RULE THE GODDESS WITHIN

Girlfriend Chanda Rule says she can remember singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to her church audience at the age of two. At age six she was taking piano lessons. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago and often being the only black student in her social activities caused Chanda to find solace in the church. She attended Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and was a member of the Youth Choirs. Although she was showered with affirmations of “you should sing” and “you are talented,” Chanda professes she never wanted to sing professionally. “Singing was more of a fantasy for me because I came from a very academic family,” stated Chanda. After graduating Cum Laude from Howard University Chanda moved to New York City to pursue a career in Publishing. After two years in corporate America, Chanda found herself longing for more. One day while riding the train to work and burdened by the load of her unfulfilling job (Oh gosh, like we all do at some point in time. Some of you know how it can be!); Chanda heard a still and calm voice say to her “you should be singing.” About a year later, Chanda left her job and opportunities immediately began to present themselves. Chanda began singing background for vocalists in New York and was cast in renowned musical theatre productions of Hair in Europe and New Jersey’s Hudson Shakespeare Company.

Her voice began to take her through the jazz scene in New York and she performed as the lead vocalist with Victor Jones and sung along side internationally acclaimed musicians such as Mino Cinelu, Papo Vasquez and John Benitez.

She began opening for artists such as Regina Bell & The Whispers, India.Arie, Angela Bofill, and Amel Larrieux. She has also performed at various jazz and music festivals and clubs such as Birdland, Le-Club Moscow, Hard Rock Café, and the Jazz Standard.
After writing and producing her first CD LikeWater in 2005 she introduced her music to the airwaves with a live radio concert on New York's WBAI for International Women's Day.

Chanda independently released LikeWater, and her second album I Too Speak of a River through her production company LikeWaterMusicPublishing (BMI).

Over her 8-year career Chanda has traveled throughout the US and internationally in Amsterdam, Berlin, Germany and Russia. Speaking of her purpose as an artist Chanda says, "There is something about rhythm and melody that can always find a smile, throw a head back with laughter, or even cause tears…it transcends language and breaks through cultural and racial barriers.”

We caught up with the girlfriend for a GGT Spotlight, and here is what she had to say…


GGT: What makes a good girlfriend?
Chanda: Being accepting and as nonjudgmental as possible.Being a great listener, having a great sense of humor,having a rich spiritual life, and a willingness toshare herself and her life, goals, fears, and joyswith her friends

GGT: Are you a good friend to your girlfriends?
Chanda: I try my best to be

GGT: What inspires you?
Chanda: Music and personal stories about life and overcoming challenges

GGT: Name some books you've recently read
Chanda: Just finished Gloria Naylor's "Linden Hills" for a second time, in the middle of Superwomen & Goddesses by Akua Auset, and am also chilling out to Harry Potter III!

GGT: Do you have words of wisdom to impart on rising star girlfriends?
Chanda: Yes. Trust the goddess within.

GGT: What is your guilty pleasure
Chanda: Hmmmm... Day spas and movies with hot popcorn!

For more information on Chanda Rule and to hear her music, visit: www.likewatermusic.com. I especially like River and Even Me.

If you are in the New York area, you can see her LIVE at

March 9 @ 5pm
Jazz at St. Peter’s Church

March 10 @ 9:30pm
Zinc Bar

March 14 @ 7pm
Sacred Fridays at Sacred Center
*This event provides an opportunity for attendees to have deep inner spiritual cultivation through chants, music, sacred text readings and silence. With Rev. John Foran and Minister Andrew Harriott

Until next time...

Be Seen at the Top!

xoxo,
Bettina

Single and Satisfied!

So ladies....February has been deemed as the month for love. If you are single like me, you are constantly reminded that you are single. Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but there a few more days in this month of love still linger.

Being single is not something to be ashamed of, girl hold your head up high. The best thing to do is simply stay sassy, sexy, and satisfied. You will attract love to you and so much more.

Here are five tips for the single girls to rock being single.

1) Smile- Remember to smile! A smile on your face will be like magic. When you smile you will be relaxed, glowing, and showing everyone that you are open. Pay attention to how people respond to you when you have a smile on your face. People will not be able to get enough of you.

2) Ask a guy out- So you are into someone and you think he is into you, but for some reason he hasn’t asked you out. Why not take the initiative? You can ask him out and stop wasting time wondering if he’s into you or not. Don’t think about it, just do it. Carpe diem.

3) Take a trip to a new destination- Have you been saying that you want to do someplace on a vacation, but you simply keep putting it off? Go online or go to the library and get books all about the vacation of your dreams. Before you know it you will have your bags packed, you will be on your way.

4) Eat right- Do you grab a pint Ben and Jerry’s when you are upset? What you eat effects how you feel. Next time you are upset instead of grabbing junk food or something filled with fat, grab a piece of fruit and go for a workout. When you feel blue going to the gym will do wonders for releasing endorphins, which will leave you feeling elated.

5) Be True to YOU! - Above all else be true to you. Stay in tune with what you are feeling and with your desires. Follow your own bliss. When you “do you” you groove is turned on and can not be denied. You will the passionate alluring woman that you are meant to be!


Until next time,
~Shoshi
"Luscious Lifestyle Diva"

Jacque Reid hosts Girlfriends Get-Together (event)

Have you ever looked at someone and think, 'How did she get that job? I wonder if I can do that. What steps do I take to get there?' Well now is the time to ask!

Our Girlfriend Jacque Reid, is coming to have an intimate conversation with you about her accomplishments. Through this personal conversation, she will help empower you to reach your goals!

Jacque Reid is currently a news correspondent on the nationally syndicated radio program, the Tom Joyner Morning Show. In addition, Reid is currently a guest host on the ABC daytime syndicated program, The View. Prior to that, Reid served as co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Jacque came to radio from CNN Headline News, and BET Nightly News, where she was known as the face of the former flagship evening news program.

If you attended last month, then you know that this event is surely NOT one to miss!

Tuesday, Feb 19
6pm Doors open
6:15pm Speaking engagement begins

Lola (in SoHo)
15 Watts St
New York, NY 10013

Cost: Must purchase food and beverage

Cross Street: Between Thompson & W. Broadway

Directions: 1, A, C, E at Canal St


RSVP: RSVP@tinaleemedia.com

YOU MAY BE MORE THAN JUST TIRED...

Health and wellness is a very important issue to me. Lupus is especially close to my heart; my mother has it (which she didn't find out until she gave birth to me), one of my linesisters has it, ex-boyfriend's managing editor (white woman) has it, and another linesister's fiance has it.

While Lupus tends to be more common in women of color, as you can see from the people I know, anyone can be born with it. Being tired all the time is just ONE of the many symptoms.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.

In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto- antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.

Inflammation is considered the primary feature of lupus. Inflammation, which in Latin means "set on fire," is characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling and loss of function, either on the inside or on the outside of the body (or both).

For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Although epidemiological data on lupus is limited, studies suggest that more than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.

- Taken from the Lupus Foundation of America Website

The Lupus Foundation of America will host its February Webchat on Wed., February 13 at 3 p.m. Eastern. The topic is Women's Heart Health, and the guest moderator is Dr. Amy H. Kao from the University of Pittsburgh.

To learn more about the chat, visit http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_communitywebchats.aspx?articleid=517&zoneid=93.

To submit a question in advance, visit http://www.lupus.org/newsite/pages/submit_question.html.


Until next time. Stay aware of your health, maintain wellness and...

Be Seen at the Top!

xoxo
~Bettina

STOP SURVIVING AND START LIVING!

Hey Girlies,

Now you know that I'm all about Getting it Straight in 2008 (btw, did y'all vote yesterday?). Our girlfriend Sil Lai Abrams, relationship expert and author of the new book, No More Drama: Nine Simple Steps to Transforming a Breakdown into a Breakthrough, has been nominated for the "Pink List" with the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN). Her book is awesome! I don't just support anyone. Especially when I'm putting my 22cents worth in.

Thanks to her book's profound message and her daily, focused efforts to enlighten women with the promise of empowerment through personal happiness, Sil Lai has allowed women to grasp the true nature of themselves. She does this through her self-developed SEPIA Process (Self Empowerment Principles In Action). I'm not going to go through them all, but Chile... her book really gets gritty. She is extremely upfront and honest about her personal situations and how she overcame them. This is NOT your average self-help book. At all! In addition, her book has given her a podium to address domestic violence, substance abuse, and depression - issues that women everywhere face on a regular basis. Practice the first principle of TRUTH, because I think we ALL know someone (if it isn't us) that has been through some craziness or had various degrees of mental illness or just issues...not only those dealing with men. But hey, they do make you want to cut someone every now and then.

Please take the time to vote for Sil Lai on WEEN's website for the "Pink List." The voting polls close at TONIGHT at midnight. I know the turn-around is quick, but a fellow rising-star girlfriend could use your support!

The WEEN website site is: www.weenonline.org/home.html

To find out more information on Sil Lai , the SEPIA process and her book NO MORE DRAMA, visit: http://www.sepiaprocess.com/. The book is available at Barnes and Noble. If it isn't there, then ask for it and they can order it for you. It will soon be available at Borders, too.

OH, she will also be featured in the premiere issue of YBF's E-zine which is slated to come out this Friday. Check her out!

Until next time... always be a contender (fight for your right rather than just surviving life's woes from day-to-day) and always...

Be Seen at the Top!

xoxo
~Bettina L. Lee

WINE UP ON ME NOW

Hey Girlfriends,

You know how you may go out to eat and you want an excellent something-something to pair with your Chilean Sea Bass? Or even when you are out with the girls, don’t you want to have a nice glass of wine besides your standard Merlot, White Zinfandel, or Riesling? Do you want to go out and learn about wine, but don't know where to go??


Well, this informative website, LocalWineEvents.com, offers a cute newsletter, The Juice, which tells you about wine events in your area. Every week you get a calendar of upcoming wine, beer, spirits and food events for the area (I chose more than one area since I travel – they have a worldwide selection!) you choose. Plus -- a wine-oriented article, a wine quiz and more. The site was founded by Philadelphia area based Eric V. Orange who has had a diverse and distinguished 20+ year career within the wine industry.


The site also has spots that offer wine education, pairing, blogs, classes, and even suggestions on traveling/vacation. I’ve always heard Napa Valley in the Spring is wonderful. One featured class is offered by The Wine Diva, Christine Ansbacher, whose palate is known to make a $10 bottle of wine taste like a $30 bottle – you know it’s NOT about the cost of the bottle, but the quality of the grape…


You may sign up for The Juice here. :-)


Until next time…


Be Seen at the Top!