Team CrackBerry: iPhones under Hacker Attack

Beware iPhone urbanistas! Infamous hacker Charlie Miller plans to expose a security glitch TODAY by hacking several iPhones. Miller claims Apple has ignored his warnings about the problem when he first contacted them six weeks ago. So to prove his point he's unleashing a text attack today. If you receive a text message of a square you are to power off immediately & DO NOT RESPOND! If you fall for the okey doke hackers will be able to control every feature of your phone including the ability to make calls, send text messages & access all stored info. Proceed with caution. You've been warned! For more info CLICK HERE. As for me, I'll stick w/ my bi-polar CrackBerry that ironically is at the center of conflict in of my life today. Happy sexting! ;-)

Ready for Your Close-up? "Sex & the City 2" Open Casting Call

For you urbanistas looking for your 15 mins/secs of fame our FAVE fashionistas are back & looking for some fab recruits for the SATC sequel. Peep the casting notice below. Hey, as my 4th grade teacher Ms. Walker used to always say, "you never know what you can do until you try!" Go ahead & put yourself out there! If I wasn't chained to my desk I'd be there:

Open casting call for union/non-union background performers for “Sex and The City 2″ to play international types (middle eastern, arabic, asian, european, british), professional soccer players, fashion models, urban club goers, gays and lesbians, celebrity types, upscale socialites.

Open casting call:

Date:
August 4, 2009
SAG: 10am-12:30pm
Non-union: 1:30pm-4:00pm

Address:
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W 18th St.
New York, NY 10011

PROJECT: “SEX AND THE CITY 2”

CASTING CALL CATEGORY: FEATURE FILM EXTRAS

LOCATION: NEW YORK, NY

CONTACT: 125 W 18TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10011

SOURCE

The Perils of Skinny Jeans

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Greetings urbanistas! Ok we've all been there - to get into the hautest pair of skinny jeans we'll do anything from hopping around our house, to laying on the bed while we shimmy around like a fish out of water, to enlisting help from a friend/boyfriend/whoever is around at the time. The vid above is a must-see for all self-proclaimed fashionistas. The TODAY SHOW exposed some of the very serious downsides to this fashion trend.

If you're having problems viewing the vid CLICK HERE.

5 Signs that You're Trying to Keep Up w/ the Hiltons (aka Living Beyond Your Means)

If we've learned anything from this economic crisis it's that a good majority of us have been overspending & not saving how we should. Research shows that in 2006 the U.S. savings average hit negative digits, which hadn't happened since the Great Depression! We all need a reality check. Yes urbanistas, it's true that we love fabulosity, but if we send ourselves to the poor house trying to achieve it then what's the point. Please take heed to the following signs of living beyond your means. If you fall prey to any of the following red flags consider this your friendly wake-up call:

Sign No. 1 - Your Credit Score is Below 600

Solutions:
* Pay down debt
* Satisfy any outstanding judgments
* Apply for and use fewer credit cards

Sign No. 2 - You are Saving Less Than 5%

Solution: Save 10% of each paycheck

Sign No. 3 - Your Credit Card Balances are Rising

Solution: Urban Heiress Commandment #3 --- USE CASH ONLY! If you never charge it then you'll never have a credit card bill for it. And if you don't have the cash to buy it then guess what...you can't afford. Pretty simple, right? But we all fall short of grace regarding this one (myself included).

Sign No. 4 - More Than 28% of Income Goes to Your House

Solution: MOVE!!! It might seem unfathomable at first BUT you'll thank yourself when you can sleep peacefully w/o worrying if your rent/mortgage check is going to bounce all over town.

Sign No. 5 - Your Bills are Spiraling Out of Control

Solution: Step #2 in the "Urban Addict Recovery Program" --- Trim the Fat! Eliminate ANYTHING that is not absolutely essential for you to live...e.g. Contrary to popular belief, cable TV is NOT a necessity for life! Read a book...it'll last you longer ;-)

I don't want you to end up like this guy:



SOURCE

Jilted Bride Kesha Nichols Takes a Lemon & Makes Lemonade

We all heard about NBA baller Richard Jefferson calling off his upcoming nuptials via e-mail. Now his ex-fiance has emerged from the nightmare by speaking with Diane Sawyer this AM in this interview. We can all learn a thing or two from her poise & positive attitude. You go girl!

Jimmy Choo + H&M = Fashion Coup

I heard about this during my brief "world tour" but forgot to report it then, but better late than never. A-list brand, JIMMY CHOO is teaming up with your fave "affordable chic" retailer H&M this fall to bring customers a limited-edition collection of "to die for" shoes and bags in select H&M stores. This fashion coup will commence November 14th in nearly 200 stores across the world. According to the official press release, "It is the first time that H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand, and to celebrate Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision for this collection to women’s clothing to complement the accessories." Additionally, there will be a men's collections of shoes, bags & accessories. For more, CLICK HERE.

Jazzy to the "Tee"

This month's issue of LUCKY MAG offers 3 helpful tips for staying jazzy to the tee:

1. A cheap way to dye a tee - Drop a handful of walnut shells in a pot of boiling water, then add your fave white tee. Let the combo soak for an hour & the outcome will be a trendy tea-stain effect tee.

2. To make a new tee feel more worn-in and less starchy, put the tee in the washer & dryer along with three small pieces of cement (about the size of your palm). Hit up your local Lowe's or Home Depot for the cement.

3. To get a stain out of a white tee, dampen the spot & rub it with baking soda. After it sits for a few minutes dab it with hydrogen peroxide. Lastly, throw it in the washing machine.

Anti-Aging Checklist

Here's a quick daily reference for Dr. Oz's anti-aging plan. I've posted copies on my fridge & in my office...



(Click on the image to make it bigger...thanks Maryanna!)

FREE & the City: Movies in the Park

Attention Chicago urbanistas...today marks the kick-off of "Movies in the Park." Everything from classics like Sunset Blvd. to blockbusters like The Dark Knight are being shown weekly from now until the fall for FREE in various park in the Chicago area! For more info please visit CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE and GRANT PARK MOVIES WEBSITE.

Not in Chicago? Don't fret, many park districts all over the U.S. offer similar programs. Please check with your local park district to find out.

10 Mins of Sun a Day Keeps the Doc Away...

I'm soooo tired of hearing my fellow urbanistas of color say that they avoid being in the sun like the plague b/c they fear they might "get too dark" or "don't like to sweat." The reality is that direct sunlight can improve your health & extend your life. The incomparable Dr. Oz shared the importance of getting 10 mins. of direct sunlight each day on Oprah. According to Dr. Oz, the sun is an excellent source of Vitamin D. And here's why Vitamin D is SO important...

"Vitamin D is critically important for preventing cancer and critically important for reducing heart problems. It's linked to multiple sclerosis, to juvenile diabetes. It's one of the best ways of reducing infection rates. It's got a ton of things that it does for you to make your immune system function the way you want it to function."
- Dr. Oz

If you can't get sunlight b/c you live in Alaska or have to survive bitter Chicago winters like myself then you can take 1,000 units of a Vitamin D supplement.


SOURCE

Step #5: Tea Baggin'

Urbanistas it's time to focus on the next step in the 12-Step Urban Addiction Recovery Program...tea baggin'. No it's not what you're thinking. Tea baggin' is a sweet little trick one of my L.A. actress friends taught me. It's very simple actually. The secret - keep a tea bag with you at ALL times! Sound strange? Well believe it or not this little tea bag can have a big impact & here's how:

1. Whenever you get the munchies or that late-afternoon hunger attack, whip out your tea bag for an instant treat that you won't feel guilty about later. Tea can curb hunger cravings, which can help keep you slim & trim. Tea is the 2nd most popular drink worldwide & has almost no calories at all (that is as long as you don't load in tons of sugar, honey or whatever else people are trying to pass off as natural sweetener). All you need is hot water & your trusty tea bag. Try different teas until you find one that you like. The leaves already have natural flavoring so there's no need to add to perfection.

2. At any restaurant of your choice, request a glass of hot water & BAM!...whip out your tea bag to avoid spending $5-$20 on a watered down cocktail or sugary soda you know you don't need. Next time you dine out take a look at your bill to see just how much your Diet Coke cost you. You probably could get a six-pack or two for that one glass you sipped had with your meal.

3. If you partied like it was 1999 last night, but it was only a Tuesday, then a cup of tea will get you back to running in your heels in no time! Caffeine is a natural component in tea, which is perfectly healthy when used in moderation.

4. The most beneficial factor is that tea baggin' can improve your health. Specifically, if you opt for green tea bags then you'll have a source of good antioxidants which will enhance your overall health by boosting your immune system, protecting your heart, fighting cancer cells & keeping your mind sharp & focused for life's daily challenges.

For more about the multi-goodness of tea, please CLICK HERE. From now on you can boldly & proudly say that you are a TEA BAGGER!

pUnkYfiSh!

Greetings Urbanistas!! Sorry I've been severely M.I.A. but I finally took a long overdue vacay from EVERYTHING but surprisingly my life has been 5x more hectic as an "aspiring socialite." Anywho, the last 3 weeks have taken me to London, Paris, NYC, L.A. & now H-town, TX. In the coming weeks I will share with you some of the hidden gems I've discovered along the way. My first offering is a fashion line, uniquely titled PUNKYFISH. While I was in London I stumbled upon the Notting Hill store on Portobello Rd. & now I'm absolutely IN LOVE with this line. It offers fun, funky pieces that are comfortable enough for every day wear but offer enough eccentricity to get a second look. To bring a little edge to your wardrobe this summer SHOP THIS BRAND ONLINE.