Young Woman Blogging after Marie-Denis Villers

Mike Licht has updated a whole set of old portraits and posters so that the people in them appear to be blogging. This is “Young Woman Blogging, after Marie-Denise Villers”.  Very unique and interesting!

Click here to see the entire set of portraits and posters.

Twenty Something Girl - Beyonce is Fun & Fearless

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Beyonce has been dubbed Fun, Fearless Female of the year in 2006 by Cosmopolitan. She’s a multiple Grammy award winner, winning five Grammys in one year. She’s most well known for singing, but she is truthfully the ultimate Renaissance woman - she is a song writer, a dancer, and a fashion designer with her own label and has just released a new line of fragrance!  A Twenty Something Girl of note.

For those of you who have not seen her latest video: Why Don't You Love Me, check it out here.  Talk about fearless...

9 STEPS ON: HOW TO GET OVER A BREAK UP, LET GO AND MOVE ON FOR GOOD!

Falling in love and being in a relationship can be an extremely wonderful feeling and experience in your life. The risk of giving your heart to someone comes with a price however, which is the possibility of having it broken by that person. When you breakup with someone you love or care deeply about, it can be one of the most horrible experiences in your life. You may feel like your world has come to an end; like your life has no meaning and there is no reason to move on. You begin to question the relationship you had with that person and analyse every memory you both had together to see where it went wrong, where you went wrong. You begin hating yourself and doubting your abilities as a partner and whether you were good enough. You can also become paranoid and start to create notions that the cause of the breakup was because of some other girl.

Whatever the case may be, when you breakup with someone that you truly loved or cared about, irrespective of the reasons, there is no erase and move on button in life and you have to actually deal with the reality of the situation, deal with the pain and try and find a way to move on.

Here are 9 effective steps which will assist you in letting go and moving on with your life:

Step One:

Don’t bottle up your emotions.

You may be a tough cookie but its ok to allow yourself to cry. I am not suggesting that you have a girl’s night out with your girlfriends and begin a crying fest. You will know when and to whom you can open up to. Crying is really the first step in the healing process.

Step Two:

Don’t blame yourself.

Whatever the reason for the breakup, you need to realise that it has happened. There is no turning back. Whether you choose to analyse everything and begin to think and say things like: “I should have done this more, or I should have done that better”, it is too late. The fact of the matter is that how you both felt for each other and the love you shared with each other was not strong enough to weather the storm of the rough patches.

Now ask yourself whether you would want to be with someone who would give up so easily on the relationship in such trying times. Relationships and life are full of up hills and down hills. Do you really want to be with someone who gives up so easily and says game over when they find a few pebbles on the road, or do you want to be with someone who will stand by you and be up for the challenge of climbing those hills side by side?

Step Three:

Remember that you are not alone.

As much as you may hate the world, know that there are people in it who do love you and care for you and its times like these that you really need to have family and friends there to support you. Don’t underestimate human compassion and don’t be afraid to speak to someone you can trust for support. They may just surprise you with the lengths they will go to, to help you through this rough patch.

Step Four:

Avoid the stalking.

You know what I am talking about! If you are friends on facebook chances are that you have checked his status update twice already, while reading this! Are you viewing his profile every hour to see whether he has made new friends? Are you secretly viewing the friends profiles, and checking them out? If you are, stop right there because firstly it is unhealthy for you, and secondly it is downright creepy! Yes, creepy and you my friend are a stalker. You need to stop! The best thing that you can do right now is to delete your ex from you list of friends. If there are other social networks that both of you are linked to, delete them from it as well and this includes deleting their family members and close friends.

Step Five:

Resist the urge to call him.

Ok, so you have deleted him from facebook, but you still have his number on your phone. Deleting the number may not be so simple though. You may have the number memorized and you may be twisting your arms and you have your knees bent backwards just to prevent yourself from calling him. You write down on a piece of paper or you recite in your head all the things you want to tell him and you have this fantasy that when you make that call and give that speech, he is going to come running back into your arms. Right?

Stop right there. Whatever the reason for the break up was, you cannot torture yourself. Whenever you have the urge to call him, call a friend or family member instead. Don’t give in.

Step Six:

Do not answer his calls.

So you are making progress in moving on. You haven’t slipped up and called him in the middle of the night. You have resisted the urge to call him while out with friends and after you have had a few tequilas etc. You have stopped checking your phone a million times a day to see whether your ex sent you a message and you have stopped hoping beyond hope that he will call you, realizing that you are the best thing that could have happened to them since twitter and beg you to take them back.

But then it happens when you least expect it. You receive an incoming call or text message and it is him! In that instant your heart does a back flip, you palms get sweaty, all the feelings flood back and you feel like you are in square one all over again.

The fact of the matter is that whether he broke up with you or vice versa, when there is a break up, there are always feelings left over and there may never be complete closure for some. Your ex may also be tempted to call you, mostly out of curiosity and because they want to see how you are keeping, maybe because they miss you but honestly do not have any intention of getting back with you.

As much as it would be great to keep in contact with your ex and have them in your life as a friend, if you are still hung up on them emotionally, by you keeping them in your life and answering their calls etc, you are not allowing yourself to let go and move on.

Step Seven:

Get rid of all things that remind you of him/her.

After a break up, you will find that the person you loved will have walked out of your life, but unfortunately all the accumulated gifts, clothes and momentos that celebrated and symbolized the love that you shared with one another has been left behind to haunt you. These things which seemed trivial and had gone unnoticed for so long now seem to pop up everywhere like an annoying zit, teasing and torturing you. It could be anything from a t-shirt, jewelery or a picture frame to a scent of a shampoo or song you both loved dancing to.

Do yourself a huge favour and take all of these things, place it in a box and have it delivered to your ex. If not, store it away under lock and key so that you can resist the urge to go through these things and reminisce. This will help you in being able to move on quickly.

Step Eight:

Make a list of all the negative things about your ex.

Yes, take out that pen and paper and start jotting down a list of all the negative things about your ex that comes to mind. You will be surprised at how many things which seemed cute while you were together, is actually quite annoying when you look back and think about it. Put all your thoughts about the break up down on paper. Everything that you wanted to tell him, how this has affected you emotionally, physically etc.

Once you have done this, you will feel much lighter, like a weight has been lifted from your heart. It works, try it – and don’t forget to throw that list away. Rip it up, burn it…just get rid of it.

Step Nine:

Start a hobby or join a different circle of friends.

If you have been in a long term relationship, you will find yourself feeling very lost and incomplete. You did everything with your ex and now all those things that seemed fun and exciting now appear mundane and boring. You were so dependant (unconsciously) on doing activities with your ex that you now feel incapable of doing the same things alone, it feels like you have lost an arm or a leg and you can’t function without it. Right?

While it may seem terrifying, you need to go out into the world and socialise. Stop mopping around. Girls  treat yourself to a day spa. Dress up and go out into the world and begin to live again. If you like to dance – join a salsa dance class; if you like reading – join a book club or join the gym and enroll in the different workout classes that they offer.

This is the most opportune time for you to actually go out into the world and gain independence and create an identity that has been lost or forgotten. By you participating in activities you will find that you have become so occupied to actually stop and think about your ex and the less you think about them, the sooner you begin to heal and move on.

Remember the age old saying: time heals all things. This includes break ups. It is only when you have given yourself time and space to enjoy your life again; that you will begin to actually heal and move on. This will also increase your chances of possibly meeting someone new and better. By the time this happens, your ex will have become a distant memory.

Scarlett Johansson: Cover Girl for V Magazine

Scarlett Johansson features in this month's V Magazine. How gorgeous does she look? I absolutely adore this actress. Not only is she talented, and exudes a timeless beauty but she also embraces her womanly curves with such finesse...a Twenty Something Girl to admire.

Photographs by: Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin

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Twenty Something Girl - Adopt the 'WATCH ME" Attitude!

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This is an awesome attitude that every go-getting Twenty Something Girl should adopt!

Choc Chip, Cranberry and Peanut Butter Granola Bars

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Whether you are college student, university student, working girl or other...if you are a busy body thats always on the go, taking a break to eat can be difficult.  Which is why you would find yourself (more often than you would like) snacking on just about anything sweet or greasy when you are completely famished and the tummy is yelling out: "feed me girlfriend!".

You can prevent these outrageous moments from occurring by preparing something tasty yet healthy at the same time, in advance.

Why not try out this scrumptious recipe for Choc Chip Cranberry and Peanut Butter Granola Bars:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

• 2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup

• 1/4 cup creamy natural peanut butter, at room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

• 1 cup puffed rice (rice krispies is ideal)

• 2 tablespoons grated coconut

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

• 1/2 cup grain-sweetened chocolate chips


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Line an 8 x 8 inch square baking pan (or a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan for thicker bars) with parchment paper so the sides hang over the edge of the pan. Lightly coat cooking spray; set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the applesauce, honey, peanut butter, and vanilla extract.

4. Fold in the rolled oats, puffed rice cereal, salt, dried cranberries, grated coconut and chocolate chips. Spoon batter into the prepared pan, spreading into an even layer, and bake until lightly golden brown, about 20 minutes (add a few additional minutes of baking time if you’re using a loaf pan).

5. Allow to cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then remove by picking up the sides of the parchment paper. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

And there you have it...snacking has never sounded soo yummy!

PS: This recipe was taken from a lovely site called: healthy food for living which is packed with delicious and healthy recipes.  The recipe has been tweaked and a few ingredients have been substituted.

Nourish the Mind: Start a Book Club Girls

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In order to nourish the soul we need to feed the mind. Why not join a book club or start one with your friends. Pick a theme or genre and commit to meeting twice a month to discuss and analyse great literature over delicious food and drink. You will be pleasantly surprised at how gratifying it can be to engage in stimulating conversations as opposed to the usual random banter at social gatherings. By welcoming other people’s ideas and opinions you will be expanding your own world view on certain topics and may also have the pleasure of meeting and make new acquaintances.

For those girls who love reading ChickLit books, check out this really cute site (here) which is all about chiclit books, news, reviews, interviews and much more.

HE'S JUST ON THAT INTO YOU

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I am a great follower of the Glamour magazine and I am always on the lookout for awesome freebies. So I was quite elated to discover an exclusive edition featuring a copy of the book: He’s just not that into you. Unfortunately my over hectic work and social schedule prevented me from delving into the portals of the much appealing book and it soon settled under a pile of books and magazines soon to be forgotten…Or so it seemed.

As luck would have it, I was searching for a recipe for an orange infused chocolate cake that I had previously made a mental note of and was now eager to try it out for an upcoming gathering with the girls. Anyways, long story short, the book literally fell into my lap. Drawn to its catchy cover I just had to sneak a peek. After the first two chapters I was quite intrigued and ended up reading the enter book…skipping a few pages here and there.

This book is, dare I say it, quite brilliant and surprisingly accurate. I mention accurate on the premises that I did in fact probe a few guys, in terms of their input on the subject matter. After reading the book I felt as if a fog of ignorance or naivety had been magically lifted from within me. Everything made sense in some strange way, it was clear, it was simple, it was the truth…why had I not realized this before?!

A brief summary after reading the book:

He is just not that into you if:

1.He is not asking you out. Sure you may be hanging out, going to the movies, even making out now and then. If he does not want to define what you are to each other, then he isn’t into you because if he was truly into you, he would ask you out! Plain and simple.

2.He is not calling you. How many of you have went on a date or met somebody really amazing and felt that you had a connection with them…you exchanged numbers in hopes that it could lead to a second date or something more, only to discover that an entire 5 days have gone by and he hasn’t called?! You check your phone a hundred times a day and think up a million different excuses as to why he has not called you yet. Guilty as charged! The truth is if a guy is into you, he will make the time to call! He will pick up that damn phone and spare five minutes to say hello! If he isn’t calling, he is just not that into you!

3.He is just not that into you if he is not having sex with you. If you are going out for a long time, say three months to a year and he hasn’t tried to sleep with you, then it’s safe to say that he is not that into you. As per the brilliant Greg Behrendth and I quote: “when men like you, they want to touch you, always….if he was into you he would have a hard time keeping his paws off you.”

The above are just a few of the points worth pondering in the really funny, in your face, straight forward and refreshingly honest self help book: He’s just not that into you. Hmmm…if only I had been given this book a couple of years ago!

PS: Most of you will know that the book has been made into a movie.  With a fabulous all star cast, it is the perfect chick flick for a girls night in.  It is now available on DVD so be sure to check it out.

Blake Lively soaks up the cover of Vogue

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Blake Lively is having the time of her life.  The twenty two year old actress who rose to fame due to the highly successful and addictive series Gossip Girl, features on the covers of Vogue for the second time.  Read all about how Lively learns to catch a wave while soaking up some sun here.

5 THINGS EVERY TWENTY SOMETHING GIRL SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO

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There are 5 essential 'must knows' that every Twenty Something Girl needs to know how to do in order to survive in today’s real world. The fact of the matter is that we are not living in a fairytale and if ever we are faced with danger or confronted with a challenge, prince charming is not going to magically ride by with his trusty steed and save the day.

We need to start developing and acquiring life skills that will assist us into becoming more independent and confident individuals. So here are 5 things that every girl should know how to do:

1. Learn How to Change a Flat Tire

Ok the mental image of actually doing this can be daunting and painful. However there comes a point in each girl’s life where you will get to own a car (hopefully a red sexy mini cooper) or perhaps you are considering buying one at that. You will of course have to get behind the wheel of this super hot car in order to actually drive yourself from point A to point B. Unfortunately even the most reliable cars cannot predict the most uncertain road conditions. Should there be an instance where you do have the unfortunate encounter of experiencing a flat tire, the last think you would want is to have a weird looking stranger by the name of Trucker stop by to help you out. Given the current crime statistics in South Africa and the world at large, the number of psychos out there far outweighs the number of good samaritans. It’s time to be a man (not literally), get down on your knees and show your car who is boss! Road assistance most definitely will help, however just in case; you should learn how to do this.

2. Learn How to Stitch a Button

How many of you know how to stitch a button? This simple skill will help you not only save money and time, but also moments of embarrassment. It happens to the better of us at the most inconvenient of times. You know what I am talking about. An instance where the button on your favourite blouse falls out or where you may have bought a pair of pants for a special event only to discover after putting it on that it is too long for your frame. At these instances, whipping out the good old needle and thread and stitching that button or hemming that pants is quick, convenient and gets the work done.

3. Learn Self Defense

Ok, I am not suggesting that you go out and train yourself into becoming a killing machine like the female characters on Kill Bill. Kill Bill was a great movie (Tarantino is a genius might I add) however, I think that every girl should learn a few good and effective methods of self defense. This not only helps boost your self esteem levels but will also give you a great work out. Killing two birds with one stone…not bad!

4. Learn CPR

Learn CPR. How many of you know what CPR stands for? CPR stands for: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR is one of the most important life skills that every woman should acquire knowledge on. Hollywood has made us ignorant into believing that any Jane of the block can administer CPR. However, this is false and administering CPR on someone without actual knowledge on the procedure can in fact worsen the situation. There are first aid classes which you can actually attend and once you have completed such, you will be issued with a certificate of completion. You never know when this can come in handy. The fact that you now possess a skill which you can use throughout your existence and which can very well help save the life of a family member, friend or a stranger is empowering to say the least.

5. Learn How to Cook something Fabulous

Every girl should proudly have a signature dish that is down right spectacular. It can be anything from a delicious pasta dish or pot roast to something sweet and decadent like a yummy chocolate cake or malva pudding. You should be able to, when the occasion arises, whip out your culinary skills and blow the mind out of that special someone that you are trying to impress. Yes it is the 21st century however a little chivalry does not hurt and is certain to go a long way.

Take time to actually attempt the above, it will certainly empower you.

Jennifer Aniston does the 'Baby Food Diet'

We all have at some point stumbled upon Jennifer's famous nude scene in the movie "The Breakup", where she got to bare all (almost). No one can deny that Ms. Aniston exudes class, style, beauty and a body to die for.

While it is certain that Jennifer follows an effective exercise regime to maintain such a hot bod, many may still question/wonder what diet or eating plan she follows.

According to the daily mail, Jennifer is said to be following the baby food diet. Apparently she is following the advice of celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson who has also worked with the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. Aniston is said to consume 14 portions of baby food during the day, followed by a healthy adult size meal for dinner, resulting in her losing 7 pounds in just a week.

Speaking about the new diet, Anderson said to Hollyscoop: 'I developed a cleanse where you can still eat and it's a lot of purée foods. I was very careful about the foods I chose to put in it.'

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