Take for instance Ruben Studdard — the American Idol winner who recently lost 100 pounds by going VEG. Ruben explained his weight-loss on The Wendy Williams Show, saying, ”I went to vegetarianism about a year-and-a-half ago, and then about 6 months ago I started being completely vegan.” We love that story!

Ruben continues to explain how incredible vegan food is and brags about his vegan mac and cheese and greens. Yum! Visit GoVeg.com to get your free vegetarian starter kit.

Source: ecorazzi.com

In a groundbreaking report released Monday by a leading economic research group, social scientists turned a spotlight on the financial challenges facing an often overlooked group of women, many of whom could not take an unpaid sick day or repair a major appliance without going into debt.

Among the most startling revelations in the wealth data is that while single white women in the prime of their working years (ages 36 to 49) have a median wealth of $42,600, the median wealth for single black women is only $5.

“The popular image is [black women] spend too much, which is the reason they are running up credit card and consumer debt, but the cost of living has risen faster than income, and they need to go into debt for basic daily necessities,” said Meizhu Lui, director of the Closing the Gap Initiative. “It’s compounded because unemployment is twice as high in the black community than it is in the white.”

For all working-age black women 18 to 64, the financial picture is bleak. Their median household wealth is only $100.

“That means half of [black women] have a net worth of more than $100 and half have a net worth of less than $100,” Ms. Lui said. “So that gives you an idea of how far in debt some women of color are.”

(Wealth, or net worth, measures the total of one’s assets — cash in the bank, stocks, bonds and real estate; minus debts — home mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and student loans.)

“There are excuses and circumstances that have evolved in society, which put black women where they are,” said Esther Bush, executive director of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. The recession has hit single mothers especially hard.

In Pittsburgh and across the country, the financial burdens of single parenthood fall mostly on women, but black women are more likely to endure the work and responsibility of raising children on their own. They are more likely to be the backbone of their families and communities, with greater responsibilities to support struggling friends and families.  Read More Here

Today, the First Lady joined the dress’ 27-year old designer Jason Wu for the ceremony , which welcomes the one-of-a-kind one shoulder ivory gown in The First Ladies at the Smithsonian” exhibit.

“I have to say, to be honest, I am very honored and very humbled, but I have to say that I’m also a little embarrassed by all the fuss being made over my dress,” said Mrs. Obama. “Like many of you, I’m not used to people wanting to put things I’ve worn on display. So, all of this is a little odd, so forgive me.”

Here’s a transcript of Mrs. Obama’s speech:

“When I look at my gown — which I, in fact, have not seen since the day that I took it off — memories of that moment truly come rushing back. I remember that it was freezing cold in Washington. I know we all remember that. Yet, despite the frigid temperatures, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the Mall. Nothing was going to stop them from being part of history.

That day was so hectic for us. And I remember the inaugural parade and how the President and I stood and we waved until every last band walked by.

Then we only had less than an hour — ladies, if you can believe that — (laughter) — all of my friends left us in the stands, by the way. (Laughter.) “See ya, good luck!” (Laughter.) I was like, “Yeah, thanks.” (Laughter.) “We have to get ready for the ball.” (Laughter.) Like, “Yeah, so do I.” (Laughter.) So at the time I wasn’t really focused on what I was wearing that evening — I was really just trying to stay warm.

But I’ll never forget the moment that I slipped on this beautiful gown. I remember how just luscious I felt as the President and I were announced onto the stage for the first of many dances. And I’ll cherish that moment for the rest of my life.

2. Make peace with imperfection
Efficient people give “A-level effort” to the most important projects (say, work assignments or a kitchen redesign), and for the rest they do just enough to get the job done, says Renae Reinardy, PsyD, a psychologist who specializes in hoarding disorders. Maybe you give yourself permission to bring store-bought cookies to a school bake sale or donate a bag of stuff—unsorted!—to Goodwill. “Trying to do every task perfectly is the easiest way to get bogged down,” says Reinardy.

3. Never label anything “miscellaneous”
You put a bunch of things into a file or box and write this catchall across the front. “But within a week you’ve forgotten what’s in there,” says Morgenstern. Instead, sort items into specific groups—”electric bills,” “lightbulbs,” and so on.

4. Schedule regular decluttering sessions
Rather than wait until an industrious mood strikes (we all know where that leads), have a decluttering routine in place—whether it’s spending 15 minutes sorting mail after work or tackling a new project every Sunday afternoon.

5. Stick with what works
“I have clients who will try every line of makeup, every cell phone—it’s exhausting,” says Dorothy Breininger, president of the Delphi Center for Organization. Don’t waste time (and money) obsessively seeking out the best thing.

6. Create a dump zone
Find a space to corral all the stuff that you don’t have time to put away the moment you step in the door, says Breininger. Once you’re ready to get organized, you won’t have to hunt all over the house for the dry cleaning or your child’s field trip permission slip.

7. Ask for help
“The organized person is willing to expose herself to short-term embarrassment and call for backup,” says Breininger. Which is to say, that elaborate four-course dinner you planned? Change it to a potluck.

8. Separate emotions from possessions
It’s healthy to be attached to certain items—a vase you picked up in Paris, your grandmother’s pearls. But holey concert tees or cheap, scuffed earrings your husband gave you years ago? Just let them go.

9. Foresee (and avoid) problems
You wouldn’t leave the house on a gray day without an umbrella, right? People who appear to sail through life unruffled apply this thinking to every scenario, says Breininger. Have a cabinet packed with leaning towers of Tupperware? Organized folks will take a few minutes to short-circuit an avalanche before it happens. (In other words, rearranging that cupboard now is easier than chasing after wayward lids as they scatter underneath the fridge.)

10. Know where to donate
It’s easier to part with belongings if they’re going to a good home. Identify a neighbor’s son who fits into your child’s outgrown clothes, or choose a favorite charity. “It will save you from searching for the perfect recipient every time you need to unload something,” says Morgenstern.

via: oprah.com

Michigan regulators said Thursday that a member of the Winans gospel-music family led a fraudulent, multimillion-dollar investment program by promoting bogus Saudi Arabia oil bonds.

The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation issued a cease-and-desist order, although Commissioner Ken Ross said the alleged scheme probably stopped at the end of 2008.

Ross said Michael Winans Jr. told investors they could double their money in 60 days. Detroit police identified and interviewed at least 180 investors, but state regulators say the actual number is higher.

“Our investigation found that Michael Winans Jr. orchestrated a scheme that resulted in hundreds of Detroit residents losing millions of hard-earned dollars,” Ross said in a release. “Promising sky-high, guaranteed returns, these scammers unscrupulously fleeced unsuspecting churchgoers who let their financial guard down.”

Winans could not immediately be reached for comment. A phone number linked to his address in the Detroit area was unanswered, and numbers listed for Winans’ Detroit-based music publishing company have been disconnected.

Ross said the Ponzi scheme was worth at least $2.6 million but could have been as high as $11 million. He said Winans used connections in Detroit churches to draw investors between early 2007 and late 2008.

State regulators said Winans, his associates and related business entities violated the state’s Uniform Securities Act, and turned over the results of its investigation to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Those found violating the act face a maximum penalty of $25,000 per violation and 10 years in prison.

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing technique that promises high rates of return with little risk to investors. Money provided by new investors is used to pay seemingly high returns to early stage investors, but the scheme collapses when required redemptions exceed new investments.

Winans is a third-generation member of one of gospel music’s first families.

via: the belle report

Minimize your risks and take proactive steps to stop identity theft before it happens to you.

Here are a few steps you can take to prevent identify theft from happening to you.

• Do not give out personal information over the phone, mail or internet -

• Unless you initiated the contact; however still be cautious, know who you are giving the information to and what it will be used for and who will see it.

• Don’t carry more than what you need in your wallet or purse.

• Avoid carrying your social security card

• Avoid carry more than 1-2 credit cards

• Use cash in questionable retail stores, nail shops etc.

• Review your credit report on a regular basis

• Shred your documents

• Pay close attention to your mail

• Know when your bills arrive

• Shred mail once you have read it

• Review your credit card and bank statements every month

• Create strong passwords.

Avoid using your birthday, name, car model, pet name
Change your passwords regularly and do not use the same one for everything.

• Beware of online phishing scams

• Do not open e-mail from senders that you do not know

• Do not click on links that you do not know

I hope these steps are helpful to you. Unfortunately we cannot think that it will never happen to us. Statistics are showing that identity theft is on the rise becoming more frequent and pervasive. Over the next couple of weeks we will take a look at some common ways that identify theft happens and what steps you should take if you become a victim of identity theft.
It is my desire that you are inspired to be a good steward over these three areas of your life: Time, Talent, Treasure. Time, you must learn to manage your time; talent you have skills and gifts and lastly treasure, your finances need to managed appropriately. All of these areas work together; when they are managed properly you will be able to become A BETTER YOU!

Source: elev8.com

Via: hellobeautiful.com

Via: ytube.com