What Women Want Anniversary

This Saturday, Nikki Beach celebrated the 1st year anniversary of their signature fashion event What Women Want. According to Nikki Beach, what we want is a day of pampering and glamour, and that is exactly what they aimed for.
The event was hosted by the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders who modeled the swimwear designs of KEVA by Keva J. The guests were able to enjoy many beauty treatments, including mini-manicures by OPI, airbrushing, and eyebrow trimming. The planners at Nikki Beach were smart to know that wherever there is a group of ladies, there should also be dessert. This year they by offered complementary cupcakes, which were very much accepted by the crowd.

Miami Beach has been invaded by enormous pink snails

Beginning November 18,  and through January 3rd , 45 pink snails are the newest decoration to Miami Beach. The snails are part of a project led by Cracking Art Group, and italian Galleria Ca' de Oro. The project is called REgeneration and it strives to create awareness of the positive  impact recycling has on the environment. They leave their trace around the world by placing large colored animals in the most unexpected places. In this occasion the snail was chosen as a symbol of nature, and made out of recycled plastic. This year it was Miami's turn to join Paris, Milan, and Prague, among many in their quest for a cleaner environment.


For more information, visit http://www.pinksnails.com/.

Carol Rosenberg

In January 11, 2002 20 prisoners were taken to the Guantanamo base under the definition of "fanatical, suicidal, enemies of America."
2o reporters were also invited to capture the scene. Among them, was the Miami Herald correspondent Carol Rosenberg.
Rosenberg made Guantanamo her beat.
According to Rosenberg, Guantanamo is not exactly a reporter's dream environment. " You function under their rules."
However, she mentions " If nobody covers it, nobody is watching."
Her initial story was the evolution of the prison. After, she covered the trials. The course of her trial stories led her into doing investigative pieces. She says, the media's access is limited and sometimes it is hard to find clarity. " In Guantanamo even the terrorist gets to be a censor," said Rosenberg.

Facebook as an aid in making miracles happen

Luna Miracle is a one-year-old female Dachshund mix that was saved from death row by an organization called Dachshund Rescue of South Florida.
DRSF is a non-profit organization that helps rescue dachshunds that have been surrendered to a shelter or left to wander in the streets.
The organization's latest achievement is the rescue of Luna Miracle who was rescued from a shelter and is slowly being cured from demodex, but is in need of finding a new home.
DRSF has taken advantage of the instant communication achieved via Facebook to share Luna's story with the world. They provide health status, photos, and updates about her condition in the hopes of finding her a happy home.


For more information about DRSF's work visit http://dachshundrescuesouthflorida.com.

(picture taken with DRSF's permission from Luna's profile)

Detox diets are they good or bad

Have you ever felt like you ate a little bit too much and need a little digestive cleansing to feel like new?
This cleansing is often referred to as a detox diet and consists of minimal caloric intake, fasting, and liquid meals.
Although detox diets are highly popular among celebrities and their followers alike Women's Health Magazine calls them "a recipe for danger" for various reasons.


1. Detox supplements are not regulated by the FDA and can contain diuretics that flush your body of crucial nutrients


2. Your body goes believes it is starving and goes into panic. This slows down metabolism to preserve muscle.


3. You are losing water weight or muscle, not fat!


The magazine, also created an easy to follow eating plan that acts like a detox without depriving you of food and necessary nutrients.

Bake it or break it: the case against indoor tanning.

Indoor tanning is perhaps your skin's biggest nightmare according to this article from the Skin Cancer Foundation.  However, the $ 2 billion-a-year tanning industry doesn't seem to think so.

The argument proposed by the SCF is that the UV radiation from indoor tanning causes genetic damage to skin cells and increases the risk of melanoma.

The defense from its counterpart is that since indoor tanning is controlled it actually protects the skin against melanoma by building a protective layer of pigment melanin.

So who do we believe? 

The SCF, the tanning salons, or Barack Obama's administration?
This year tanning salons received a a 10% tax increase services as a result of a health care bill signed by President Obama. The reasoning behind the law is the alarming numbers of a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma among those who like to fake bake.


I the mist of a tug of war in this issue I am curious to see your opinions.

Do you think using tanning beds can lead to skin cancer

	I do
	I don't
	I don't care
	Not as long as it is not used often

Show results

Votes so far: 0

Days left to vote: 6

A Sorority with a cause

After her father passed away in 2004 from myeloma, Denise Vidot and her sorority sisters  founded University of Miami's Student Myeloma Advocacy Coalition in 2007.

Vidot wanted to help students at UM and other campuses arrange Walk for Myeloma events to help raise awareness and promote research for the disease. 

The UM annual walk takes place during the second Sunday of October around Lake Osceola. The walk that started with 50 supporters now gathers a crowd of 200. This year Vidot hopes to raise at least $ 25,000.

"Myeloma is an incurable and often misdiagnosed cancer that affects the bone," said Vidot. She became determined to spread awareness after her father was diagnosed and many physicians were not familiar with the disease.

The first walk was memorable for Vidot, as she was approached by a UM professor who thought he was the only one in the area with this type of cancer. 

" We were able to help him find support groups and resources. This year is the sixth walk and he is still with us and plans to be in attendance!" 

"To people like us, this annual walk is a celebration of life."

(authorized photo from http://www.Walk4Myeloma.org/)

Date: October 10, 2010
Check in time: 9:00 a.m.
Walk: 10 a.m
Cost: $ 20 per person for individual walkers before 10/5/10
           $ 15 per person for a team of 10 before 10/5/10
           $ 10 per person for a group of 20 before 10/5/10
           $ 25 per person at the day of registration.


For more information visit http://www.Walk4Myeloma.org/ 

Ice cream's biggest nightmare

Or so I thought!

I have noticed an increase in the number of frozen yogurt shops near my neighborhood in Kendall. 


This is like a breath of fresh air for those who are struggling to be health conscious but can't put the ice cream carton down.

Fewer calories, low fat and healthy probiotics are just a few of the benefits of frozen yogurt as advertised by the different providers.

That sounds like a dieter's dream. But is it? Or are we being misled by the frozen yogurt industry?

According to this article from Shape magazine we might just be.

In the article, Karen Borsari points out that frozen yogurt can still be considered a healthier option than ice cream, but that it should be enjoyed with moderation. The so called "guilt free" snack packs around 30 grams of sugar, and depending on the size can add up as much as 380 calories to your meal. Another interesting point is that we tend to downsize the benefits of yogurt by adding the extra "not so healthy" toppings offered in let's say My Yogurt Bliss (A favorite joint of University of Miami Students).

In the quest to find the healthiest possible frozen yogurt around  I came across Fruigurt. Fruigurt is located in the most unlikely place: inside of Dadeland Mall's Macy's store.

As for the nutritional value, see for yourselves!

The toppings consist mostly of fruits, and to my surprise the yogurt tasted like yogurt, not an overly sugared imitation of ice cream.

What are you doing for lunch?

Lunch time, for UM students, is a brief moment of relaxation.
But what if lunch was more than just a sit, chat and eat time? What if it was like your own private concert?
That is the idea behind Patio Jams!
Great local bands playing live every Thursday from 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the UC Patio. 
Patio Jams was created by Hurricane Productions. UM's student-run entertainment organization. 
This year the entertainment board's executive member and Patio Jams chair is Erika Hutcheson.
"For me, patio jams is that break I need after a long week... that puts me in great mood by reminding me that it's THURSDAY! And I'm outside enjoying the sunshine, live music, and friends... the perfect way to kick off any weekend. So whether you have 15 minutes in between classes or can stay for the whole show, stop by; it's free for everyone to enjoy," said Hutchenson who encouraged students not only to attend, but also to become part of HP.


A tentative line up for this Fall's featured artists can be seen here.
Also, make sure to check out their Facebook page.

For more information or an opportunity to showcase your talent e-mail e.hutcheson@umiami.edu.