Pucker for a Purpose: ROCK THE VOTE

Campaign season is in full force - complaining, bickering, blaming and all. But even with all the antics of the school yard (view McCain's Video Obama Love) We all must recognize our call to duty: TO VOTE! The environment, gas prices, healthcare, education - Our country is going through some major growing pains and we need to choose a qualified professional to guide us along the way. Stila cosmetics seems to agree! Teaming with Rock the Vote, the make-up company has launched Rock the Vote Red a Cause Fabulous that is causing me to pucker for a purpose! 1 - You can register to vote directly from the page and 2 - A percentage of the proceeds of each lipstick sale goes to Rock the Vote.

"Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country. Using music, popular culture and new technologies Rock the Vote seeks to engage and incite young people to register and vote in every election. And we give young people the
tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their
lives, and leverage their power in the political process."

Well, Rock On! For more information on Stila's Rock the Vote Red or Rock the Vote, please click on the icons above.

XOXO,

Netta

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough... Get a Massage!

"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. George Bernard Shaw "

So, I am a die-hard optimist. Really, I believe that any and everything is possible and stand by my favorite Flashdance quote "When you give up on your dreams... you die" (Boy Michael Nouri was a handsome young man. Anywho...) But even I, the eternal optimist floating through life on a hot-pink-tinted-silver-lined cloud, have my bad days.

As I have stated before, I am an actress and writer, living out here in Los Angeles a city where anything can happen any day. At 2pm you can call a number of friends or associates and grab an early afternoon martini. The home of sandy haired surfers and $25 Brazilian bikini waxes. One day a girl is walking the streets of Hollywood the next she's riding shotgun in a silver Lotus shopping til she drops on Rodeo Drive. Multi-cultured, environmentally friendly, vegetarian, 80-degrees and clear...My kind of city! But even in the City of Angels, sometimes fighting the good fight of your hopes and dreams can leave a girl a bit battered and bruised. Especially when you haven't had a paying calltime in several weeks (and I won't go into what several is.)

I mean, how the hell am I supposed to pay for my happy-hour-martini-induced-brazilian-bikini-wax and make it to the beach in time to ogle at the sandy-haired surfers on my three night a week comedy club waitress salary and a three month passed due cellphone bill? Times like this it is easy for one to have a perfectly timed meltdown. We all know that sometimes the best thing for your soul is to have an all out cry-fest. I mean snot-dripping, chin-quivering, can't catch your breath for the life of you, cry yourself into a sorrow induced ball at the bottom of your shower. Other times it is best to hit the ground harder, work extra long hours, push yourself to the limit and then two steps farther! But I have learned that their is also another option. Take your overworked-under-paid hiney to the spa. Yeah I said it.

It is time for woman around the world to take better care of themselves. And I for one am starting a trend! Treating myself like I would like a man to treat me: with love, adoration, and the occasion indulgence, make that over-indulgence. Maybe not everyday, but every once in a while for sure. So, after a particularly stressful week of hard work to seemingly disappointing results I checked myself into the Pasadena Burke Williams for a spa day, cellphone bill be damned!

*

Ladies, I know, it sounds abit immature. How dare a woman who hasn't paid her bills go out and treat herself so excessively. And what do I say to that? Bah Humbug. If you let us, woman will take care of absolutely everything and everyone else until fibroids, breast-cancer, or a nervous breakdown forces us to take care of ourselves. By then it will take much more than a $55 calming-detox wrap to get back in order. So many women lose years of life to making sure that everything and everyone else is in line. Well, I for one don't want to look up 20 years from now rough and ragged, because I'll tell you a secret that I am learning: If you ain't together, the appearance of everything around you running like clockwork is just a facade, and it will all come crumbling down with you when you finally break.

"Not I," said the fly.

Let me calm myself down before I scare you away. It's easy for me to get all Malcolm on this issue, but realize that this here is a peace movement. I am not suggesting that anybody spend the rent on a weekend in Ocho Rios, Jamaica having your feet rubbed by a half-naked Mandingo while you sip Sangria on a white sands beach. What I am suggesting is that you put yourself first at least once a month - ahead of bills, ahead of the job, ahead of the stress. Take a day to refocus on your purpose, your goals and your dreams for yourself. A simple pedicure, manicure, or lunch at your favorite spot could be enough. It's time to burn the 'good' candles for yourself! I promise, If you take the time to focus on what the big picture of your life is, you'll figure out the small issue like paying your cellphone bill. Trust.

As for me, I didn't leave my spa day to a voicemail full of bookings from my agency, but I did leave feeling refreshed, regenerated and refocused feeling like my mind and body had returned to complete harmony. And according to Sallust, "Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.” Like sanity.

In honor of making ourselves the Queen of our lives for one day, and to put it all into a little perspective my Cause Fabulous for this week is: Queen for a Day® a 501 (c)(3) non-profit. This beautiful organization takes pediatric cancer patients and takes their mind off of there day-to-day trials by offering them quality of life services. They pamper girls with make-overs, manicures, and a 'coronation ceremony' where each girl is crowned as a champion over her illness with a tiara donated by a pageant titleholder. They also treat the boys with hero-themed gifts, reinforcing bravery and courage through police officers and firefighters. That is fabulous on a whole 'nother level ya'll.

To donate to this fantastic organization please click here, or go to: http://www.qfad.org/home.htm

The End of an Era: Sex and the City

Disclaimer – If you have not seen Sex and the City, please do not read this weeks blog – cause I give it ALL away!

There are certain things that I have been able to count on: Jay Z and Beyonce refusing to answer questions about their relationship, Tupac releasing top charting albums postmortem; and Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. Even after Sex and the City came to a celebrated end on HBO five years ago the ladies lived on in DVD, syndication, and the internet. These four fabulous girlfriends guided woman around the world through issues of love, loss, and labels. Even though my DVDs never disappoint, imagine my excitement when earlier this year New Line Cinema released that there would be a Sex and the City Movie!

Immediately the count down went on my Myspace page and I went into heavy study. Hours were spent at the tube watching and re-watching the girls go through the trials of single life in the city. I applauded triumphs and supported flaws, all the while becoming giddy at the idea of a sensational ending for Sex and the City (and therefore Womenkind) materializing on the big screen! Mazeltoph!

Finally, on May 31st I, six girlfriends and 200 other fantastically dressed fans crowded into the movie theatre. The second the theme music began we erupted in applause. It was the Super Bowl of Fabulosity and I had 50-yard-line tickets.

The entire first scene was like attending a Fashionista Festival with Carrie as the main event dripping in Vintage and fabulously flashing back on her life! Then came Samantha, Miranda, Charlotte, oh my! My heart was actually racing from excitement.

Everything was going great until Carrie presented the suit that she would be wearing to marry Mr. Big. Excuse me, a plain St. John-esque white suit? Not that there is anything wrong with St. John, as a matter of fact St. John is a staple amongst the ladies who lunch, it’s just that’s not Carrie! It’s like when Big got her the jeweled bird Judith Lieber bag (Season2-Ep. 22), cute, but not Carrie! I cringed. Then faux pas number 2: Carrie hesitates when Vogue asks her to represent 40 something brides. Not the Carrie I know whose religion is fashion, God is Gucci and bible is Vogue.

Finally someone slapped some sense into my girl when she decided to do the photo shoot and accept a glorious dress from uber-designer Vivienne Westwood. She even wore a whimsical little bird on her perfectly coiffed little head, Carrie to the C!

We all know what happens next, Big leaves Carrie at the alter like a little pussy and she spirals into depression for a year. Meanwhile My Steve cheats on My Miranda, My Samantha allows herself to waste away in Los Angeles, and My Charlotte gets pregnant and spends an hour thanking God that her life wasn’t as screwed up as her friends. What is happening? This isn’t the racy-romantic-sassy-sexfest-fashion-friendly-fairytale that I imagined. And where the hell is Carries CARRIE necklace! She can’t live without it, it personifies her (Season 6 episode 94 and 95!) Quick, get me a pair of Louboutins, I need to stand up!

I left the movie with mixed emotions. I wasn’t quite sure if my girls would truly be okay (especially after Carrie did actually marry Big in the St. John-esque-sin.) Somebody hum a spiritual, this situation needs a revival!

Then, the most interesting thing happened to me. I had a conversation with a girlfriend of mine. She’s smart, beautiful and sweet, but about five years behind me in maturity. The things that were important to her were boring the hell out of me, though I remembered at one time being just as interested in those catty dramas as she is now. I couldn’t get out of the conversation quick enough… boy have I grown. Then it donned on me, so had my girls.

All of my studying and excitement for the movie, I hadn’t left room for my girls to be at a space in there life that I didn’t agree with. I wanted them to be the same confused single women stumbling through life in sensational shoes and beautiful bags.

Yes, Carrie is still the fearless fashionista, but fashion is not her life. Her fashion now accessorizes her personality, not defines it. This could be why, after 10 years, she chose to retire the CARRIE necklace, no longer needing an object to remind her of who she is.

And Steve is a wonderful man, not a perfect one. It is possible that he and Miranda's life does have it’s own situations that need to be handled in an adult way, as apposed to an on-going joke (Miranda has chlymidia Season 3 episode 36; Steve has one ball season 4 Episode 58.)

If Samantha represents every woman’s inner she-roe, it is great to show that sometimes the best way to save yourself is to try what is right for everyone else, and then be brave enough to say that it’s wrong for you.

And what the hell is so wrong with Charlotte finally finding the happiness that she has been searching for for so long! (Trey is impotent season 3 episode 42, Charlotte has 25% chance of getting pregnant season 4 episode 59, Charlotte gets a divorce season 4 episode 62, Original birth parents from Charlotte, South Carolina decided not to give baby up for adoption season 6 episode 94. Charlotte has a baby Sex and the City- The movie, YAY!)

So though it didn’t end like I would have written it, it did end, and along with it an era. But I can’t write the lives of our Sex and the City sirens any more than they can write mine. So in honor of the Fabulous Ladies of Sex and the City, this week's Cause Fabulous is to honor your girlfriends, sisters, mothers, aunts, and all of the fabulous she-roes in your own life stepping out in style in Manolos and Military Boots, fighting and winning our own battles of personal growth and self-acceptance, and writing our own fairytale endings.

And if you are still uncomfortable with the end of Sex and the City…Rest assured that Tupac still has a hit in him, and Beyonce and Jay-Z will probably never release the pictures of that wedding dress.

Art for Life

I’m really big on inspiration. I get it from everywhere: walks, movies, books, conversations, antique stores, television shows, traffic. I thrive off of it! I literally get turned on by being inspired, any new way to light a fire of creativity within myself I jump at, which is why all my life I have desperately wanted to love art.

I envision myself as the type of woman with an art collection so sensational that museums actually beg me for the opportunity to showcase it. I would join the ranks of Tamia and Grant Hill, Chris Webber and my name sake Aaronetta Pierce who at one time with her husband had the largest African-American art collection in the state of Texas!

But as much as I fantasize about being a chic woman, cultivated and engorged in the art culture, my home a constant stimulation of exceptional works displayed on pedestals and walls with my guests, friends and family praising my unique taste and keen eye; There is one small problem, I know absolutely nothing about art.

I go to galleries and museums in search of inspiration but most of the time I end up being inspired by the bar or coffee shop. I hate to say it but the most interesting thing to me about the Mona Lisa is that she is rumored to actually be Leonardo Da Vinci. Creepy…but kind of cool.

It shames me to admit these things, I am an actress which is its own art form and the militant in me also yearns to offer support to anyone journeying the road less traveled, which is most artist.
So imagine my delight when, in search of my perfect piece I walked into an LA gallery and saw:
'Gold Digger, Like a Hooker... Just Smarter', by Todd Oldham. I felt the familiar tingle of inspiration. Could it be my first art piece? I actually found myself evil-eyeing the other patrons and protecting my piece like a guard dog. Finally, I got up the courage to look at the price. 'Price upon request.' Isn’t that 'art speak' for ‘Probably more than you can afford?’ A little down but not out, I went home to research the piece. Read: google!

‘Recording Artist/ Philanthropist Rhianna purchases 7 Todd Oldham pieces"

Huh? I got a little bit jealous and competitive. No Rhianna did not go out and buy my piece of art. Of course I knew she did, because she has excellent taste and wouldn’t leave that one on the wall. Sure enough in the list of works that Rhianna aquired 'Golddigger, Like a hooker... but smarter."

I found out that I could get a lithograph for $1100? But like I said, I know nothing about art, is that like a knock-off Gucci bag? I don’t think so. I want an original or nothing at all!

Well, the truth is, if the lithograph was $1100 then the original was probably out of my reach for the time being. Though in mourning I figured something out, I don’t have to be a Mona-Lisa loving, Renoir toting artistic erudite. The important thing about my art is that it inspires crazy, sincere, fabulous, fun, me! And it was then that I found her, or should I say them, at my favorite Sunday spot the Fairfax and Melrose Trading Post (which is a fantastic non-profit itself).
S.A.D., Shawnte

The artist is Shawnte’ Shawnte’ and boy is she fun. All of her pieces remind me of my fabulous girlfriends, my loving sisters, my superfly mother and all of my aunts! And I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all asking for prices because immediately I wanted to support this sister.

Hopefully Adi Chicks by Shawnte (bottom) will grace my walls very soon (In the event of another national…) But it is important for woman of all ages to find something to adorn their walls that speaks to them because as Picasso said, 'Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.' Amen to that.

Which is why this weeks Cause Fabulous is Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundations ‘Art for Life’ owned by Russell Simmons.

The Cause of the Rush Foundation is to present the highest quality arts education for children, with a particular focus on underserved, under-recognized or disadvantaged populations. His 2008 Miami event raised over $575 thousand dollars for youth in the Miami Dade community and that is just fabulous!

Dedicated to my girl Leigh, aka Whitley Gilbert, who is destined to have the kind of art collection that is shown around the world!

Boys of Summer

You know what I love about summer? Yes, of course the obvious… longer days, hotter nights, sipping Sangria during happy hour with reckless abandon, wearing too-short shorts and a devil may care attitude day and night sans judgment. I love the fabulous pool parties, the fantastic barbeques, the overall feeling of it’s a beautiful life! But there is something else…

Now, before I divulge this other decadent summer delicacy let me say that I am all about Girl Power. I love the authority of women embracing their inner Goddess and devouring all that life has to offer. But after such a big meal a girl needs a little rest and a little treat! Sometimes all we want is a sweet juicy piece of candy; And half-naked men playing summer sports is the perfect amount of eye candy for me!

Trust, I am an equal opportunity appreciator. In the words of Mae West, ‘Personally, I like two types of men, foreign and domestic.’ And what Cause is perfect for respecting and supporting the gamesmanship of men playing hot, sweaty, competitive sports around the world? Why the fabulous 2008 Olympics, of course!

According to Janet Hotzel, Development, United States Olympic Committee, donations cover all the needs of the athletes including lodging, food, transportation, and training. The athletes primary focus is on training to be the best they can be, so donations remove the need for them to worry about everyday necessities.

To donate to the 2008 Olympic fund and find out more about our talented team click here.

And in honor of athletic eye candy all around the world I have compiled my list of 10 top Summer Sport Hotties:

Okay, so Jason Taylor plays football, which is technically a fall sport. But he is currently on 'Dancing with the Stars', which is a spring show, so it all averages out to a Summer Adonis.

Japan's Akinori Iwamura, MLB Tampa Bay Rays. Didn't know who this guy was until I started my... ahem, Research. Glad to have... educated, myself.

Kelly Slater, Surfer (It's a sport ladies...)

Jamaica's Asafa Powell, World Record Holder, 100m dash. Usually I don't condone a man in tights. But, in this case I have no objections.

Sweden's Frederick Ljunberg, soccer. Soccer is just poundin 'em out, aren't they!

Brazil's Wagner Limeira, soccer. Now this is exactly what I mean by half-naked! Way to go Wagner!

Mexico City's, Rafeal Marquez, soccer. Soccer must be the world's finest sport.

U.S.A. Tennis Beauty James Blake. Love to love ya, James.

British Beauty, David Beckem. This goes without say.

Finally, Spain's Rafeal Nadal, Tennis

All Hail the Queen

Lena Horne, An Original Queen

It was my birthday last Friday March 7th and when I woke up on that glorious day, something clicked and I absolutely fell in love… with myself.

Not to sound too narcissistic or anything, it wasn’t like all of a sudden I woke up and ordered a turbo charged Rabbit (not that there’s anything wrong with that), I just began to appreciate all the wonderful qualities and experiences that have added up to this moment in time of me being me. I must say though, much of my road to self-acceptance has been paved in the uncertainty of if it is indeed okay to be in love with yourself.

From the beginning of time confident woman have been associated with all sort of things: witches, heifers, c*nts, b*tches. A young girl who is beginning to appreciate the way her features are coming together is quickly regarded as conceited; a girl with a youthful interest in learning and reading will be cast aside as a nerd; A girl who shows interest in sports is regarded as a “dike” and a young girl with an over-all healthy appreciation of herself is accused of the kiss of death: Thinking she’s all that.

Let me take this time to put this disclaimer on my text: I am not trying to insight a riot. I understand that as woman are battling out our own worth in this ever changing world, so are men. As long as everyone is seeking to learn, grow and love, the world will be a better place. But facts are facts: Barack Obama is considered young at 44! A man is considered to age like fine wine, his salt and peppered hair sexy, while a woman will cover her grey’s and hide her age as if we age like moldy cheese! Here’s the rub, men are said to reach their sexual peak at between 18-23, while woman are rumored to peak at 35-40! Hmm, sounds like somebody’s cheese is going to mold much quicker than mine.

In men’s defense, I did recently read an article by The Advice Diva that said a woman’s sexual peak isn’t so much a reflection of hormones as it is a woman’s confidence and the comfort level with her body associated with that self-acceptance. You mean to tell me that girls are put through hoola-hoops of self-discovery all the way up to their mid-thirties? Shoot, by the time its okay to love ourselves society starts telling us we’re getting too old to enjoy it!

It seems to be a conspiracy to slay the Goddess! Well I for one say “Hell no, we won’t go!

I use the terms Goddess and Queen interchangeably, but let me give you a definition for both:
Goddess: A female being of supernatural powers or attributes, believed in and worshiped by a people.
Queen: A woman eminent in power or attractions; the highest of her kind

Literary Goddess and New York Times Best selling Author Marianne Williamson put’s it best when she says:

“A queen is wise. She has earned her serenity, not having it bestowed on her but having past her tests. She has suffered and grown more beautiful because of it. She has proven she can hold her kingdom together. She has become its vision. She cares deeply about something bigger than herself. She rules with authentic power”

Now, that deserves an Amen!

I know that I have many lessons to learn before I can rightfully take hold of my Queendom, but one truth I have fully embraced: It’s magnificent to be a woman and grow into my womanhood! And I think it’s absolutely FABULOUS when organizations decide to make it their Cause to take a young girl by the pre-manicured-pubescent-princess hand and help to usher her to her throne, which brings me to my next Cause Fabulous WriteGirl!

WriteGirl’s mission is to use creative writing to promote creativity and self-expression to empower girls. By having one-on-one mentorship and holding workshops, WriteGirl is ensuring that the princesses of today are the Queens of tomorrow!

To Donate to WriteGirl go to http://www.writegirl.org/

Vote Smart

So, I have a question for you: Who will be the 44th president of the US of A?

Yes it’s that time again, our constitutional right has reared its beautiful head and voting season is upon us. It is time for us to choose our nations next leader (All things being equal and all parties playing fair…)

And unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you know that this election is history in the making. For the first time a major party ticket will house either a black man or a woman as their nominee for the president of the United States of America. Ladies and gentleman let me help you out on the importance of this momentous occasion that we all have the ability to participate in: 44 short years ago it was ILLEGAL for blacks to VOTE! Now a black man has a true chance at becoming our nation’s first African-American president! These are a sign-o-the-times. Obama campaigns on the slogan of the being the ‘candidate for change’, and he is the physical manifestation, the personification of the changes that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kings spoke about, dreamed about and died for. Can I get an Amen? But let’s not sell Hillary short. The civil rights act was not only for African-American citizens’; it also barred discrimination on the basis of sex. As late as 1965 government was still trying to tell woman what we could and could not do with our bodies with some states prohibiting married couple from using Birth Control… excuse me, can I have a say on how many babies I want to carry in my womb, or at least could my husband and I discuss it and agree upon it?

So in a country so wrought with a history discrimination against woman and African-Americans, you see why it would be something to write home to momma about now that either a woman or a black man will be the candidate running on a major party ticket.

But I’m not here to give you a history lesson, I am here to inspire you, and if the changing of times does not inspire you then I don’t know… Go rent Sex and the City, I’m always inspired by Carrie’s fashion choices.

Or let it inspire you that our nation is changing. Anything is possible. Our leaders reflect that. We should allow ourselves to be infected by these changes.

But I understand… Even if you are infected by change and excited to move forward with this voting process, some of you are downright confused! I know that I am. Primary? Caucus? Delegate? Superdelegate? NAFTA? Healthcare? What the heck does GOP stand for? (Grand Old Party-I just found that out, rather disappointed I must say) and what does any of this have to do with me and my student loans?

Although I am inspired by change, excited to vote, and eager to see how history will change with this election, I realized that I needed to educate myself! And that brings me to the perfect Cause Fabulous for this week: Non-Partisan Non-Profit organizations that provide unbiased information on candidates and issues! The following organizations have made it their mission to educate voters on the candidates, the issues, and the money, all important aspects of government and this election. Hint: If you would like to see the cost of your allergy medications go down, and your drug company gives $10 million to your candidate, that probably won’t happen this time around.

The Center for Voting and Democracy is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that studies how voting systems affect participation, representation and governance. http://www.fairvote.org/

Project Vote Smart is a nonprofit, non-partisan source of information on candidates and issues. http://www.votesmart.org/

The Federal Election Commission is the independent agency that regulates the financing for federal elections. The website has campaign finance reports and data and information about voting and elections. http://www.fec.gov/

When used correctly, our right to vote gives us ownership of our country. Our President isn’t our boss… We are his boss. He is more like the manager of America, he looks over all of our affairs, keeps them in order, and has the power to make executive decisions based on what he thinks would be best for our country. And just like with your own business, if your not happy with the job an employee is doing, you have every right to send that guy packing with love and hire somebody else! Well, it’s time to hire somebody else for the job. Let’s educate ourselves to make sure that the person that we hire puts our company, The United States of America, back in order!