Author Archives: Ilene

Oh, Avocado!

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Now that we have gotten to know each other, I have a confession to make.  I have not been faithful.   I have cheated repeatedly and shamelessly on my first love, kale, with the divine, delectable Avocado. The avocado is more than a paramour that seduced me on a lustful whim.   What we have is something much deeper and more meaningful.  My love for kale is sincere, and is based upon respect for its abundant amounts of of beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, and calcium.  However, my relationship with the avocado is not only fueled by its generous supply of vitamins and nutrients that … Continue reading →

The Drama Queen Diva

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 She stages a grand entrance at the elementary school pick up, slamming her car door and stomping her way through the cluster of moms chatting quietly. You avert your eyes  and pretend to type on your phone, but this does not stop the Drama Queen Diva from making a bee line to where you are standing. Today she rants about the PTO moms who left her out of the yearbook meeting, even though she's on the committee, her vacuum breaking, and the audacity of her mother-in-law to suggest that she stop giving her son Cheez-Its for breakfast.  There is a … Continue reading →

Sexy and I Know It

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It is not only your right as a Fierce Diva to be sexy,  it is your responsibility.  But before you throw on a push up bra and false eyelashes for your next trip to the grocery store, perhaps we should discuss the Fierce Diva definition of sexy.    First, I'll explain what sexy is not.  Starving yourself or "pounding" on an exercise machine to squeeze into a certain dress size is not sexy. The pursuit of "Manufactured Pretty"  to win the attention of a man is not sexy.  The props of "Manufactured Pretty" may include but are not limited to … Continue reading →

The Fierce Diva Guide to Gift Giving

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I would not be serving my purpose if I did not remind you on a regular basis that a Fierce Diva never spends  beyond her means.   Many Divas I know can budget for themselves yet they get into trouble when buying gifts for other people.  For those of you whose finances fly out of balance at Christmas time or to buy wedding or birthday presents, remember this: Fierce Divas do not have to give expensive gifts  - especially expensive gifts that they cannot afford – to express love, admiration, friendship, gratitude,  or congratulations.  The monetary value of a gift is … Continue reading →

When Diva Gets Dumped

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When Diva Gets Dumped: An Original Play in One Act, by The Fierce Diva  SCENE ONE (Distraught DIVA, an attractive young woman in casual attire,sits across from DUDE, at a small table in a crowded restaurant. Both have barely touched plates of food in front of them.Dude's body is slightly turned away from Diva. His arms are crossed.) DIVA (Sobbing into a tissue) It's me, isn't it?  What did I do?  DUDE I told you.  You didn't do anything.  DIVA Am I too clingy?  I'm too clingy, aren't I?  DUDE You're not too clingy.  DIVA I'm too independent.   You don't feel needed. … Continue reading →

Diva on the Cheap

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If you read my Fierce Finances post, you already know that Fierce Divas never spend beyond their means.  They don't overspend to make themselves or others happy, because they understand that happiness is not dependent upon our external circumstances.  Fierce Divas especially don't overspend to keep up with the Diva Next Door, because they don't have a need to keep up appearances.  Remember, Divas, appearances are illusions.  Despite her 3-carat diamond ring and perfectly landscaped yard, the Diva Next Door isn't happy.  If she was, she wouldn't be flirting with your husband or posting unflattering pictures of you on Facebook! … Continue reading →

The Diva Next Door

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We all know her.   The neighbor who makes comments like, "I see you're not pruning those bushes as much as you used to."   The PTO mom who tags the most unflattering Facebook picture of you from the school gift auction.  The "frenemy" who flirts with your husband.  The co-worker who takes credit for your idea.   She's the Diva Next Door. Let's not confuse the Diva Next Door with the Girl Next Door, that kind, wholesomely pretty, all-American archetype.    The Diva Next Door is that woman or (women) in your life whose mission is to undermine you, or at least that's … Continue reading →

The Fierce Diva Diet

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There are many diet and nutrition experts out there who claim they know the "right" way to eat. However, the bottom line on maintaining a healthy diet is this:  Fierce Divas don't eat crap. A description of crap is as follows:   Foods that have ingredients you cannot pronounce – which are most likely additives, preservatives, or flavorings  - are crap.  Friendly advice between us Divas:  just because an additive or preservative is "FDA approved," doesn't mean it's safe.   Remember the FDA approved diet drug Fen-Phen that gave its users permanent heart valve damage?  Enough said. Foods that have 5 … Continue reading →

Finding Your G(ratitude)-Spot

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Every Diva deserves to find her G-Spot.  You know, that very special place in her mind devoted to gratitude.   Yet, to some Divas, discovering their G-Spots can be trickier than locating that other G-spot.  But in both cases, persistence pays off.  Here's the secret to finding your G-Spot that most people don't understand.   Gratitude is not the result of life bringing us boundless luck and good fortune.  It is an attitude we have to cultivate regardless of what life hands us.  In an earlier post of mine entitled Fierce Finances,  I made the following  statement: Happiness is not dependent upon … Continue reading →

Fierce Fitness

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It is of the utmost importance that a Diva maintains a regimen of physical activity. Notice, Divas, I did not say "exercise regimen."   There's a difference. Exercise, to me, means going to the gym, and pounding on some machine for an hour to "burn off the calories" you ate at lunch.  My guess is that you spend that hour eagerly waiting for it to end, while you zone out to your iPod or the flat screen TV that hangs over the "cardio room."  Remember, Divas, I've come into your life because I want you to live the life you love.  … Continue reading →