ABC's ROBIN ROBERTS: 'I Have Breast Cancer'

After having dealt with personal cancer battles, Girlfriends Get-Together URGES YOU to please check your breasts and encourage your girlfriends, mothers, sisters and everyone else to do the same. Our prayers go out to Ms. Roberts and anyone else who is battling cancer.
~Bettina
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The 'Good Morning America' Anchor Will Seek Treatment in the Coming Months
By ROBIN ROBERTS

July 31, 2007 —

I never thought I'd be writing this. & I have breast cancer.

It all started a few weeks ago. We had gotten the news that our dear colleague and friend Joel Siegel had passed away and we began preparing for our special tribute show for him. I did a piece about Joel's courageous battle with cancer, reporting on the way my friend had lived his life and been such a successful advocate for the importance of early cancer screenings.
That very night when I went to bed, I did a self breast exam and found something that women everywhere fear: I found a lump.

At first I thought, "This can't be. I am a young, healthy woman." Nevertheless, I faced my fear head on and made an appointment to see the doctor. Much as I was hoping the doctor would say it was nothing, she did a biopsy and confirmed that the lump I'd found was indeed an early form of breast cancer.

Hearing the doctor say those words out loud was surreal.

I will be having surgery shortly and follow-up treatment in the months to come. So in the coming months, you will probably notice that I will have my good days and my bad days, but I know I will get through it with the love and support of my family and friends. Diane, Sam, Chris and all of the folks behind the scenes who make this program come to life each and every morning have been so supportive and loving at this challenging time.

To you, our viewers, please know that your thoughts and prayers very much sustain me as they always have each and every morning when I sit in the chair next to Diane and say "Good Morning America." You have always been there for me & and I love you back.
And like my good friend Joel, I can't stress enough how important it is to get screened and checked for all cancers and to do self breast exams. I am so blessed that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis is so promising that my doctor expects me to be flying planes and hanging on to submarines in the middle of the Atlantic and scaling the Mayan Pyramids in no time in the mornings to come.

Now I join the ranks of millions of Americans who are fighting this same battle each and every day. I appreciate YOUR courage and YOUR example. Thank you for showing me the way.

You can send Robin Roberts a personal message by clicking here.

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures



Until next time, be safe, healthy and...

Be Seen at the Top!

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CHAKA KHAN & MJB'S NEW SONG

Thanks to our friends at Hustlemode, we present Disrespectful for your listening pleasure. It's a new collabo between the Queen Chaka Khan and Mary J. Blige. Haven't heard it on the radio as of yet, so enjoy!

Click Here!


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JUSTONEE

Greetings Fashionistas! Allow me to introduce myself:

It’s Toni Drumwright here or as some refer to me as Justonee. How did I come up with Justonee? Well, basically, it’s Just Toni...

So let me give you a visual... Dirty old man, gold teeth, jheri curl, unbuttoned shirt, looking at me like he wants to eat me up... You get the point right?

He asks: What's your name?

I say: Toni...

He says: “Like Tony, Tone, Toni??" Or "Like Toni Braxton??" (Remember the visual now)

I say: (sarcastically) NO!! Just Toni!!

Now, give it a little French accent, and voila!! Justonee!!

I started in the fashion industry in the 6th grade.. That's right! Smuggling my parents' denim jeans into my bedroom was very profitable for me because I used to make denim drawstring purses. The price was $2, but for an extra $.50 you could get your name on the pocket.. What?! I was a hustler for fashion even back then! Aaahhhh, memories.. Let's fast forward umpteen years... I went to FIT and studied in the fashion styling program where I met many slaves to fashion like myself. I've worked on shoots for New Jersey Monthly magazine, freelance photographers, and also as a dresser for various fashion shows including New York’s fashion week and charity fashion events.

I’ll be sharing fashion chronicles, advice, 411, cheer, jeers, and tips...

Next up: Style on a budget

Until next time…

One should never enter a room and expect ambiance; One should enter a room and become it.

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DEELISHIS' NEW VIDEO - RUMPSHAKER

Who knew Deelishis could sing?! Doesn't she have a daughter? Positive role model. Well, she was slobbing it up with Flava Flav. And didn't Beyonce do this already? This was sent to us yesterday, but I had to post. Enjoy... kinda...

Deelishis - Rumpshaker
Brought to you by Tinalee Media & Events

Until next time...

Be Seen at the Top!

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FOR THE GLAM TOMBOY

A friend recently gifted our prez, Bettina, with a cute sweashirt (actually the one in the photo, but in white) from Scarlett Johansson's new Hearts RBK line with Reebok. She is a sporty glam gal, running track in college, prancing to and fro' in her ballet flats and then jouzing it up for an event (or really just to go to Costco) and she really liked the heart cutouts on the back. I'm glad to see that Reebok are trying to stay in the game with Nike (even though Nike blows everyone out of the water.)

Must say that when we first heard about the launch of this line a few months back, we weren't very interested. Every celeb comes out with a line nowadays. But now, after a test run and closer investigation into the line, it is a decent alternative to the posh Juicy Couture (do you really want to get sweaty or play with your dog in Juicy) and a step up from Victoria Secret's Pink line.

On another Reebok note, most people had a pair of $54.11's back in the day and in every color I might add, but those just aren't so cute anymore. With the impact 80's culture (leggings should have stayed back then b/c not everyone can or should wear them) we think some chica will make a stand, relive her youth and bring try to bring them back. If you visit the Reebok site, go to the 'Freestyle Forever' tab to see the hot mess designs they have. If you feel differently about the designs, then by all means, let us know.

~Raquel

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BEYONCE EATS THE PAVEMENT

This video is hard to come by. But, we got it via Media Take Out. Girlfriend hit the deck... face first. We hope she didn't get hurt. But, DAMN! I know I have a hard time walking down the stairs in heels, but that is usually after a few drinks.

Please Ms. Knowles in your prayers. Light and incense, burn a candle, kill a chicken or something (okay, that is a tad bit extreme just for a dag-on fall) but, reports have said that she was bleeding. We hope she isn't left with too many bruises.



Until next time... be care walking down the stairs AND...

Be Seen at the Top!


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PLAYBOY, TRIXIE & PEANUT

I'm going out of town for a Eastern Regional Conference so I can't take my little Girlfriend diva Raquel. But, if you are in the New York area, go! Trixie & Peanut is a cute store. Not so amped about seeing the bunny, but we all need love and support at sometime.

Until next time...

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DON'T GET CAUGHT SLIPPING!

Dr. Lynda Myers (Mom) sent this to Me as a motherly precaution. Now you might have seen variations of this before, but most of this is true. I'm are not sharing this info in order to scare you or make you paranoid, but hey, I'd rather be alive than dead. Especially since Girlfriends are being kidnapped from bus stations in D.C. Hot mess! As per the movie Forrest Gump: Run, Girl, Run!!

• The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do! Oh, and use your teeth.

• If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM Toss it away from you.... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

• If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car (and Chile, we hope not), kick out the back taillights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.

• Now, my neighbor told me this when I was younger because someone was stalking her. You know how you get in your car after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing your checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The crazys might be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. Well, at least lock the doors. I drove past a club once and these two dudes got in my car because I was having a convo with my girl (who was in another car) and they heard me say that I was going to another club in which they wanted to go to. LUCKY for me they weren’t crazy and I had another person in my car. Once we got there, my girlfriend reamed me a new one. I knew better than to leave my car doors unlock. I mean GGT is based in New Jack City.

• This sounds a bit dangerous, but if it saves your life, do it. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

• A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
  A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat
  B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door . Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
  C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.

• I can see this for nighttime and in deserted locations. Otherwise, get your Alli exercise on: Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

• If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zigzag pattern!

• As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

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AGE AIN'T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER

So today "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria (32) married San Antonio Spurs young-in basketball star Tony Parker (25) through a civil ceremony in Paris. What happened to the superstition 7.7.07? Smart way to throw the media off a tad bit.

Girlfriend arrived before her hubby in a white stretch limo. She wore a mini tweed looking pink Chanel dress with spotted black and white fluffy straps. About eight guests in cream, pink and purple dresses were in her convoy. Reports say that she politely turned towards the crowd and paparazzi and gave them a smile and wave. For the ceremony she wore a short white dress. Don’t know who it was by.

Tony, arrived about 10 minutes after Eva in a gray minivan, wearing a dark suit. He didn’t stop to chat with the gawkers and I don’t blame him. He was focused. Arriving via stretch Hummers, 40 friends and family were present for the nuptials including the spicy Victoria Beckham and soccer star Thierry Henry .

The ceremony was about 45 mins long. The couple left together in a black sedan. Everyone later partied at Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th century chateau 34 miles southeast of Paris. Classy!

French law requires married couples to make their vows official at a city hall, even if they have a church wedding as well. So the masses are now wondering if they will have a big ‘ole hoopla wedding. Why? Save the money. Plus, it sound like they both are eager to have children. Many blessing to the Parker family. Aww, the bliss of weddings.

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*Photo credit Associated Press

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WORKING THE ROOM

This past Thursday was the launch of our newest endeavour, The Collective. Like Girlfriends Get-Together gatherings, The Collective is designed to break-up cliques and get people talking to one another; not your average ‘networking’ event. Plus they are for the guys and dolls. Gbenga Akinnagbe (Chris Partlow, The Wire) hosted and all had a good time, despite the threat of torrential downpours.

In attendance was Girlfriend/Get 'Em Girl author, Shakara Bridges. The painfully shy Shakara re-introduced herself (we originally went up to her outside the Smirnoff event while a tad bit tipsy *read June 22nd entry). Naturally we helped her work the room and soon enough turned her loose as she dazzled everyone with her delicious cuisine. Now, the food at Ginger is delish indeed, but they don’t have Red Velvet Cake. The Official Get 'Em Girl's Guide to Unlocking the Power of Cuisine is not new subject matter and by now we expect you to know about it. But we always like to support and shout-out a hard working and money earning Girlfriend. Shakara and her co-authors are truly that. She gave us a copy of the lovely cookbook but showed it around the room first. Once the event wrapped and I got a few minutes, we eagerly thumbed through it… I swear drool was leaking out my mouth. Chile, as high resolution as those pictures were, I could have eaten the pages. If you don’t know about the handbook/cookbook, we advise you to check them out. Even if we weren’t given a copy, I’d buy it for the office! Shoot, that might be just what my Chicas are getting for the holidays.


By the end of the night, everyone was vying for the Tinalee Media copy of the book. Guys, girls, kitchen staff. Ha! This goes to show you that no matter how shy you are or what little fear you may have, step out there and work the room, Honey. You never know what you may find, or who may find you. Shakara came there with a purpose. She stepped outside her comfort level and worked that dag-on room.


Until next time, Get 'Em Girl AND…

Be Seen at the Top!



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