Q&A Interview

Karen Green in her own creation Have you ever wondered where new designers come from? Where do they get their inspiration? Popular shows, such as Project Runway, show us how designers perform under pressure to fulfill the demands of the judges. What drives a young designer whose vision is to try to sell to boutiques and consumers? We have been watching Karen Green of Green Label Designs, since she debuted her collection with a unique and popular skirt last year. She has expanded her line into a capsule collection. Karen’s label is unique in that she does not design by season, but by silhouettes. Karen talks about her inspiration and shares her personal styling tips. If you love fashion, you won’t want to miss a word of this insider interview.

DD: What is your must-have green label item and how do you wear it?
KG: The great thing about pieces from Green Label Designs is their versatility. I often never leave the house without something on from our collection. The Signature Skirt is probably my "go-to" piece of the line. During daytime my favorite outfit is a plain white tank from say the Gap or J.Crew, paired with a Signature Skirt and a pair of leather or glittery flip-flops. This way if I need to get ready quickly for a last minute evening engagement, all I need to do is throw on a couple dozen strands of pearls and my favorite stilettos. It’s fabulous evening look!

The Jet Set Tunic is another staple in my wardrobe. The ease of the fabric ensures that when I travel, I look fresh. I do travel quite a bit for PR engagements and to visit our different boutiques. Whether on a plane or sitting in the car for hours, I want to finish my trip looking like I did when I started. Again, this piece is amazing with ballet flats, flip-flops, sandals, or just below the knee boots. Going into the fall and winter, a great way to wear The Boxer Short is with opaque tights, a sheer turtleneck, and a fabulous pair of booties.

DD: What inspired you to create Green Label Designs?
KG: Shannon, my sister-in-law and business partner, and I didn’t intend on starting a clothing company. It all started with what was supposed to just be a birthday present to me for my 32nd birthday last year. Shannon is a couture bridal designer. Since I met her I have wanted her to work with me to create a fabulous couture piece for myself. We never knew that it would change our lives forever!

DD: What type of women wears your line?
KG: I would have to say that our target market is a contemporary woman probably in her late 20s to early 40s. But, my mother at 64 wears our pieces and my little sister at 22 also does. They both feel and look amazing in them. A Green Label Designs woman is confident, sassy, sexy, and fun. She doesn’t want to wear pieces that are trendy and can be found just anywhere. Our customer wants something special and will pay top dollar for that uniqueness.

DD: Are there themes to your different collections?
KG: I’m not sure if I would say that we necessarily have themes for the collections we’ve turned out in the past year. Shannon and I concentrate more on creating pieces that our customer just has to have. We focus on elegant silhouettes with a tiny modern twist and a little something unexpected.

Since we do not plan on having on adding new garments every season, it is more important for us to find fabulous new satins and silks in beautiful colors and patterns. The colors we have for this fall are very reminiscent of the Mediterranean. We have periwinkles and turquoises like the beautiful sea and pale pinks and whites reminiscent of the sand. The dark plum and platinum are like a soft nighttime sky.

DD: Do you have any styling tips on how women can integrate your designs into their own wardrobes?

KG: Absolutely! The Signature Skirt and The Boxer Short are both pieces that can be dressed up or down with ease with plain tank tops and great flat sandals or ballet flats for daytime. For evening, just slip into a fitted high-collared white blouse with a great necklace and a pair of heels. The Martini Romper looks best when you pair it with a fabulous belt or sash right from your closet. I like chain link belts, but an Obi sash look amazing around the waist to complete the look. Also your favorite necklace worn backwards and hanging down your back with the dramatic drape silk looks stellar. We’ve added loops to the shoulders so you can attach your favorite necklace easily. The Saint Tropez Yacht Dress is another piece that looks amazing for day or evening. Wear it over your favorite bikini on the deck of your yacht, or simply by itself for a dramatic evening dress.

DD: Who is your favourite design inspiration?
KG: I would have to say that I’m especially inspired by my favorite designers Lanvin for their bit of eccentricity. I like Jason Wu for his simple yet innovative design and Milly for always creating fun new girly silhouettes.

www.greenlabeldesigns.com

DianaRaab Our special contributor Diana Raab writes this month about the mind-body connection from a knowledgeable and personal point of view. Don’t miss her life-changing and personal essay:

The mind-body connection means that your body responds to the way you think, feel, and act. For years we have known that our emotions have a strong impact on our health, but more recently studies have been popping up to prove this phenomenon. When we are stressed or anxious, our bodies warn us that things are not right. For example, we may exhibit some of the following symptoms: back pain, palpitations, and changes in appetite, sexual problems, stiff neck, diarrhea, constipation, and/or random aches and pains.

Stress and anxiety tend to contribute to poor emotional health and can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds and infections - and in more extreme cases, cancer.

As a nurse, two-time cancer survivor, and author of the newly-released Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey, I must say that journaling has saved my life during many of tumultuous times, such as difficult pregnancies, deaths and cancer. This most recent book originated on the pages of my journal. Because I am a nurse and inspirational speaker, I decided to make this a self-help memoir. Each chapter ends with blank pages and journaling prompts for readers to write about their own experience. The appendices also have helpful tips on how to keep a journal.

Everyone reacts and handles stress differently. Over the years, my way has been through regular meditation and a steady journaling practice. These two modalities have helped me maintain a balance in my mind/body connection.

Earlier this year, I attended a powerful and poignant two-hour lecture by Dr. Hans Gruenn, who runs the LongevityCenter in Los Angeles. Dr. Gruenn, originally from Germany, spoke on “Advances in Integrative Medicine.” The major question he posed was to ask ourselves not ‘why we get sick?’, but ‘why we don’t heal?’ He believes patients must do their part in maintaining and resuming their health. He quoted Voltaire: “The doctor is to entertain the patient while he heals.”

I believe we must all be responsible for our own healing and play an active role in maintaining a balance between our emotional and physical health or the mind-body connection. Whatever works for you is what you should commit to doing regularly. In the meantime, ask yourself:

What have you done for your mind today?

What have you done for your body today?

Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN is the editor of Writers and Their Notebooks, a collection of essays by distinguished writers who journal, including Sue Grafton, Kim Stafford, Dorianne Laux, John DuFresne, James Brown and Michael Steinberg, to name a few. We recently read, enjoyed, and revisited it. She is also the author of the critically-acclaimed memoir Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal. Her second memoir, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey is a self-help book that also offers journaling exercises for other survivors. It is being published this month by Loving Healing Press. Diana’s work has also been published in numerous literary magazines and is widely anthologized. She has one poetry book, My Muse Undresses Me, and two poetry collections, Dear Anais: My Life in Poems for You, the winner of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Award for Poetry, and the newly-released The Guilt Gene.

www.dianaraab.com

Recently, I attend the 65^th anniversary party at Mary Mac’s Tea Room in Atlanta. Mary Mac’s is a destination for many visitors to the city. It was my first visit. I can now see why so many of Atlanta’s residents are regulars. When you enter Mary Mac’s you are treated to the much lauded Southern hospitality that you may be hard-put to find in more commercial establishments in Atlanta.

I also received a copy of the Mary Mac’s Tea Room: 65 Years of Recipes from Atlanta’s Favorite Dining Room. I couldn’t put it down; I read it straight through. The book is a fascinating history of Mary Mac’s and the people who helped create an Atlanta landmark. The story is compelling and the photographs capture the charm of a bygone age.

It also contains easy-to-follow recipes for the restaurant’s Southern favourites. The book is a veritable primer on classic Southern cooking. You can learn to make a tasty tomato pie, tempting squash casserole, crispy fried chicken, and many other tempting Dixie dishes. It also contains recipes for the restaurant’s signature desserts. My favourite is the blackberry jam cake, a spicy layer cake with sumptuous caramel icing.

This book is a priceless piece of Atlanta’s history, a fabulous gift for anyone who loves all things Southern.

For a taste of Mary Mac’ s Tea Room and their special brand of Southern charm, do not miss a word of our interview with owner and author John Ferrell.

DD: Why did you decide to write the cookbook?

JF: Mary Mac’s is celebrating our 65^th anniversary in 2010 and we are so thankful to have a loyal fan base over the years. Can you imagine serving generations of the same families? We receive a lot of requests for our recipes and we are so grateful, and when you add in our own iconic history and the fact that we have dedicated employees, many whom have been with us for decades, we knew it was something we needed to do.

DD: What is your personal favorite recipe(s) and why?

JF: From my personal standpoint, it is my mother’s: Mary Ferrell’s homemade Cream Cheese Pound Cake. I recall it as a child. Everyone loves it. We use the recipe for our Strawberry Shortcake at Mary Mac’s!

DD: What are the most popular recipes – and do you have any idea why?

JF: When you come to Mary Mac’s, the first thing that you will notice about our menu is that is has something for everyone. We have always had requests for our recipes, however recently we added Tomato Pie and it has become our most requested recipe. I think it is because tomatoes are a staple at most tables in the South, and the recipe is a wonderful hit at reunions or large gatherings. Second, I would say, we get a lot of requests for our Cornbread Dressing and Sweet Potato Soufflé recipes, especially around the holidays. We often receive requests to ship these and other traditional favorites to customers around the country!

DD: Who comes to Mary Mac’s? Do you have regulars? How did you become an "Atlanta destination"?

JF: Thank you for your observation and calling us a “destination”. I would tell you that after serving folks from all over the globe for 65 years, we had better know what we are doing by now! Call it honest, real, down-home, and non-pretentious, or as most do, just a visit back in time, where your senses will remind you of your childhood or perhaps sitting down at a favorite relatives house for a special meal. Our objective is to put a smile on your face and some goodness on your plate, with a true side of southern hospitality. I am most grateful that we accomplish this objective on a consistent basis!

Yes, we have regulars; many eat lunch with us every day! We have added some of their stories in our cookbook. Mary Mac’s also draws many of our visitors to Atlanta who are in search of an authentic southern dining experience.

DD: What defines Southern cooking?

JF: If you grew up in the South, you will have an appreciation of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit from your garden. Many Southerners also had their own livestock and processed their own meats. These hands-on experiences, and the importance of cooking with fresh produce, can make a huge difference in how something tastes. I am proud that in this day of fast and flash, Mary Mac’s still realizes the importance of freshly-made, from-scratch menu selections.

DD: Mary Mac’s is as famous for hospitality as food. How have you maintained those good feelings for over 50 years?

JF: Again, we are honored that you recognize our tradition of offering southern hospitality whenever you visit us. We are so proud of our staff and their efforts to welcome our guests. We work hard on training our staff that any problem they may face at work can be overcome by simply communicating with our guests and offering them a smiling faces and hospitality. Where else can you go and get your “back rubbed and your belly filled”. Our ‘Goodwill Ambassador’, Jo Carter, visits your table and checks on your experience while rubbing your back!

DD: Can you suggest a perfect party menu for a beginner cook from your cookbook?

JF: I would say, bring them to Mary Mac’s and we will show them a great time! There is something for everyone and if we can’t find exactly what you want, you will at least a great back rub from Jo Carter! Of course, if you’re not close to Mary Mac’s I would recommend Fried Chicken, Whipped Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Turnips or Collard Greens, Sliced Tomatoes, Cucumbers in Onions, and any of the desserts in our cookbook.

DD: Who are a few of the celebrities who have dined at Mary Mac’s, and what did they eat?

JF: We again are so thankful for our success and interest in Mary Mac’s. We have had so many folks come in, it is hard to keep up with them and their menu selections. I recall that when the former First Lady Hillary Clinton dined with us, we were visited by the Secret Service days in advance. It created a lot of excitement when the meal was being prepared. We are fortunate to be only three blocks from the Fabulous Fox Theater on Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, where so many performers grace our doors while in Atlanta. We have served the Dalai Lama - who interestingly enough is not a vegetarian. He enjoyed our PotLicker and Fried Chicken. Richard Gere, Ted Danson, multiple governors, senators, congressmen and congresswomen, entertainers, and sports legends have all walked through our doors. The ones we love are the ones who keep coming back! www.marymacs.com

Pamela Meyer, the author of Liespotting, learned to catch liars the hard way; she had a one in her own company. Her trusted assistant almost robbed her blind. Luckily, she was caught when Pamela came in to check her books without warning.

Pamela decided to study fraud and became an expert at catching liars. She has put her expertise into a book, Liespotting. I found it a quick and fascinating read. It is full of practical tips and useful advice for your personal and professional life. If you are a single woman who Internet-dates, this book is a must. If you own a business or work in one where negotiating is part of your job, this is a must-read.

Pam is a Certified Fraud Examiner with extensive training in advanced interviewing and interrogation techniques, facial micro-expression reading, body language interpretation, statement analysis, and behavior elicitation techniques. Read our detailed interview and learn how to spot a liar!

DD: What is the single most dangerous facial expression to watch out for, and why?
PM: While Liespotting is an invaluable tool for taking control of a potentially deceptive interaction and turning it into an authentic one, occasionally a relationship is not salvageable. In particular, a look of contempt, whether from a superior at work or even a romantic partner, indicates a person has dismissed you, and it’s time to move on.

Pamela Meyer --The Liespotter Be wary of eye-rolling or a raised chin, as well as asymmetrical facial expressions. Basic human emotions such as anger, surprise, happiness appear on the face symmetrically; contempt is unique in its one-sidedness. Be wary of the snarled lip.

DD: How do you blow a liar’s cover?
PM: The first rule of Liespotting: get them talking. If someone is out to deceive you, asking open-ended questions will make him sweat; so no simple "yes-or-nos."

As you want to keep the conversation flowing, establish a rapport - maintain eye contact, mirror body language, sit in a non-threatening, open-armed position, avoid arguing - and see what observable behaviors emerge. There are numerous, objective facial, body, and verbal "tells" to keep an eye out for - in particular when you ask the tough questions - so give your target every chance to slip up.

DD: How can you spot and shut down the lies commonly told in high-stakes business negotiations and interviews?
PM: When it comes to business negotiations, the higher the stakes, the more likely people are to lie. Your best bet to combat this cycle of mistrust lies in preparation and prevention. And keep in mind, in addition to motivating people to lie, high stakes breed high emotions, making it difficult for a lying negotiator to conceal his anxiety.

The most common lie you will face is one of omission: In one study, 100 percent of negotiators actively lied about, or failed to reveal, a problem if no one asked them about it. So be prepared to bring up the touchy subjects. How will you know what to bring up? Try to imagine what you would feel most compelled to lie about were you in this negotiator’s shoes. Be sure to cover that topic. Also make it clear to the negotiator you are acting in good faith and that your relationship with him will be at stake.

Finally, a simple, though potent, concluding question: "Is there anything important you haven’t told me?"

DD: What are the postures, gestures, and facial expressions that should put you on alert?
PM: The neurological systems that regulate our facial expressions are based on our often volatile emotions; no one is able to hide their facial “tells” completely.

In addition, while liars rehearse their words, they rarely practice their gestures - which are a regular source of “emotional leakage.” When someone displays an awkward or incomplete gesture we all recognize, known as an emblem, they are probably feeling the opposite of what the symbol usually means: a half-shoulder shrug, instead of both, may mean to imply ignorance, but your target may know more; and a shaky thumbs up, accompanied by a furrowed brow of distress, is probably an attempt to cover-up anxiety.

And despite what many people think, lack of eye contact does not indicate deception. If anything, a liar will attempt to hold your gaze to appear sincere. Instead, look for blink rate. People telling a lie often blink more than they do when they’re being truthful.

DD: Are there key phrases or words that liars use?
PM: While body language is rife with Liespotting opportunities, some red flags within the words are worth listening for. People who lie tend to heavily qualify their statements; they are either being intentionally vague or instinctively protecting themselves. Watch out for openers such as “as far as I know,” or “to the best of my knowledge.”

In addition, to appear convincing, liars will often precede their deception with an emphatic, qualifying, or bolstering, statement, such as “I swear to God” or even “to be honest.” By the way, liars very often invoke religion, such as, “with God as my witness, I did not steal anything.”

For more tips on uncovering duplicity www.Liespotting.com

According to Esther Gokhale, author of 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back and creator of the Gokhale Method, you can get perfect Brazilian butt just by changing your stride. Esther an acupuncturist, author, and expert in pain-free-living, developed “glidewalking”, which helps prevent back pain as well foot and leg stress. It can also give you a shapely uplifted butt.

To find out how to improve your stride, shape your butt, get rid of a poochy stomach, and avoid neck-crunch, read this fascinating and informative interview with Ester Gokhale. I have been using her tips for last few days and my neck is already feeling better.

DD: Can changing the way you walk or sit really alleviate back pain?

EG: Absolutely. We sit for many hours every day. Depending on how you sit, you could be either causing or healing a back problem. This is also true of walking.

If you sit with poor form - for example, tuck your pelvis and slump - you damage your spinal discs, vertebrae, and possibly your spinal nerves the whole time you sit. If you land heavily with every stride and your bones are misaligned, you inappropriately jolt the bony surfaces within your joints with every step you take. That damages your joints and causes osteoarthritis.

On the other hand, if you sit with your "tail" behind you, and have your bones well-stacked, you improve your back with every breath you take. Every inhalation lengthens your spine causing healthy circulation that helps your spinal tissues heal. If you walk by engaging your gluteal muscles to propel you forward into gentle landings, your muscles get a healthy workout and your spine is spared unnecessary stress.

If you have back pain, it is important to learn healthy ways to sit and walk because you sit and walk a lot, because sitting and walking well can end your back pain, and because unhealthy sitting and walking will worsen your pain.

DD: Is there any way to help "uncrunch" a kinked neck after working too long at the computer or driving?

EG: First, you want to learn which way is up. Grasp a good-sized clump of hair at the base of your skull and gently pull your head back and up while relaxing your chin down to find a comfortable baseline position for your neck.

To help keep your neck in place, it may help to imagine a helium balloon in your head that you relax your neck muscles to let float upward. If this is not enough, it can be very helpful to place a small weight (something that wouldn’t hurt your feet if it fell off your head) at the top of your head.

As a supplemental stretch it helps to elongate the back of your neck against the headrest of your car when you seat yourself in your car and against the pillow when you lie on your back at night. This will make it easier for your neck to maintain its natural length during the day.

DD: Can you really get a "Brazilian butt" from walking correctly?

EG: Butt of course! If you learn to squeeze your glutes with every step you take, you are getting far more reps than you could possibly get from going to a gym. Walking well, I call it glidewalking, is a tremendous opportunity for toning your butt. The Brazilians do it naturally and you can learn this as well! Be sure you are engaging not just the gluteus maximus, but also the gluteus medius - that’s the buttock muscle that keeps the butt perky no matter what your age. Here’s to your newly toned and perky "bunda" (Brazilian word for butt)!

DD: Can walking correctly help correct a protruding stomach?

EG: Yes, and so can sitting and standing correctly. There are two things to learn here:

1. Anteverting or tipping the pelvis forward. Contrary to popular belief, the human pelvis is meant to be tipped forward (with the "tail" pointing behind). This gives room for the pelvic organs and also the belly skin, muscles, and fat. When people tuck their pelvis, either out of habit or because they are taught to, they compress their organs and make their belly "pooch" out. This is not healthy or especially attractive. I believe that this single postural distortion is responsible for more health problems in our society than any other.

2. Periodically engaging the "inner corset" to make for a slenderer, taller and better protected spine. When your spine is under stress (example, carrying a weight, running, twisting, etc.) it is natural and highly desirable to engage your deeper abdominal muscles to protect your spinal discs, nerves and vertebrae. As a byproduct, you also get a toned abdomen and svelte physique. A free download of the "Inner Corset" chapter from my book is available on the home page at egwellness.com

DD: Can chronic foot pain be avoided or alleviated by a change in stride?

EG: It’s very unfortunate that podiatrists rarely check or teach stance or gait. It is common sense that how you stand and walk is highly relevant to foot problems. Another common misconception is that you are stuck with the shape of the foot you have. Actually, you can do a lot to change your feet.

Here are some important aspects of gait that can help your feet;

1. Landing softly (by squeezing your rear buttock so your front heel and foot joints are not getting jolted with every step.)

2. Using the muscles on the underside of your foot to preserve the convex shape of your foot as you use it help push off. You don’t want your back foot to bend backwards too much as that puts a lot of strain on the ball of the foot (including the area where bunions form) and the plantar fascia. You want to engage your foot muscles at push off so you are propelling off the heel and then the big toe instead of the ball of the foot. I tell my students to walk across a floor the way a lizard climbs a wall. Students of our six-session Gokhale Method Foundations course report resolving their bunions, plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, sesamoid bone pain, and various other foot problems.

For more information: http://egwellness.com/

Sally Bee suffered three heart attacks in one week when she was only in her thirties. She had no family history of heart problems and was young, fit, and healthy. It took her six years to regain her health. Sally knew that she had to find a better way to eat. She believes that family meals can and should be healthful and tasty. For Sally meals are also a special family time. That is the basis of her refreshing and enjoyable book, The Secret Ingredient.

Her recipes are as advertised: simple, delicious, and healthful. Be inspired by Sally Bee in this special interview.

DD: How old were you when you suffered your first heart attack and how did it affect your life?

SB: I was 36 when I suffered my heart attacks. I had three in one week. My children at the time were aged four, two, and nine months, so it had a massive effect on my life. I couldn’t look after my children alone for a long time, I was afraid of everything - laughing, crying, loving - and I was constantly worried that it would happen again, and that I wouldn’t see my children grow up.

DD: Do the doctors know why you had three heart attacks?

SB: It turns out that I suffered from a very rare heart condition called SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection). This was going to happen to me at some point. I was very lucky it didn’t happen when I had any of my three babies. Had I known that I had this condition, I wouldn’t have been able to have any children. So I didn’t suffer my heart attacks because I had an unhealthy lifestyle, but I survived then because I had a very healthy lifestyle.

DD: How did you regain your health?

SB: It took me a long time. About two years to feel physically better but probably about four years to get my full emotional strength back. So it was a long slow progress. Food played a massive part in regaining my health. I quickly realised that if I ate, say a cheese sandwich for lunch, I would feel so very tired and need to sleep for maybe three hours. Yet, if I ate some fruit or vegetables and a little chicken or fish - a meal with lots of nutrition - I had a little more energy to do what I needed to do. My body was like a touch pad for healthy and unhealthy food. I also started to exercise, but this doesn’t mean I went to the gym. I was suffering heart failure so I had very little ‘power’. But I would go for a walk. At first I could only manage two minutes out of my gate then back again, but baby step by baby step I built up my strength and now - almost six years on - I can cycle for six miles, walk for a good hour every day, and swim regularly.

DD: Do you feel the type of diet you advocate is good for the whole family?

SB: Totally! My recipes are all really easy to make, healthy, affordable, and enticing for the whole family. I never cook one meal for myself and my husband and another meal for the children. We all eat the same food. If I make a curry for the whole family, I will make it a little milder, but we all still sit together and enjoy it.

DD: Can healthful foods be tasty?

SB: In my opinion healthy foods are the tastiest! The problem is that people who eat too much processed food that is high in fat and salt content don’t taste food properly. The taste buds become desensitized to flavours and eventually all they crave is the salt. But if you can cut down on this type of food, you can begin to taste the real flavours of the fresh food. Delicious!

DD: Is healthful a lot of work to make?

SB: No, healthy food is not a lot of work to make. I would say you need to plan a little more than eating ready-made convenience food, but that is it. The healthiest snack is an apple or a banana. And healthy meals can be prepared in minutes - all my recipes are very quick and simple. I’m not a chef but a ‘home cook’, and if I can these dishes, anyone can.

DD: What is your favourite treat?

SB: I adore dark, minty chocolate - and that is allowed. I believe that as long as your meals offer you nutrition and you do a little exercise such as walking every day, a little bit of what you fancy is a good thing!

Latonya Saunderson is the face, founder, and owner of The Weave Shop, a chain that caters to the growing popularity of weaves. Women like Tyra Banks and Bethenny Frankel are talking about their weaves. A weave can refer to a sew-in weave like the ones offered at The Weave Shop, or the clip-in extensions Bethenny wore for her PETA photo shoot. Whatever we are talking about, women love their weaves! Our own Anne Gravel, who has piles of her own long blond hair, has tried a few types of add-ons for fun. Anne feels you can never be too glam to have too much hair!

Latonya explains all you need to know to get your weave on. She also shares valuable tips with future entrepreneurs. Don’t miss a word of this informative interview.

DD: For those who don’t know, what is a weave?
LS: A weave is the process by which hair extensions are added onto one’s own hair –or the completed effect –a weave.

DD: Who gets a weave and why?
LS: Weaves are used by nationalities everywhere. There are various reasons why weave is worn which include, but are not limited to convenience, hair length, fullness, and versatility. Some individuals also prefer to wear a weave to give their own hair a break from overexposure of heat to the hair.

DD: Does a weave ruin your own hair?
LS: Weaves can cause hair damage if they are put in incorrectly. In my experience the healthiest way to promote hair growth while wearing a weave is to braid the hair and sew the weave track to the braid. A weave can ruin the hair if the wrong techniques are used, such as fusions. I do not recommend fusions for African-American hair.

DD Can a weave help with camouflage hair loss?
LS: A weave can help camouflage hair loss. Of course, each situation is different and would have to be determined by the stylist. The platinum weave we offer is ideal for thinning hair. The technique that’s used is to place a net cap on the clients scalp and the extensions are then attached to the net, as opposed to directly onto the scalp.

DD: What type of hair is used for a weave? Where does it come from?
LS: Clients prefer to wear various types of hair. I recommend 100 percent human hair. Virgin Indian remy and Malaysian hair is a higher grade of hair. It can last up to at least two years, if taken care of properly. It is more expensive, but it lasts much longer. The Weave Shop sells virgin Indian hair. Hair for weaves is primarily manufactured in China and India.

DD: How long does a weave last? How long does it take to do?
LS: A sew-in weave could last anywhere from 6-12 weeks, depending on how it’s cared for. On average it takes two hours to complete a sew-in weave.

DD: You are so young, how did you get started in this business?
LS: I worked in a hair salon primarily doing weaves some time ago. I fell in love with the concept. One of my mentors encouraged me to open my own shop. I took the leap of faith and opened one. My first salon was very small, only 400 square feet in a nearby office park. I saved up enough money to invest in a billboard to further market the services we offer, and customers have been overflowing ever since.

DD: Why did you decide to franchise, The Weave Shop?
LS: I decided to franchise The Weave Shop because people would periodically comment on how unique the concept was, and loved how our salons were designed. Once our Facebook fan page was created, we would receive comments from individuals all across the United States inquiring about when we were going to open salons in their cities. So, my business partners and I thought it was a great business decision.

DD: How many Weave Shops do you have and what is the concept?
LS: There are three locations in Georgia, three in Michigan and two in New Jersey. The concept is quite simple. The Weave Shop is an express weave salon that offers sew-in weaves starting at $50. The charge is normally a $200 minimum. We offer our client’s quality services at the most affordable rates.

DD: What advice do you have for other young women entrepreneurs?
LS: I have always put God first to help lead me. My additional advice to young entrepreneurs is to do their research and homework on whatever business they decide to start. It is extremely important to put a proper business plan together. They cannot be afraid to do the hard work and must put their emotions to the side. Last but not least, never mix business with pleasure.

www.theweaveshop.com

Lindsay Phillips is the creative force behind Switch Flops, the popular line of patented accesorizible flip-flops. She recently added Liz Ballet Flats to her line. These chic comfy flats are named for her business partner who is also her mother. They can also be decorated with snap-on accessories, allowing women to change their look on a whim. This also allows savvy fashionistas to buy and pack fewer shoes, making Liz flats the newest chic must-have accessory to stretch your fashion budget. If you love shoes and fashion, don’t miss a word of our interview with the newest diva of sole. Lindsay has also expanded her line to include colourful scarves and totes. All of her accessories are versatile. They are perfect for summer fun.

DD: What inspired you to design Liz Ballet Flats?

LP: Growing up in sunny warm Florida, flip-flops are a must. When I started traveling a lot for work, I realized I could not wear flip-flops in the north during the winter. I found myself wearing a ton of ballet flats and that’s when I came up with the idea of making an interchangeable ballet flat.

DD: What are the flats made of? Are they durable and easy to care for?

LP: The flats are made out of napa leather! They are super comfortable, very durable and easy to care for. Once you put our flats on you won’t be able to take them off. I am addicted to them.

DD: How many different looks are possible with one pair of flats and different accessories?

LP: We have 45 different fashion snaps. So with one shoe you can have 45 different looks within seconds. It gets even better, as in spring we are introducing our new Jordi flop with this snap system as well. Now you can use your snaps not only on the ballet flat but on the flops as well.

DD: How do you change the accessories and how long does it take?

LP: The ballet flats have an interchangeable patented snap system. It is a very simple concept. You can literally snap and unsnap the adornments on and off! Within seconds you have a new look.

DD: What is your favourite pair of flats for day - and what do you usually pair them with?

LP: This is a hard question! I change my snaps on the flats all the time. During daytime, I love wearing the black Liz flat with a snap. I wear the flats with almost everything from jeans to dresses.

DD: What is your favourite evening look featuring your ballet flats?

LP: For a dressier look, I am all about metallic. I love wearing the gold ballet flats with a button. The snap adds a little bit of bling for a perfect night out.

DD: Have you worn them at a resort, at the beach, or on a cruise? Can you share a favourite travel-fashion story?

LP: When I was in the Bahamas the weather was a bit chilly, so the ballet flats were perfect to wear around the island. I brought a pair of black flats and three snaps which game me three totally different looks. Bringing only one shoe always seems to make my husband happy because that means my bags will be lighter.

For more on Lindsay Phillips and her products www.switchflops.com

The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek is a romantic comedy of manners in the finest tradition. Half-sisters Cassie and Pecksland (Peck for short) convene in Southampton in July, 2008. They have been summoned to the ramshackle home of their deceased Aunt Lydia. She has willed her home, the dilapidated and forebodingly-named Fool’s House (after a Jasper Johns painting), to the girls in equal shares. Now they must put aside their differences - which include their mothers, their temperaments, and their taste in men - and decide what to do with Fool’s House. The two sisters spend the summer trying to understand their aunt’s puzzling instructions to “seek a thing of utmost value” from within the house. Both young women have romantic entanglements with men from their pasts.

This frothy and delightful page-turner is reminiscent of the classic novel of American romance, aspiration, and style, The Great Gatsby. If you have a penchant for romance, Gatsby, or the Hamptons, you won’t want to miss a word of our exclusive interview with the author, Danielle Ganek.

DD: I was immediately intrigued by the title; I have always loved The Great Gatsby.

LG: I find may romantics do.

DD: Does novel The Great Gatsby hold special meaning for you?

LG: Well, it is such a wonderfully-crafted novel - and I have great admiration for the writing. I’ve always been fascinated by how this book has endured for so long and also by how most people bring their own experiences to their reading of it, whether interpreting it as a great romance or as a tragedy, or a satire. There is such a fascination with this book. Like Cassie, my narrator, I devoured these sorts of “great American novels” from the vantage point of an American growing up abroad and yearning to know more about my country.

DD: You had a running joke in the book about who had actually read Gatsby and who had not. This amused me. How did you come up with this? Do you find that some people claim to have read your book or other books when they obviously haven’t?

LG: I was struck by how often people reference Gatsby and then don’t seem to recall much about it, almost as though they had internalized some elements of it but either hadn’t read it, or read it so long ago they didn’t remember that Gatsby actually dies at the end. I didn’t have anyone claim to have read my book - in fact, I found that people often went out of their way to point this out to me! But I do think there are certain books one is expected to have read, and people sometimes fudge the details.

DD: You set the book in the Hamptons; do you find the Hamptons themselves have a retro-romantic feel? Do the Hamptons hold special meaning for you?

LG: I was always intrigued by the artistic legacy of this area, and by the way the beautiful landscape and the light drew painters and artists and writers too. It’s overlaid by the stories of these artists, William Merritt Chase, Jackson Pollock, Willem DeKooning, who came there before us.

DD: The two sisters in the book Peck and Cassie are opposites. Do you feel most sisters are complete opposites?

LG: Not necessarily, but I do think the sibling relationship is fascinating, especially when two people who would seem to have absolutely nothing in common are related by blood. I have two sisters (I’m the oldest) and the three of us could not be more different in every single way, including our looks, although we all came from the same gene pool.

DD: As in Jane Austen’s novels, your characters spend most of the novel at odds or fencing with the one they are attracted to. Are you a fan of this type of novel?

LG: I’m a huge Jane Austen fan. And don’t we always enjoy love stories where the two characters don’t even realize at first how strong their attraction is? My husband and I are a classic case of opposites attracting, so perhaps I find this to be a common path to falling in love.

DD: There is a character in the book who is described as an artist in residence. How did you come up with this idea? It seems very extravagant in this day and age.

LG: I’ve always been intrigued by the very idea of an artist-in-residence, such as at a university. Doesn’t that sound like a plum job? I could see a character like Lydia taking that notion a few steps further, by providing housing for a young artistic person, just to be around that creative energy. She didn’t pay them, so I’m not sure how extravagant it really was, since she already had the space above her garage to give them. But it was the way she would have thought, that the power of art is so strong I would like simply to be near it, if I can’t make it myself.

DD: Your book deals with themes of class, money and old money. How did you decide to handle these themes from observing them, or did you research them?

LG: Aspiration is very much part of the American Dream, and I was most interested in how this would be perceived by a young American character who had never spent much time in the United States. I did do some research as it pertained to Fitzgerald’s writing and the time period he was capturing, but a lot of what is in the novel in terms of more recent history comes from my own observations.