No. 23 New Top Drill Sergeant

Dear Followers,

Thanks for the feedback. I am happy you enjoy the "women's stories" as much as I do. Something very special happened yesterday, and I would like to share this latest "first ever" achievement with all of you.

Yesterday, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Command Sergeant Major Teresa L. King, was named Commandant of its drill sergeant school. She is the first female to ever run one of the Army's schools to train drill sergeants. The 48-year old groundbreaker is the eighth of twelve children; her father was a sharecropper who grew tobacco and cucumbers in North Carolina, near Fort Bragg.

King has served in the Army for 29 years, and has a staff of 78 instructors who are in charge of drill sergeant training for the US Army. Her appointment is a major step toward "gender integration" because although more than thirteen percent of today's Army is female, only eight percent of high ranking soldiers (including Command Sergeant Major and Sergeants Major) are female.

King enlisted in the Army while still in high school, worked as a drill sergeant in her twenties, and then served as aide to then-Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney. She served at NATO headquarters in Europe, the DMZ in Korea, and with the Airborne Corps at Ft Bragg. Interestingly, King believes that most women simply cannot accomplish what she has done. For example, at her recent semi-annual physical training test she scored a perfect 300 (during which she completed 34 push-ups and 66 sit-ups in under two minutes and then ran two miles in 16 minutes and ten seconds).

King told writer James Dao of the New York Times that she could think of very few occasions when a man had challenged her authority because she was a woman. And then she added, "...when they did, I could handle it"

King admits that since her divorce (she has no children) she has poured her heart into the soldiers at Fort Jackson. As she told Dao, "when I look in the mirror, I don't see a female; I see a soldier."

Looking forward to your comments...

TODAY'S OUTFIT AND MAKEUP

Hello there!

Today my Gran and my great Aunt are coming over and this is my look:

MAKEUP

Base: MAC Rubenesque paintpot
Lid: MAC "Swish"
Hilight: MAC "Yoghurt"
Inner Corner: MAC "Vanilla"
Mascara: CoverGirl "Lash Blast"

(My head is cut off in pictures because i had just had a shower and looked like a drowned rat)

OUTFIT

Necklace: Swarovski
Bracelet: Diva
Tank Top: Supre'
Pencil Skirt: Supre'

JORDY,
xx

Haul 12: NEW ITEMS

Hello everyone,

My gran came over the other day because she was cleaning her house and found a few items that she thought i might like :) She brought me the cutest things and here they are...

OH MY GOSH! How cute and vintage is this little floral clutch?!?

Another clutch...so detailed and sparkly!

A Revlon makeup bag

A never-used, still-in-box purfume!
"White Diamonds" by Elizabeth Taylor!
Retails for $66 AUD

So that is my little post about my new items :) My gran is just the cutest!!

JORDY,
xx

MAC SUMMER WISHLIST

Hey all,

This morning i decided that since it is Summer i need to have a Summer wishlist. Once I finished writing that wishlist i realized that everthing all but one was a MAC product-so i guess it kinda turned into my "MAC Summer Wishlist". Hope you enjoy :)

EYESHADOWS

Stars N' Rockets: $32

Chrome Yellow: $32

Bitter: $32

Fresh Water: $32

Gold Mine: $32

LIP PRODUCTS

Snob (Satin) lipstick: $35

Baby Sparks Dazzleglass: $42

Extra Amps Dazzleglass: $32

FACE

MSF Natural: $46Dollymix blush: $40

THE RANDOM THING

The one other random thing is the Sciphone i9 which is an iphone clone. I need a new phone and it's unbelievably cheap (especially when its a fourth of the cost of your old phone)!

I'm interested to know whats on your wishlist?

22. Women For Women International

Dear Followers,

S.B. Bingo posted a welcome comment that asked what it meant that Coco Chanel had so many of the 17 traits, while other Self-Empowered Women often had fewer. In fact, part of the reason was simply that I know (indeed we all do) more about Chanel's life because so very much about her is now public knowledge.

If you look at high achievers, it often turns out that the more you know about them, the more traits pop up. From Kathy Griffin (whose new book OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION is on this week's NYT's non-fiction bestseller list) to Barbra Streisand (whose 64th album in being released this week), there are many women whose traits number in the teens. But I still maintain that Chanel - legend that she is - remaians prototypical.

Today I'd like to write about an amazing woman, Zainab Salbi, who is an Iraqi-American writer and activist. Salbi grew up in Baghdid and when she was eleven years old her father was named Saddam Hussein's personal pilot. Iraq was becoming more dangerous, her family was constantly being "monitored," and their phones were tapped. Politically motivated assinations were becoming commonplace.

In 1990, Salbi's mother arranged for her 19 year old daughter to marry a Palestinian-American because it was the only way Zainab could safely leave Iraq and travel to the United States. The newlyweds were worried about the plight of women in the "rape and concentration camps" in he former Yugoslavia, and they established an organization that helped women survivors of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since 1993, Women For Women International has helped 120,000 women war survivors around the world and distributed more than $33 million in aid and microcredit loans. According to Salbi, the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman today is the Congo, and her organization is working to protect women from the sexual violence that is so prevalent both there and in the Sudan.

Salbi's two books ("Between Two Worlds: Escaping Tyranny, Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam" and " The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope") are truly inspiring, as is she.

Looking forward to your comments...

MAC RUBENESQUE PAINT POT REVIEW

Hey everyone,
It's time for another review and this time it is going to be on MAC's "Rubenesque" Paint Pot.
I purchased this on Friday and have used it three times since then. Due to my over-excitment in regards to this product i have decided to do a review already!

Firstly, i can tell that this is going to last me FOREVER, you need the tiniest bit and a little goes a very long way.

QUALITY:
It goes on smooth and the pigmentation is even-exceptionally stops shadows from creasing and allows colour to "pop".

USE:
I was watching juicystar07 and she said in her "MAC Starter Kit" video that in Summer she wears it all over the eye without anything else and it's perfect. I can definitely see myself doing this as Australia gets very hot in Summer and i won't have heavy shadows melting all over the place.

COLOUR:
"Rubenesque" is a gold with peachy undertones and pinkish glitter reflects. A GORGEOUS Summer colour that i am so excited to use!

PACKAGING:
Paint Pots come in little 5g glass jars with M.A.C printed on the side. The lids are an opaque black that unscrews no-fuss. Underneath the lid is a plastic dome with foam inside for extra protection when sealed. Made in Canada but created in Toronto.

PURCHASING:
For Australians, Paint Pots can be purchased at your nearest MAC counter in department stores (Myer and David Jones) for $35 (a little more than an eyeshadow which i think is reasonable).

PURCHASE AGAIN?
Yes, i would purchase this product again. Maybe not anytime soon because i think that Rubenesque is a very versatile colour that can be base to any colour shadow so you probz only need one paint pot in your collection.

My question to you is what is your favourite MAC Paint Pot and if you don't own one, would you purchase one?

I hope this was helpful

JORDY,

xx

Haul 11

Hey everyone,
Just a quick update, today i started a new job at a hairdressing salon. I washed, combed and blow dried peoples hair. I also took them coffee and tea and took foils out of their hair.
Afterwards i stopped by the local chemist and got some Cetaphil. I can't wait to try it out, it has been raved about for some time now and i finally found it!
Hope you are all well
JORDY,
xx

Haul 10: MASSIVE HAUL

Hey everyone

Okay, so i told you to get ready for a haul because i was going with my friends to the mall...i was not sure how big it would be so i didnt say much so i wouldnt get you all excited if it was only a few items. Well, its big, HUGE in fact...my debit card now hates me!

Oh and straight after i got back from shopping my mum told me that i was offered a job at a hairdressing salon so now i have 3 jobs and an allowance. (that will also answer the questions i will get such as "how do you pay for this?")

The beach yesterday was so fun especially because i havn't been there since last Summer!

MAC

MAC Eye Kohl in "Smolder" ($35)

MAC Paint Pot in "Rubenesque"($32)

SUPRE

Pink Tank Top ($12)

Floral Pencil skirt ($25)

Whole outfit only $37!
I LOVE FLORAL

THE BODY SHOP

TBS Tea Tree Face Mask ($18.95)


TARGET

-Modelista "Star Gloss ($3)
- CG Eyelights ($4.89)

- Chi Chi "Miss too cool for school" eye shadow cream ($3)

- Modelista Lip Palette ($3.20)

- CoverGirl "Last Blast" ($14.36)
- Australis Stayput foundation "Natural Beige"($11.60)

PRICE ATTACK

-Eyebrow definer back ups ($5.95 each)
- Cutex French Rose back up ($7.99)

So today i managed to spend $165.83 in 4 hours
Reviews on some products are already planned and feel free to request any reviews on these items :)

JORDY,
xx

21. What Self-Empowered Women Wear

Dear Followers,

By now you probably realize that Coco Chanel (who died in 1971 at age 87) could be the prototypical Self-Empowered Woman. She easily had at least 14 of the 17 traits that I write about in the book. Now, in addition to Lifetime TV's Coco Chanel movie that starred Shirley MacLaine, a new French film should be opening near you this month. "Coco Before Chanel" stars Audrey Tatou, was directed by Anne Fontaine, and sold over a million tickets when it played in France last year.

Chanel (like Fontaine) was a self-taught authoritarian woman who was determined to follow her own path. If you are as intrigued by her as I am, get your hands on "The Gospel According to Coco Chanel (Life Lessons From the World's Most Elegant Woman)" by Karen Karbo and Chesley McLaren.

I was ready to write about the effect she had on women's wardrobes (she eliminated corsets, introduced the use of flannel and other "inappropriate" fabrics, turned her back on ruffles, feathers and sequins, and introduced the shoulder bag so women's hands would be free). But then I ran across an article in (my beloved) New York Times that reminded me that how we dress really does affect how we think and how we act.

According to Sabrina Tavernise, women in Mingora, Pakistan are celebrating the fact that the Taliban has left the Swat Valley. Their departure means that women can return to public life again, and no longer have to wear Burqas. Women in this part of Pakistan, which is less tribal than West Pakistan, are rejoicing that they can walk to the market, and buy shoes, cosmetics and other items that were outlawed when the Taliban was in control. According to Tavernise, "The Burqa was not the worst of women's troubles, but it was one of the most public displays of what the Taliban wanted of women - that they disappear...like horses with blinders on, women lost their peripheral vision."

Sharisa Rehman who teaches at Sangota Girls School now that the Taliban have been defeated, summed up her time under their rule when she had to wear a burqa by saying "I was bound like a prisoner."

No matter how bad your day has been, celebrate the fact that you don't have to look, feel, or be invisible. Looking forward to your comments...

Haul 9

Hey everyone,


Yesterday i went to Sam's Warehouse and got 2 things. I know this is small but whatever.

So i only got 2 things a bath set (only $4.99) and the BYS Neutral eyeshadows ($2.99)

I know, pathetic haul.

UPDATE:
Beach tomorrow with Monnie
Shopping on Friday with Libby, Alex, Angela and Mon
( Get ready for a haul..)
Oh and Audrey shopping sometime next week okay darl.

JORDY,
xx

CONTEST WINNER

Hey everyone

I'm sorry it's late. I was supposed to put it up yesterday but i was really busy :)
I wrote down everyone who entered, twice if they advertised on their blog. Then i put them in a box and closed my eyes and picked one out.
LOL just so that everyone knows it's fair because i got a few questions about that.

So the winner is....

Mac Princess

@ Mac Princess, i was so surprised when i pulled your name out because you were talking to me about how you really want to win so it looks like you got your wish.

So i just need you to comment me your email so i can get your address and send your your MAC pigment and eyeshadow.

Thank you for everyone who participated and i may have another competition in the future for those who didnt win.

JORDY,

xx

20. Artistic Women

Dear Followers,

The weekend is over and it is time for me to get back to work and get focused! The first order of business is to answer last week's question, what do actress Jessica Alba, author Isabelle Allende, dancer Judith Jamison and Margaret Thatcher have in common? Like many Self-Empowered Women they learned (from an early age) how to believe. Learning to trust something that cannot be seen or touched (religion, astrology, numerology, Kabbalah, etc.) provides the inner ability to believe in one's own talent and destiny. Interestingly, few of the women I researched were members of a particular church or faith themselves, but most had grown up watching someone older actively believe in an invisible power.

During the past year Lifetime TV (called by detractors "the estrogen network") has given us the filmed life stories of two remarkable women - Coco Chanel and Georgia O'Keefe. If you watched these programs, I hope you kept a scorecard of which 17 traits they each exhibited. And if you read, in this month's Vogue magazine, the article about Ceiline designer Phoebe Philo, you'll have noticed traits 10, 14, and 16 among others. The point I'm trying to make is that regardless of which century, profession or nationality that these women claim as their own, the hurdles they face are shared ones.

Thanks for spreading the word and sharing your enthusiasm. Looking forward to your comments...

UPDATE AND ARTISTE BRUSH REVIEW

Hey everyone,

UPDATE:
So today was officially the first day of holidays (Australia's spring break).
Nothing big has been happening i worked yesterday and today i just went to the park.
For this week i have planned some things with my friends which consist of a trip to the beach, a visit to the mall and a stop at the movies.

REVIEW AS REQUESTED:
Artiste is a brand owned by manicare that sell brushes. I can not find what they are made of but its either real hair or very good synthetic hair.
My first Artiste brush is #12 rounded powder brush ($22.95). As you can see the price is very reasonable and it resembles the MAC 129 or 150.
PROS:
* Picks up a lot of product
* Distributes evenly
* Extremley soft bristles
* Smooth handle and accents
* Low maintenance
CONS:
* Sheds hair ocassionaly
* Kind of smells bad
* Becomes static at times
Overall, you are getting what you pay for and i would definitley reccomend this brush especially if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to MAC. The pros outweigh the cons and therefore i believe that this would be a great purchase.

JORDY,
xx

Oh and i announce the winner of my competition tomorrow :)

Haul 8

Hello everyone

So this is going to be the smallest haul ever. I went to Chemist Warehouse and got 2 things.

Urban Decay "Brow Beater" ($3) and Maybelline "Shine Free" transluscent powder ($16.95)

JORDY,
xx

19. "Eve Teasing"

Dear Followers,

I'm happy to report that over 100 copies of The Self-Empowered Woman have been sold since it went on sale two weeks ago. Even though I'm delighted by that number, it seems insignificant when compared with the fact that Dan Brown's new novel (The Lost Symbol) sold 1 million copies in only two days. Bravo to him and big dreams for me...

Today I wanted to share with you an article by Jim Yardley, who writes for The New York Times. While in Palwal, India (about 100 miles from New Delhi), he wrote about a gender problem in India that has caught everyone off guard.

India has (possibly since the days of Indira Gandhi) been considered a country where women had successfully shattered the glass ceiling. After all, consider this list of positions held by women: President of the powerful Congress Party, President of India, Foreign Secretary, Chief Minister of India's most populous state, and new minister of railways. Additionally, equal pay is mandatory and sexual harassment is illegal.

In spite of this "progress," women who travel on commuter trains to get to their jobs are often pinched, groped, or the object of insults and catcalls. This form of daily commuter taunting has been labeled Eve Teasing, and has prompted the government to enact "Ladies Specials" trains so that women can travel without the presence of males. In this patriarchal country the number of working women - most of whom travel to work by train - has almost doubled in the past 15 years. Unfortunately, so has crimes against women. According to Yardley, rape rose by more than 30% between 2003 and 2007, kidnapping increased by more than 50%, and molestation and torture rose sharply...

Today's quiz asks what do actress Jessica Alba, author Isabelle Allende, dancer Judith Jamison and Margaret Thatcher have in common?

Looking forward to your comments...

HAIR FOOD "DJ" SHINE SERUM REVIEW

Hello,

This has been requested a couple of times so here is what i think about Hair Food "DJ" Shine Serum!


The "DJ" Shine Serum is a powerful concentrated serum that conditions the cuticle to prevent split or broken ends and promotes intensive shine.

You only need 2-3 drops and it comes in a 50ml bottle, so the bottle is going to last you for a long time. It retails for about $60 but i got mine for $46 on sale at the salon i get my hair done at. You may be wondering why it is so expensive as it is such a small bottle but we have established that you only need a few drops and it is also a very rare oil that contains Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone and Benzophenone.

I have been using it for just under a week now and i have found that it has dramatically changed my hair for the better. I bleach my hair so the bleach makes my hair very britle and dry so i was in search of a good product to help with this and i think i have found it. My hair is a lot shinier, stronger, smoother, less tangled and smells GREAT!

It is possibly the BEST SMELL EVER! It's like bubblegum and candy popcorn mixed together! I wish their was a purfume that made you smell like this!!

So overall, fantastic product and very much worth the money! It's very versatile and can do basically do anything very well.

JORDY,
xx


UPDATE: My sister says it smells like peaches

18. More Than Meets The Eye

Dear Followers,

Were you able to guess which trait the following women share: Harper's Bazaar editor Glenda Bailey, Cher, actress America Ferrera, and TV chef Rachel Ray ? Each of these high achievers had been - at some point in their lives and/or their careers - been underestimated. Has that ever happened to you? I'm willing to bet that very few (if any) women find themselves " overestimated," so most of us learn from an early age to acknowledge and then accelerate through the condescension that often comes from people who assume that we can't do what we say we can.

Not surprisingly, it seems that stories of women of accomplishment come to my attention on a daily basis. Over the weekend, I learned about Karen Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics. A graduate of Wellesley, she learned at the age of 18 that she had a form of retinitis pigmentosa. By the time she was in her early thirties her vision had deteriorated enough for her to be "significantly disabled." In spite of her challenges she (with the help of her husband) runs her own company in Washington D.C. that examines the impact of legislation on companies. She and her guide dog show up for meetings together and in her spare time she works for Foundation Fighting Blindness and she power walks on weekends.

The closing quote of the day is from Helen Gurley Brown, who transformed Cosmopolitan Magazine into an international juggernaut: "If you have some daily anguish from some cause that's not really your fault - a rotten family, bad health, nowhere looks, serious money problems. nobody to help you, minority background...rejoice! These things are your fuel."

Looking forward to your comments...

REQUEST: ALEX PERRY DRESS

Hello,

So was requested from Ashley (http://www.sweetsugarcandykisses.blogspot.com/), MAC Princess (http://www.macprincess101.blogspot.com/) and Mikaela(http://www.makeupiswhatmakesmehappy.blogspot.com/)

So the request was basically, to see my Alex Perry dress.

So here it is..

I bought it with my own money so therefore wanted to get use out of it.

It is 100% satin and is acceptable for a 14 year old to wear (some of his dresses are really short and raunchy)

It was close to $2000 but never fear, i don't buy designer dresses everyday!

I hope this has filled the long awaited request!

P.S Thank you guys so much for subscribing, it means the world and i am so overwhelmed at my recent increase over the past week!

Jordy,

xx

Haul 7: NEW HAIR+TODAY'S HAUL

Hello,

So today I went to the salon to get my hair done. I went a bit lighter with some light blonde foils for Summer.

They sell some hair products at the Salon i go to so i grabbed a few of those MASTEY PARIS Direction Shaping Spray: $26
(Perfect for Summer as it has UV filters!)

Hair Food "Smooth Operator":$20
(It's a hair treatment for split ends/bleached hair)

Hair Food "Shine Serum": $46
(It's a very rare oil that contains Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone and Benzophenone!)

ALL THE HAIR FOOD PRODUCTS SMELL LIKE BUBBLEGUM (OMG HEAVEN)
P.S: Some pictures are upside down-i can't explain...

After I got my hair done I went to the mall and stopped by Priceline and MAC.

From MACEyshadows in "Amber Lights" and "Vanilla": $32 each

From Priceline
Artiste #12 rounded powder brush: $22.95

SoftLips in Raspberry Sundae: $2.99

COMPETITION/GIVEAWAY UPDATE

Hello,
So i am every pleased to see people entering my competition.
I have had a few questions about it so i would just like to answer them.

1. How do you decide who wins?
I am going to get a piece of paper and write everyone who has entered (two names if they advertised it on their blog) and get my little sister to pick a name out.
2. Do you send prizes internationally?
yes i do but i am not held responsible for any damaged or missing parcels.
3. How can you just give away MAC?
My MAC had a clearance on these two items (10% off-they never have big sales) so i grabbed two of each with a competition in mind.

I hope that cleared a few things up and continue entering!

17. NO vs. YES

Dear Followers,

The Self-Empowered Woman has been on sale for one week and it has been really exciting to get feedback and watch the "ranking" day by day.

When I haven't been obsessing about THE BOOK, I've been immersed in Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France." There is something about her enthusiasm and determination that make her instantly likeable, and when I read about the long slog between beginning her cookbook and finally getting it accepted by Knopf, it reminded me of two qualities shared by so many Self-Empowered Women.

Many (if not most) high achievers find themselves undervalued or underestimated, but they also share the ability to turn the word NO into YES. It took close to a decade for Julia Child to find a publisher ( and an editor) capable of sharing her vision, but she never gave up.

So guess which trait the following women share: Harper's Bazaar editor Glenda Bailey, Cher, actress America Ferrera, and TV chef Rachel Ray?

Looking forward to your comments...

CONTEST/GIVEAWAY

Hello everyone
So since i am impatient...i have decided to start my competition (I was going to wait until i reached 20 subscribers but i cant wait)

RULES
1. You must own a blog on blogger
2. You must follow my blog (Jordy's Beauty Spot)
3. Leave a comment on this post saying "MAC Makes Me Magic"
4. To double your chances, advertise this giveaway on your blog.

PRIZES
Prizes are brand new and would be great to add to your collection. MAC eyeshadow in "Jest"

MAC "Clear Sky Blue" Pigment

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED 22/09/09
You can enter as many times as you like, GOOD LUCK!!

REVIEW: CHANEL QUAD REVIEW

So this is a review on the Chanel quad in "Euphoria". You can purchase this from David Jones or Myer (as far as i know, maybe more places) for just under $100.

Trust me, this is an investment! The colours are gorgeous and the pigmentation is unbelievable.

Firstly, the case is just the cutest thing as i like their white logo casing more than their gold.
It comes with a little Chanel eyeshadow brush that even has a tiny little Chanel logo on it but i don't like using those things and prefer brushes.
Now onto the colours, all of them are very wearable and even the black can be pulled off easily.
Gold in the top left: Gold is soooooo in this Summer so this is a gorgeous colour to have in your collection, i see that MAC does not offer a gold of this sort but the colour in the quad is very dupable to Chanel's "G-Gold". It goes on as a shimmer which is perfect as chunks of glitter is tacky.
Pink in the top right: This is such a pretty colour and is a more pink version of MAC's "Swish". Pigmentation is amazing and this is such a pretty colour to use to brighten things up.
Black on the bottom left: OH MY GOD! This is an AMAZING colour, i have NEVER come across anything like this. It has the most gorgeous multi coloured glitter particle reflects (they are not chunks either) and goes on so pigmented and nowhere near heavy and smudgy.
Peach on the bottom right: The perfect peach colour especially as we are nearing Summer this is the perfect colour to pull out on a day trip!

So, the colours are amazing and i believe that this is the Chanel quad of the Summer. All colours apart form the black are very light and shimmery-perfect for Summer! I can't wait to use them and strongly reccomend this Quad as it is one of my favourite Chanel's.

P.S I am thinking about having a competition once i get to 20 subscribers-the prizes will be breath-taking!

16. Sawyer and Kristof

Dear Followers,

This Labor Day weekend was a close second - excitement wise - from the one my boys and I shared way back in 1985. That was the Labor Day weekend when we (and 23 suitcases) flew from L.A. to London to begin our lives as expatriots in the U.K. At that time I'd already had two cardboard boxes full of research material about the project that eventually became The Self-Empowered Woman. The boxes travelled with us to London, and thanks to the opportunity I had to interview so many accomplished women (and men) when I was finally ready to write the book, there were interview tapes to add to the boxes that had (once again) crossed the Atlantic. No wonder Labor Day means so much to me!

Last week "bleader" SB Bingo commented about Diane Sawyer's promotion. Just thought the following excerpts from Alessandra Stanley in the NY Times might be of interest: "Women who let their ambition show too openly are usually punished for it. Ms. Sawyer, who is as relentless and driven as any of her peers, makes an art of coy deflection...Ms. Sawyer and Ms. Couric will outnumber their male counterpart two to one in an era when networks are losing their primacy and even their creative advantage over cable, and network news, in particular, is sinking in relevance and prestige....As in other fields, women seem to break through the glass ceiling just as the air-conditioning is being turned off in the penthouse office suites. Women ancors may turn out to be what women doctors once were in the Soviet Union, a majority without status or financial advantage."

"Half the Sky" continues to receive great reviews and kudos for focusing attention on the three problems that Kristof believes reflect the widespread undervaluation of female life: forced prostitution, honor killing and maternal mortality.

The next post will pose another quiz from The Self-Empowered Woman...

15. America's Women

Dear Followers,

Exciting news! As you know, The Self-Empowered Woman is now on sale at Amazon.com, and my first official book signing event is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 9th at 2:30 PM at Saks Fifth Ave. on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. Champagne and strawberries (and stories about interesting women) will be served. Hope to see you there!

I wanted to share with you an amazing book by an amazing woman. Gail Collins was the first female head of The New York Times editorial board, and has also written for The New York Daily News and New York Newsday. I stumbled across her 3rd book a while ago, and felt that I had to share it with you.

In "American Women" Collins takes a look at women in America from the 1600s to the 1960s, and manages to make what in theory is a history book read, instead, like an interesting conversation with a well informed friend. Thanks to Collins I've learned about the genuine hardships that Colonial Women faced when they landed here from England. For example, did you know that 6,000 people came to Virginia between 1607 and 1624, but by 1625 only 1,200 were still alive? The colonies' sponsors were so anxious to get women to cross the Atlantic that London recruiters offered marriageable women free passage, trousseaus, and 120 pounds of "good leaf tobacco" for their future husbands. In 1620 the first shipment of 90 "tobacco brides" arrived in Jamestown.

Although women were in demand and highly prized for their ability to help with weaving (fabric was a real luxury), cooking, soap making, etc., they essentially had no legal rights if they were married. Collins' book is a real eyeopener about the day-to-day lives of the amazing women who settled America's Eastern seaboard. I only wish I'd read this "good-for-you and good-to-you" book the minute it came off the press, but better late than never.

Looking forward to your feedback...

TAG: WHAT'S IN MY PURSE

Hey,

So i was twitter tagged by mac_doll47 (i think), to do a 'What's In My Purse" post. So here is it!

So this is what is in my Guess purse;

-Dior case for my make-up

-iPod touch

- Phone

- Hello Kitty notebook

- Smiggle pen (pink)

- Guess wallet

- Sunglasses

- 5 Gum (I am OBSESSED with this stuff)

- Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy purfume

- Palmers Cocoa Butter Glitter Gloss

- I usually have a water bottle as well

This is what is in my Dior make-up case (the contents changes everyday)

-Lip protectant (i change them up daily Softlips, Nivea, MAC etc.)

- Pressed Powder (It's either my MAC or Chanel)

- Lipgloss (Either MAC Dazzleglass' or Chanel Glossimers')

So i tend not to carry too much around with me.

Jordy,

xx