The Beauty Bus Foundation, a non-profit organization that delivers dignity, hope and respite to chronically or terminally ill men, women, children and their caregivers through beauty treatments and pampering products, will host their 4th annual Beauty Drive fundraising event on May 5, 2013 at the Big Lab at the Annenberg Building at the California Science Center. This Cinco de Mayo inspired affair will showcase what Beauty Bus Foundation clients experience in a fun and interactive way. Individual companies will host “Beauty Stations” and offer services and products for attendees. The silent auction will feature sought-after items from world-renowned beauty, fashion, entertainment, sports and lifestyle companies. The event will also feature a signature Men’s Lounge with haircuts and MAN-icures, and for the first time a Kids’ Korner, making it a family affair. To top it off guests will leave with a gift bag filled with the best in beauty and an opportunity to view the Space Shuttle Endeavor in a semi-private setting.
Attached is the press release. General admission tickets are $150 for adults and $50 for kids.

As an example, giving up smoking has a major impact on general health as continuing with the habit increases the risk of contracting heart disease, cancers and chronic lower respiratory diseases, among many other health issues. Eating a healthy diet is also important, so opt for fruits, high-fiber foods, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats and fish, which are all sources of healthy protein. Aim to limit alcohol intake and avoid foods that are high in sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat.

Regular exercise

A healthy diet and regular exercise contribute towards maintaining a healthy body weight; in addition, exercise helps lower the risk of certain major diseases. From ballroom dancing to brisk walking, there is a wide range of activities from which to choose, other than arduous sports pursuits. Regular physical activity is thought to lower the risk of developing various types of cancers and any physical and mental exercise may count towards warding off Alzheimer’s disease.

Managing stress

In today’s busy world many single moms are caught up in work and family matters to the extent that they skip relaxation time. This can allow stress hormones to overtake them and create significant health problems. Long-term unrelieved stress can cause depression, menstrual disorders, overeating and a variety of skin disorders. Single moms who eat sensibly, take regular exercise and remember to take time out for themselves are able to combat such problems. Some women favor quiet activities, such as meditation, others combine the discipline of daily routines of yoga or Pilates, or set up regular phone dates with a good friend as a way of getting rid of pent-up energy or blowing off steam.

Managing chronic conditions

 People with a high cholesterol level, with hypertension (also known as high blood pressure), or depression, should always follow the treatment recommended by their healthcare practitioner. There are very effective medications available, which are designed to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels and many people with depression buy Wellbutrin, an antidepressant often recommended by doctors.

Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders are characterized by alterations to tissues when the immune system attacks the body. They include more than 80 serious chronic illnesses including type 1 diabetes. Women with diabetes can get help to keep their blood sugar under control by using medicines and sometimes insulin shots.

Breast cancer

Of all the cancers, breast cancer is the most common among women, so regular screening and self-examination are important for early detection. Treatments for breast cancer are now very sophisticated and effective, in fact more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a serious medical condition in which the bones become fragile and brittle as a result of the loss of tissue, typically due to hormonal changes or deficiency of Vitamin D or calcium. Yet again, eating a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals and taking regular exercise to build strong bones will help women to build up their body to provide as effective a defense as possible.

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1. Create a menu

Once a week or even once a month, take the time to sit down and plan out a menu for every single day.  Check out what items are on sale and use coupons, to plan your menu around.  Additionally, gather recipes and make one easy trip to purchase the food you need.

2. Make your own

There are tons of great DIY tips online (i love pinterest!).  You can make your own laundry detergent, fabric softeners, and cleaners.  Not only does this save you cash, but now you know exactly what is going onto your clothes and into your home so you don’t have to worry about harmful ingredients.

3. Think outside the box

There are many unique ways to save money.  The MoneySavingQueen recommends becoming a Staples Reewards member because you can earn up to $2 back on every ink cartridge you recycle! Be creative!

4. Start an allowance

Being a single mom can be eye-opening in terms of money.  That is why it is important to teach your children the value of a dollar.  Make an allowance chart and have your kids earn their money, which will teach them the keys to success for their future.

5. Freeze it

Kids can be picky when it comes to food, which is why making food and then freezing it can help you out during the week.  Just grab it out of the freezer and heat it up!

6. Bag your own snacks

Individual snack bags at the store can be pricey, but if you buy snacks in bulk (which can save you money), you can easily make individual bags yourself for lunch time.

7. Lower your bills by sharing your story

The MoneySavingQueen recommends sharing your story with your phone company, cable company, etc.  Explain to them that you either have to get the bill lowered or terminate their services.  Many companies will lower your monthly bill to keep you as a customer.  It’s definitely worth a try!

8. Sell your clothes and buy consignment

You can get great deals on clothes through shopping consignment.  Plus, it’s easy to make a few extra buck by selling the clothes you no longer wear.

9. Find new activities

With one income, it can be a struggle explaining to your kids why you can’t do the things you used to.  That’s why it is important to find new activities like getting the cousins together for a barbecue or taking advantage of the free spring/summer time fairs and events around your neighborhood.

10. Save

You have to have an emergency fund or savings fund, especially as a single parent.  Life can be unpredictable and those unexpected situations can be expensive.  Having extra money to lean on can make life a little less stressful.  Just putting a little bit of money each month into a savings account can be beneficial.

Saving money is doable!  So get out there and save!  Feel free to share some of your own helpful money saving tips.

Cheers!

Celebrating should be fun and stress-free, but sending out invitations can be time consuming and challenging.  Today, e-cards are becoming more and more popular.  Email has made sending out invitations a snap.  But when I went to create an invitation for my own party, I found many of the sites difficult to navigate, making the process frustrating.

After testing out different sites and talking to close friends, I found the perfect site to create invitations and announcements online.  It’s called EnnouncementCards.com!  Their collection of paper-less e-cards come in a variety of styles and formats.  My favorite part… it’s so easy to use!

Their cards can be easily personalized and customized any way you want.  You can attach your own photo, upload your address book, and email your friends without any cost!  They have birthday cards, save-the-dates, announcements, invitations, holiday cards… you name it.

I chose to send out my birthday invitation using EnnouncementCards.com and it was so simple to use and fun to play around with.  Being a single mom, I love keeping things simple and this site is just what I needed to make sure invitations were one last thing to worry about.

Just like EnnouncementCards.com says, “It is the perfect blend of the look of a traditional paper card with the convenience of an e-card.”  Not only that but it’s environmentally friendly and FREE!

Check out EnnouncementCards.com for your kid’s next birthday party or to celebrate a girls night out! Have fun with it and let me know what you think.

Cheers!

Colbert says, “Creating financial security isn’t about looking at the mistakes you’ve made in the past.  It’s about creating a solid plan for the future, and utilizing tools to help you achieve the level of prosperity you deserve; all without requiring any change to your current income.”

The Financial GPS Tool makes this easy with DoTheMathNetwork.com‘s propriety software.  Both time and money can be saved!  You can fast track finances online and get out of debt in as little as half the time it would regularly take.

The Financial GPS Tool pulls all of your financial accounts into one central location, and uses advanced banking strategies to analyze the fastest, most effective financial strategy to eliminate your debt and build up cash reserves in your bank account.

Make a FREE analysis appointment today and experience what your financial future has in sight for you!

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While The Guardian focuses on single parenting in the UK, I would like to offer options for single moms and dads in the United States to seek help and be the best they can be.

According to Yahoo! News and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen pregnancy rates have dropped to a historic low in the United States.  It was reported that the birth rate among younger women has declined, while the birth rate among older women has increased.  But while these numbers change, the stereotypes attached to single parenting remain the same.  This makes single parenting all the more challenging, creating low self-esteem and making it difficult to seek education and work.

The challenges that single parents face can be life-altering; therefore, it is crucial that single moms and dads have support.  This support can be anyone from a friend or a family-member to a parenting professional.  The key is to ask for help when you need it!  Nobody should be afraid to ask for help.  Single parents are no longer the minority. You may feel alone, but there are many single parents out there just like you.

The same goes to those that know single parents – give them your support!  They may not ask for help, but try to understand the struggle they are going through.  Offer to help babysit, motivate them to keep going, discuss financial struggles, etc.

Many single parents start their own support groups, often through the schools that their children attend.   This can be a great way to make friends in similar situations.  You can also help one another by scheduling carpools and play dates.

There are also a few organizations that support single parents.  One of my favorites is Parents Without Partners.  They hold educational and family activities like group discussions, lectures, potluck suppers, and picnics.  Their chapters range from 10 to 400 members and can be found all around the US.

So don’t give in to the struggles that single parenting stigmas have amplified.  You are not alone and support is around the corner.  It’s okay to ask for help!  Not only that, but I am here for you if you need any support or motivation.  I want to help you be the best you!  Feel free to contact me here and follow me on my own journey as a single mom through my website as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Remember that feeling you had when you and your special someone first started dating?  That great butterfly feeling when everything was so new and fresh?  Sadly, the loss of that feeling often leads to break-ups.  And as some single moms know, the loss of that flame often becomes a major factor in the spiral that leads to divorce.  So once you have been in a relationship for so long, how do you relive those wonderful butterfly feelings and bring that spark back?

Women’s Health Magazine recently published an article with 5 great tips on making that honeymoon phase last.  Whether you have been in a relationship for a few months, a few years, or are still looking for your real one, these tips will help teach you how to have a successful relationship.

1. Mix Up Date Night

Do something new and exciting with your man!  When you do something that is physiologically arousing your body associates that feeling with your environment and who you are with.  So do something fun and different – try out the latest mud run craze or play an intense game of laser tag to mix things up a bit.

2. See Things a New Way

If you and your guy get into a fight, try to look at the situation from an outside, neutral perspective.  Women’s Health recommends writing out a neutral assessment of how things went down to take a more balanced approach to the situation.  This third-party assessment is a powerful reminder of the honeymoon phase.

3. Schedule Sex

Sex is necessary in a happy, healthy relationship.  According to the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, couples that have regular sex are 65% more likely to be happy.  So have sex!  Make time for it in your schedule and share that romance with your guy once again.

4. Keep the Mystery Alive

Studies have shown that attraction relies on constant and lasting discovery of your partner.  So keep the mystery alive by giving your partner space.  Don’t text or call constantly!  Instead, wait until you are physically together and share your experiences after some time apart.

5. Get Physical

Exercise boosts your sex drive!  Not only that, but it clears your mind and makes you feel good.  So get out there, get some exercise, and let the honeymoon phase take over once again!

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Please share any other tips that you can think of or how these tips worked for you and your relationship.

Cheers!

We learned a lot about Beyonce through “Life Is But A Dream.”  For instance, she explained her distanced relationship with her father after breaking their professional ties, the power that comes from female friendships, the difficulty of being a woman, as well as her great relationship with Jay-Z.

Beyonce seems to have a balanced head on her shoulders as well as a blissful marriage and a successful career, so I want to ask you one question.  What 5 things can single moms learn from Beyonce? 

What have you learned from Beyonce that inspires you as a single parent or as a woman in general?

Share your answer through my contact forum, which can be found here.  You have ONE WEEK (until 11:59pm PT on Sunday 2/24) to share your answer and then we will choose the best answer and announce a winner.  You can win an ebook of my new book It Takes All 5: A Single Mom’s Guide to Finding the Real One!

I can’t wait to hear from you!