Reebok EasyTone/NoTone

Reebok is paying a pretty sum to the Federal Trade Commission, $25M in fact. Why? Because they lied in the worst possible way. They told women that if they were to wear their Reebok EasyTone, then their butt and thighs would shrink and tone. I mean, way to be cruel. 

We all know the answer to shrinking and toning is the treadmill. We all wish the answer to shrinking and toning was as simple as putting on a pair of shoes, sitting on our butt, and watching Breakfast at Tiffany's while the inches disappear. 

Reebok is paying the largest fine in recent FTC history and in addition, has been ordered to allow their consumers to return the shoe for a full refund. To lie about the effectiveness of a product is foolish for any brand. It will damage a brand's reputation and relationship with consumers. For a sporting brand like Reebok, it's foolish to show flaws in your research and design when competitors like Nike and Adidas are killing it in that arena. 

I agree with the FTC's decision. I also secretly think there are some women on that FTC board who heard about this shoe, bought them immediately, wore them every day and saw no results. Of all the products to lie about, Reebok, a lesson for the future: don't tell women you're going to shrink their butt and thighs! They will find you.

You may ask..."but the Kardashian's endorsed them...doesn't that mean they work?" Umm, no. 

Philadelphia Fine Arts Festival

Philadelphia is a city where imagination and history collide. When you stroll the streets, you feel surrounded by energy and when your eyes gaze up, murals (supported by the city) bring brick walls to life. I feel as though I'm walking through a gallery every time I step outside of my apartment building.

Last Sunday was the Philadelphia Fine Arts Festival in Rittenhouse Square. It was as much a celebration of art as it was of history. The festival began in 1932 when a small group of students gathered to show their work. It has grown into a festival that saw artists exhibitions shoulder to shoulder throughout the entire park, displaying the most beautiful art I've seen.

Artist Ning Lee's work took my breath away. Lee is a contemporary realist using oil paintings. If I had the dollars my wall paper would be replaced with his work, it's majestic.

Three Plums

Roses #5

Eggscape #3

Pomegranates On The Wall

To see more of Lee's work, his website is ningleeart.com.

The Fine Arts Festival was yet another reason why I love Philadelphia. This city takes you on journeys.

A Woman's Voice

In 2015, women in Saudi Arabia will be able to vote during the nation's election. 

The Middle East has been an epicenter of unrest and violence for the past year as communities are rising against dictators, but in Saudi Arabia, King Adbullah passed the new law quietly this morning. With the law, he also announced that women can now be a part of the Shura Council, an advisory body selected by the King. The Shura Council offers opinions on general policy in the kingdom and debates economic and social-development plans and agreements signed between Saudi Arabia and other nations. 

To me, voting is one of the most important acts a person can perform for her community. It's something every person should have the ability to do. It's your voice about how you believe your state/country should progress. It's a symbol of a person's liberty and symbolizes the importance of what they have to say. 

I want to welcome these brave, wonderful women to their voice in 2015. 

todays thought

from heymissawesome

9/11

To think that ten years have passed seems unreal. I remember September 11th, 2001 and feel the emotions like yesterday.

I was watching television with my sister. We watched the flames on World Trade Centre Tower 1 and then watched the second plane hit World Trade Centre Tower 2. Even though my sister (age 12) and I (age 17) were living as far away as possible in Australia, it was a shock, and we both screamed. My Mama walked into our family area and asked what movie we were watching. We told her that it was no movie; it was New York City. We watched together as the towers crumbled and then watched as the Pentagon was hit and then new reports of a plane going down in Pennsylvania. It was unreal.

I remember not wanting to go to sleep that night. I couldn't sleep with so many people harmed, so many lives lost, and no idea yet if I had seen the last of the attacks. When I did eventually fall asleep, I didn't sleep that well. Every time I'd close my eyes I'd feel I wanted to be there to help. I prayed. I woke up to more devastation. I remember all the doctors and nurses waiting to help people pulled from the rubble. Except that there were none. They stood there in their scrubs clean. Unreal.

It was the first time I'd heard the name Osama Bin Laden. I remember how foreign that name was to me and wondered how this person could cause so much damage. Mostly I wondered why he would ever want to.

Since then, I am lucky enough to have visited New York many, many times. It is the most fascinating, energetic and wonderful city in the world. I met my future husband there. My love for New York is immense and everlasting. I hadn't been to Ground Zero until this past April on about my 6th visit to New York. Until then I couldn't bring myself to stand where the towers once gazed over New York. The experience was unreal. What is most confronting is the open space. There is an enormous space where the towers once stood. 

I now live in Pennsylvania and travel to New York regularly. It's obvious that ten years have passed, but my memory of those days are so vivid I know I'll live the rest of my life feeling like September 11th 2001 was yesterday. My prayers, respect and admiration for those who first responded, those who continued to respond in the days after, and those who today continue to work on the memorial will never waiver. The goodness of humanity will prevail.

Freddy.

Do you love something that is so terribly over, but still hold that lit candle HIGH? You do. For me, this is Queen. I listen to Freddy Mercury "ride his bicycle" and sing to his "best friend" pretty frequently. I will seriously rock out while walking down the street and mostly it's at home where I can hit notes that would make Freddy proud. Yesterday would have been his 65^th birthday and Google paid tribute with a viral video. I'm psyched. 

I'm psyched for more reasons than one: obviously the man was a TALENT, but also it means there are others that think like me. I'm not the only person who wants "best friend" as the first dance at her wedding. The geniuses over at Google think the same and then went to the effort of a viral video campaign. Totally approve. 

There's something about Queen's music that can lift any mood and make anyone just excited to ‘be’. In my current state of harassing agencies until someone notices my glittering talent, I will be listening to Queen every single morning and then I'll blog. How about that? 

I'm out of the closet now. I love Queen. Yes, I'm listening to Queen right now...and so can you, just like 1,053,149 others have. Awesome.