulous name for a site: Madonnalicious.com ?

Well, it’s finally happened.

My touchstone to the Avant Garde has joined the ranks of super duper stars who sell reasonably priced clothing at formerly hip (and obscure, therefore hip) department stores.

In this case…the clothing actually looks well made and fun.

I say this because, by contrast…some other designer’s stuff at stores like Target are simply horribly made and ugly.

My absolute favorite — her little black dress…you’ll never have to buy another LBD again.

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M By Madonna For H&M

I am quite certain that Christina at E Beauty Daily has a much better take on this all-important issue in a woman’s life than I do: hair color.

I have been going to the same stylist for 5 years…Paul has done wonders with color on my fine, semi-damaged hair:

Highlights so delicate and beautiful, they look sun-kissed…base color that looked like my 10-year-old self…BUT…all at a price.

During the holidays, everyone always takes pot shots at how much I spend on cut/color/styling. It’s the one beauty thing about which I’ve always been sort of snobbish; and I don’t care.

But recently, I mused, oh how horrible would it be to go to a salon that didn’t charge as much as my current salon. I even found reader reviews about both my salon (not so good) and one that is directly across the street (fabulous!).

Here I am all day, running The Pet Set from my home…who cares about my color and cut, right?

So, I made an appointment with the arch-rivals of my salon…the cheaper place across the street. Oh boy…the things you notice when you have to come down off your beauty perch.

• What? No free bagels? No satin beautiful black, satin smocks? No Vogue!?! No continual sweeping of vagrant hair? No Vogue?!?

Anyhoo…Kathy was her name…and she was nice enough, although the constant smell of the staff’s fishy lunch certainly did not make me want to make another appointment.

BUT…here’s the rub:

While I saved a much-appreciated hundred bucks — the hair cut turned out crooked, the color turned out flat and they didn’t even have the good products in the window that my more expensive, place has…god!

So here I am, 4 days before I have to go away to Vegas, with Jersey girl hair! When I’ve spent my entire life trying to achieve New York City girl hair!

I’m telling you, guys included, do NOT skimp on hair care! And do NOT think you can do the color thing on your own, at home…it’s like trying to re-create Lombardi’s pizza in your home oven…can’t be done.

Image: CondeNast.com

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Hair Color: You Get What You Pay For

He seems to be a person who really needs to be married.

He met and married my mother; they were married for 18 years, then got divorced.

Soon after, he met and married another woman shortly after my mother died; that marriage lasted for about 18 years — until he lost that woman to cancer as well.

Now, he’s on his third marriage…or should I say wedding ceremony?

I’ve always imagined that if something should happen to my husband or we decided to call it quits — that would be it for me…one and done as I like to say.

Well, I probably won’t attend this wedding, but if I did, I might think to raise a glass and say “as you begin again…I hope you will find the peace you’ve been searching for.”

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Third Marriage — A Charm?

Oprah, to me, has always been a light and an inspiration…but now she’s just off the charts, in my opinion.

Last night I watched her special on the opening of The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy For Girls.

Gosh, I’ve been following Oprah’s career and her interests since back in the Phil Donahue days of daytime tv.

She probably doesn’t know it but I was sending her books and press releases to her when I worked at Random House, and she worked at WLS TV in Chicago.

I had planned to watch Oprah’s special presentation of the opening of the school and the selection process of the students.

I have to say, I have never, EVER seen young children look and sound as hopeful and exhilarated about the potential of going to school! And that goes for Oprah too.

These young girls looked so delicate…but they are not…they are and will be leaders. But mostly they seemed so dignified to me.

I believe that Oprah has really entered the period of her life that she was meant to live…and I wish everyone involved with the Academy all of my thoughts and prayers.

I can not WAIT to see how these girls turn out.

If you go to Oprah.com, you can find out how to donate…the process is set up in much the same way that her Katrina program was.

You can give everything from big ticket items or cash to small gestures such as books and supplies.

Honestly, Oprah is an angel.

p.s. Make your children watch the encore presentation…I guarantee, they will have a different attitude about getting up for school.

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Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy For Girls