Other than self breast exams or (self-assisted breast exams ) the next best thing you can do is support breast cancer research. A great way to do that while getting something cool for yourself is by visiting CustomizedGirl.Com. There you can easily make a t-shirt that says whatever you want and 10% of your sale will be donated to breast cancer research. Plus you will receive $5 off your order! Just enter the code CURE09 when you check out. They have 4 great shirt options that are only $10 each right now so there’s no better time to grab a shirt and help save our tatas!

Unfortunately, I never had a good black bag that I loved.  I feel like many black purses, regardless of the designer or price tag, look cheap.  Maybe it’s because of my many days at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, being surrounded by black biker leather or maybe it’s just because I never found a bag that “spoke” to me.  That changed the first time I walked into a Coach store.  The first black bag I saw was nearly surrounded by a glow it was so perfect.  I gladly forked over the $400 for that bag knowing that I could carry it with almost any outfit.  That was the extent of what I considered “higher end” purse purchases for me except a brown Via Spiga and a yellow B. Makowsky that I got on the cheap at DSW.

Fast forward a couple of years and I was still happily carrying my Coach bag 5 days out of the week.  The I met Vlad at SEO Spring Break 2009.  Vlad owns purseblog.com, which offers designer handbag reviews and news, with his wonderful wife Meaghan who is The Purse Blog’s “resident bag enthusiast” and editor. After some sweet talking and schmoozing…okay after some boozing…Vlad decided to properly introduce me to the world of designer bags.  I exchanged numerous emails with Meaghan and looked at hundreds of bags without finding one I liked.  After what felt like an eternity, I finally found two that I liked, a black Prada bag and a tan Chloe.

I ended up choosing the Chloe bag because it was such a rich, gorgeous color and unlike anything I had in my collection.  After deciding on a bag, waiting for it to arrive was agony! Every time I heard the UPS truck outside my house I would run to the door hoping to hear a box land on my doorstep.  When the bag finally arrived it was well worth the wait.  The bag is the exact color it looks in the picture and is even larger than I expected.  The leather is luxurious and the craftsmanship is superb.  The bag is a little big for taking into a crowded bar but it is perfect for day-to-day activities since you can fit everything and anything in it.  However, despite being large it doesn’t overpower you or look like you are carrying an overnight bag for a purse.

I couldn’t be happier with my introduction to designer purses and vow to never, ever buy a cheap purse again.  Thank you to my friends at The Purse Blog.  I am now converted to your religion.

2. Not working for weeks on end: Rich people are retired or have people who run their companies for them.  Poor people either can’t find work or choose to live off government benefits.

3. Driving really old cars: Rich people buy old cars and fix them up so they are “classics”.  Poor people can’t afford to drive any car made in the last 3 decades.

4. Naming their kids after the father: Rich people have many children all named Kinglsey (the 3rd, 4th, 5th). Poor people have many children all named Ray Bob, Jr.

5. Showering outdoors: Rich people have beach houses with outdoor showers to rinse off the sand after they’ve been on the beach.  Homeless people use broken fire hydrants, fountains or outdoor faucets to wash up.

6. Large families: Rich people breed to carry on their legacy. Poor people breed to get more welfare.

7. Eating very small food portions: Rich people pay loads of money for gourmet meals that consist of small portions that leave you hungry.  Poor people have to ration their food supply and therefore eat small meals.

8. Thrift stores: Rich people shop at thrift stores for “vintage” clothing.  Poor people shop at thrift stores for anything they can afford.

9. Getting things for free: Rich people get things for free because companies want them to recommend the products to their rich friends.  Poor people get things for free from charity.

10. Depression: Rich people are depressed because they are bored and it’s trendy. Poor people are depressed because, well, they’re poor.

If you have more things rich people and poor people have in common, please leave them in the comments below.  Thanks!

On one hand, I am doing my part by not changing things that a lot of other people are changing.  DK and I speak frequently on a range of topics and one night over dinner we discussed the economy.  We were both very frustrated by the current state of things and half-joked that one way we can help the economy is to keep spending the way we always have. So, I still have expensive dinners when the mood strikes and I still buy my expensive shoes, jeans and purses. I spend responsibly, I didn’t buy a house I can’t afford because the interest rate was “omg so low!”, & I don’t drive a car that costs what most people make in a month. So, I can keep buying the things that I want to spend money on without worrying about the “economic crisis”. By spending money, I’m putting that money back into the businesses that may buy my company’s products which will put money back in my pocket.

So what things have I changed?  A lot.  Last year was a year of major changes for me and I think I became somewhat overwhelmed by my new responsibilities.  Because of this I shut down and stuck my head in the ground like an ostrich.  I found myself doing the bare minimum to get by much of the time.  The less I did, the worse I felt.  The worse I felt, the less I wanted to do.

So, I made a commitment to myself to be better this year in many ways.  Some may call it a new year’s resolution but new year’s resolutions are bullshit.

I’m taking better care of myself.  I am eating better, working out nearly every day, getting enough rest, getting enough time with friends, reading more to energize my mind, and much more.

I’m taking better care of my business.  I’ve always been very commited to my customers but this year I have exponentially increased my commitment. I respond to emails faster, I always answer the phone with a smile on my face (yes they really can hear a smile) and I advise customers of tiny changes I recommend that will make a difference in their product outcome but that they would never miss if I didn’t bring them up.

By doing these things, I am making myself and my business better, and thereby making my country better. If I inspire one other person I know to take better care of themselves because I am, I’ve succeeded in helping humanity.  If I help one business generate new sales because their customers were impressed by the custom flash drives that business chose to order from Bespoke USB, I’ve successed in helping the economy.

What are you doing to help?  What else should I be doing? Give me a push & some inspiration by posting your own list of what you are doing to accept the challenge to help America.

So, what is your weirdest work related dream?

But, the real gem of the weekend was the sign outside the church by my parents’ house.  Once when I was younger this sign said “Let us help you with death”.  I only wish I got a picture of that one.  But luckily I did get a picture of this one.  Obviously the church staff can’t count past 4 since they think grace is a four-letter word.

Also, if you follow me on Twitter you’ve seen me bitching about my new neighbor’s wind chimes which I am glaring at out of the corner of my eye right now as they dance in the breeze. The lightest breeze and they are noisy as shit. But, I digress.

I am now adding the sound of “squeaky clean teeth” to my list of noises I hate thanks to a Crest Pro-Health Night Toothpaste featuring “Tiffany”. At the end of the commercial she rubs her finger against her teeth to prove to you how squeaky clean they are when she gets up in the morning. Now I rarely watch commercials thanks to my best friend Tivo but whenever I forget to fast foward through them, this damn commercial is on and I never realize it until it’s too late. I lunge for the remote and just as I grab it she squeaks her finger across her teeth like fingernails on a chalkboard. I am fairly sure they could replace waterboarding with Tiffany’s squeaky teeth torture and see a drastic rise in terrorist confessions. So, if you know anyone at Crest that can get this commercial off the air I would be forever indebted. In the meantime, if you are into torturing yourself, here it is:

The League of American Non-environmentalists Defending Freedom to Litter (LANDFL) released the following statement regarding Trash the Earth Day:

“The recycling movement has created nearly one million new jobs in America alone. If we don’t continue contributing to the decline of our environment, the need for recycling will decline leading to a drastic reduction in recycling related jobs in America. The balance between improving the environment and keeping our economy strong is delicate. We cannot ignore the need for Americans to continue to litter and produce excess waste, guaranteeing the need for recycling in the future.”

Please watch the following video starring a Great American Hero for more information on Trash the Earth Day to see how you can do your part to trash the Earth.