Blog Posts by Diva Toolbox

Camille Gaines

As much as we want to grow our money, we all want to be surrounded with things we love, both in our homes, as well as in our closets. It may seem as though this principle could interfere with the important step of creating positive cash flow in order to save money. However, by shifting your mindset to one of "savvy smart spending", you'll gain the ability to live a life filled with those things you cherish, while also using your money wisely.

Recently a panel of three very impressive IBM executives presented at the Texas State Applied Entrepreneurship program in which I am participating. Each woman was impeccably dressed, something you don't often see in the casual environment of Austin. The topic of image came into the discussion; all three of these women emphasized the importance of dressing in a way that projects confidence. .

Heading out the door in the morning dressed in clothes that express your personal style is a pure reflection of your image. Your image is something

Audra Fordin

Recalls are rampant. As a shop owner, I get daily email updates about recalls and they are starting to fill up my inbox. For many of us, purchasing a car is one of the most expensive decisions we will make in our entire lives-shouldn't it be worth it?

At least we know that under federal law, auto dealers cannot sell vehicles that have been recalled, but did you know that this restriction does not extend to rental cars? Whenever you rent a car, you could be driving around in one that has been recalled.

A recall is a serious thing-they are issued when there is a problem that compromises the safety of a vehicle's occupants. We are not talking about broken radios or chipping paint. We are talking about defects that can cause vehicle fires, compromised airbags, sticking gas pedals, and breaking wheels; things that, if not fixed, can seriously injure and even kill someone.

Last week, U.S. Senator Charles Shumer proposed the Safe Rental Car Act, which would make it illegal

How does your garden grow?" The refrain from the old nursery rhyme strikes a chord in my head.

In more than half a century on Earth, I have finally learned to keep my priorities straight. Sometimes. I don't want to break my arm patting myself on the back here. But I do recognize when I need to put family and home ahead of other things.

This weekend, I had a number of things to do that had nothing to do with writing or working. If you have ever worked from home, you know how hard it is to separate the two. Even when you are not working, you are working. The piles of sticky notes with reminders are calling to me as I settle down in front of the TV to watch "Bar Rescue" with my hubby. Even as the dogs are nudging my hands, begging to be loved, my mind is telekinetically moving those sticky notes into a never-ending order of priority.

Sometimes, it just has to stop. And this weekend was that time.

A dinner party for a beloved friend's birthday. Sunday brunch with my

Cheri Valentine

You think you know your type. In fact, you are sure of it. You have actually dated them, perhaps even married them - more than once on both counts. So, let me ask you, if you know your type so well, why are you still looking for Mr. Right?

Get over your type and open your mind, your feelings, and your experiences to seeing who may be right for you. If knowing your type were working so well, you would not be looking. With that harsh realty acknowledged and accepted, are you ready to move on?

Of course, there is the other side of the coin. He's NOT my type. As well as you think you know your type, you also think you know who is not your type. This is as a big a problem in my opinion as knowing who your type is.'

Let me share this with you. If I had continued to judge potential dates by types, I would not now be married to the most amazing man and someone who is so perfect for me. I had started to date all kinds of men and learned how interesting, funny, intelligent, caring

Meredith Liepelt

When big brands want to create a bigger footprint, impact or enter a new market, one of the things they do is attach themselves to a bigger brand. It's called a strategic brand alliance. And you can do the same thing.

Case in point: Think about Madonna back in the day. Remember back in the 80s when her star was on the rise? She was a household name and enjoyed plenty of fame, fortune and money. But she really wanted a movie career. So what's a huge music star to do? How about marry a big movie star like Sean Penn? While she may or may not have consciously sought-out a movie star, it certainly couldn't hurt, right?

In other words, Madonna aligned herself with a brand in the industry she wanted to be a part of. She started hanging out with the movers and shakers in that industry and networking there. (Yes, even movie stars network!)

I realize this example is a bit outrageous. And I'm not suggesting that you drop your significant other to seek out someone else for the

Dr. Dena Churchill

We all know divorce can be extremely time-consuming, very expensive, and mentally and physically exhausting. But divorce can also be an amazing source of motivation, an initiator for growth and a transition to a place of greater awareness. And sometimes this transition has to be expedited with the aid of mediators or lawyers.

Transitioning with the help of a mediator is a less expensive alternative that can save time, money and exhaustive stress. Mediation is the path of least resistance in which you and your partner can sit with a neutral negotiator to develop a practical and mutually agreeable resolution for yourdivide. With a mediator, an agreement can be made and divorce papers drawn up and processed for under $100. Many states will require a lawyer to sign off on the papers though.

If no resolution is met through the mediation process, the next door to open is to the legal office. Here are a few recommendations:

Seek legal counsel early Understanding your legal

Nancy Daniels

Absolutely Not! I recently read a quip from a man on a public speaking social media website who is working with a voice coach. He said that "her normal talking voice in a one on one situation is massively different to her 'performance' speaking voice."

When I coach my clients, I explain that their real voice is one powered by means of the chest cavity and has more depth and resonance than their habitual voice; however, I do not tell them that it is a 'performance' voice to be used only on stage. Whether I am teaching, talking to my family, giving a presentation, or being interviewed for radio or TV, I sound the same.

Performance is a very loose term and can certainly refer to the delivery of a speech or presentation; however, it is not common to hear. After listening to the dynamic delivery of a message, we would rather say how good the presentation or the presenter and not how good the performance. On the other hand, we would most certainly would use the word performance

Ginger Burr

It's summer and T-shirts reign. Everywhere you look there is a sea of crewneck, shapeless, dreary-colored T-shirts. How did they get to be a staple in so many people's wardrobes? I keep hoping I'll wake up and realize it was all a bad dream but no such luck!

So, what is the origin of the T-shirt? I found this at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shirt):

"The T-shirt evolved from undergarments used in the 19th century, through cutting the one-piece "union suit" underwear into separate top and bottom garments, with the top long enough to tuck under the waistband of the bottoms. T-shirts, with and without buttons, were adopted by miners and stevedores during the late 1800s as a convenient covering for hot environments.

"T-shirts, as a slip on garment without buttons, originally became popular in the United States when they were issued by the U.S. Navy during or following the Spanish American War. These were a crew-necked, short-sleeved, white cotton undershirt to be worn