MLK Holiday = Day of Service

Tomorrow, as we celebrate the life & legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr I urge you to pay homage by using your day off as an opportunity to "let freedom ring" by doing something positive in your community. It's not too late to do something other than sleeping until noon, club hoppin', or sitting on the couch watching mindless daytime TV. To find out about volunteer activities in your area CLICK HERE.

D.I.Y.D. - How to Transform an Old Tee into a Haute Accessory

Watch the vid below to see Megan Nicolay, author of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt AND



Generation T: Beyond Fashion - 120 New Ways to Transform a T-shirt, do her thang. Megan demonstrates how to transform any ol' tee into a chic fashion scarf...

Urbanista Deal of the Day: $22 off Airfare!!

Use coupon code "DEALOFDAY10" to get $22 off on all already low-priced airline tickets booked at CheapOair.com. You'll get an instant $12 discount when you book airfare on the site, then enter coupon "DEALOFDAY10" at the time of purchase to save an additional $10. This coupon expires on March 31, 2010.

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UPDATE: How You Can Send Immediate Supplies to Haiti

***UPDATE*** Check out this news piece on the Love a Child clinic then read below to find out what you can do to help...


LOVE A CHILD is a Christian humanitarian organization in the Port-Au-Prince area that operates an orphanage. They are posting updates to their website as often as possible to update the world on the still very dire conditions in Haiti. Currently their medical clinic is treating earthquake victims, but they are in desperate need of supplies. They are asking people to send supplies including:

*Band-aids
*Washcloths
*Toothbrushes/Toothpaste
*Dental Floss
*Deodorant
*Shoes/Flip flops
*Large t-shirts
*Non-perishable foods
*Multi-vitamins
*Tylenol
and MUCH, MUCH more...For a complete list of immediate supply needs please CLICK HERE.

Mail supplies to:

Love A Child, Inc.
Attn: Mike Essman – Haiti Earthquake Medical Donation
9304 Camden Field Parkway
Riverview, FL 33578-0520

*Please print your name, address and phone number on a piece of paper and place it inside each box sent.

You don't have to go out & spend a lot of $$$ on supplies to send. Just look around your house. If nothing else we all have t-shirts, shoes, etc. that we hardly, if ever, wear. I'm packing a box to send today. Since I'm visiting my parents, I'm raiding my mom's cabinets. I can't tell you how many vital supplies I've found that are just sitting around (some hasn't even been opened). She honestly won't even miss. In fact, I probably won't even tell her what I took - bet $$$ she won't even blink twice! So please, please get a box together today with a group of friends, neighbors, church members or co-workers and mail it no later than tomorrow. Remember Monday is Martin Luther King Day so post offices will be closed.

Urbanista Deal of the Day: 80% off Dining!

Good A.M. urbanistas! Lots of improvements are being made to this website to make it more useful for you. I'm sure you also noticed the "makeover" to the blog courtesy of Cosmic Jane. If your blog needs an upgrade Cosmic Jane will definitely hook you up!

A new feature on this blog will include "deal of the day" in an effort to make readers aware of discounts/freebies that might be of interest. Today's first posting is for those outside of Nashville who also want to enjoy a good meal for less. Restaurant.com is offering 80% off ALL dining certificates until 1/19! To take advantage of this deal CLICK HERE and then enter the coupon code "INDULGE" as you checkout. Quick math refresher: a $4 certificate will only run you $0.80! One caution - make sure to read the restrictions on some certificates which might have stipulations regarding weekend dining, alcoholic beverages, etc. With that said...bon appetit!

Perfect Timing: Tips on How to Save on Big Ticket Items

1. Cars - If you're shopping for a new whip, the best time to buy is at the end of the month. Car dealers are anxious to meet their sales quotas so you'll have the best bargaining power on the 30th/31st/28th.

2. Major appliances (air conditioners, refridgerators, etc.) - New models make their debut in early fall, which means you can get the previous year's model for dirt cheap in Sept. & Oct. This is pretty obvious, but for seasonal items (like grills) your best bet is to purchase these items in the off season. This also applies for sporting/hobby equipment like bicycles.

3. TVs - The next time you're in need of a new flat screen, look out for deep discounts leading up to the December holiday rush. If you can hold out another month, then you'll be rewarded b/c TV prices get slashed even more right before the BIG game - Super Bowl.

4. Jewelry - Did you know that most jewellers make one-third of their annual revenue & nearly 100% of their profits in the two months leading up to the winter holiday season? With that said, avoid jewellers during the holidays (unless it's the only way you can get out of the dog house).

How YOU Can Help w/ Disaster Relief in Haiti

As you can see from the video above, rescue/emergency aid workers from all over the U.S. are quickly mobilizing to get to Haiti. Unless you've been hiding under a rock in the Sahara you should be aware of the devastating situation currently unfolding in Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake shook the Port-au-Prince area. For the full story please CLICK HERE. Yes, we all need to pray for those affected, but we can do more than pray. Put your $$$ where your mouth is to help assist with relief efforts. Unfortuately, we can't all physically go and lend a helping hand BUT we can make a small monetary contribution, which will help in major way. There are several ways to donate:

1. Red Cross - Text the word "HAITI" to 90999 & $10 will automatically donated to Red Cross (the donation will be charged to your next phone bill) or CLICK HERE

2. Wyclef Jean's "Yele" Org - Text the word "YELE" to 501 501 & $5 will be donated (again, the donation will be charged to your next phone bill)

3. Habitat for Humanity - Habitat is working to establish shelters for the many who are now homeless in Haiti. CLICK HERE TO DONATE

4. Save the Children - Donations will help provide urgently needed medical attention, safe drinking water, and other necessities.CLICK HERE TO DONATE

For a list of other ways you can help CLICK HERE.

Swingin' in Nashville: Restaurant Week Begins TODAY!

Greetings urbanistas & urbanistos! If you're in Nashville this week make sure to take advantage of Nashville Originals Restaurant Week. This week only you can enjoy a two, three or FOUR course meal at some of Nashville's finest eateries including Bound'ry, Cabana, Germantown Cafe, The Pineapple Room @ Cheekwood, F. Scott's & many, many more for only $20.10 or $30.10 per person. For a complete list and more info please CLICK HERE.

Swingin' is Step #7 of my 12-Step Urban Addiction Recovery Plan, which simply means throwing "brand loyalty" out of the window. We tend to be habitual creatures & this often gets us caught into a pattern of doing the same things & patronizing the same businesses for years (even if we're dissatisfied) b/c we're so afraid of change or shaking things up. The thought of trying a new restaurant, hair salon or even laundry detergent is unimaginable b/c we're so "loyal" to a brand/establishment that may be robbing us blind and possibly not even giving us the level of quality of service/goods we could get elsewhere for LESS MONEY! This is why I've adopted a mindset of "brand swingin." I'm all about getting the best bang for my buck. Sure I love my hair stylist, aesthetician, tailor, etc but they all know that I'm always looking for the best deal. As a result they work harder to make sure that I receive the best service b/c they don't want to lose my business. I'm not suggesting that you go to your next hair appt demanding that you leave looking like Beyonce or you're finding a new stylist! All I'm saying is don't ignore the freebie being offered at the salon next door if it's going to save you some cash. Then you can always go back to your regular stylist...hence the term "swingin." It's all biz...never personal :-)

Kim Kardashian Smells...

What doesn't this chick have? But she's just too darn cute to hate on. Don't front like you don't watch the reality show... Anywho, Kim K. is expanding her growing empire with a new signature fragrance that includes notes of tuberose, gardenia, jasmine, jacaranda wood, and more. The scent hits Sephora exclusively in Feb. and prices range from $16 for a rollerball wand of the perfume to $65 for a deluxe bottle.

Trimming the Fat: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

We could all learn a thing or two from the "coupon mom" Stephanie Nelson. Everytime I see her in action it blows my mind. I just watched her on the Today Show. After all of her cost-cutting magic, she paid all of a QUARTER for $100 worth of groceries!!! Lucky for us she's willing to share her secrets in her new book. Peep the vid below to see the coupon mom do her thang:

Trimming the Fat: $35 Brazilian Wax

During my recent trip to the ATL I almost wrecked my car when I spotted a sign that read "Brazilian Wax for $35." I know what you're thinking...At first thought I was a skeptic too. What kind of dodgy, shim-sham operation could this be? But I was in the "ritzy" part of town b.k.a. Buckhead & this waxing salon was located on Peachtree. Surely those two things should count for something? After 3 days of passing by I just couldn't resist anymore. Not to mention - my trimmed hedges were quickly growing into an out-of-control forest. OK...TMI...



Anywho, when I walked into the salon there was standing room only!!! Hot diggidy! I was on to something. Now I must point out that the salon isn't as posh as my beloved Bliss Spa or my absolute fave Pink Cheeks in L.A. BUT once you get past that you'll never turn back. No appointment is required & you get an AUTHENTIC Brazilian wax that will leave your bum softer than a baby's butt :-) And the best part.... all this for only cost $35! Maybe I've lived in a large metropolis for too long which is why I'm so excited to share this discovery. I'm used to coughing up at the very least $50 + (mandatory or you'll feel like a loser) tip for a wax job that these ATL waxing connoisseurs would laugh at. So next time you're in the "A" get waxed at Authentic Brazilian Wax by Andreia. They offer a list of waxing services aside from a bikini wax. And for you Atlanta urbanistas, a second locale is coming to Lawrenceville.

The Morning After: How to Cure a Hangover

Happy New Year urbanistas & urbanistos!!! 2010 is here! The number "10" is believed to represent "perfection of divine order." Think about the many references to the number...there are 10 Commandments, normally we have 10 fingers & 10 toes, the original calendar only had 10 months & so on. Whatever you believe the point is that it's time for a new decade...a new era. Old things have passed away. So let's push forward.

I don't know about you but as for me 2009 refused to leave quietly. Now while you were popping bottles and shaking it to the ground at the final hour of '09, I was in bed nursing a flu. But don't cry for me b/c unlike many of you I don't have to pay the cost for over-crunkin' it. Here are a few tips for how to deal with a hangover so you don't have to spend the entire first day of 2010 blaming it on the alcohol:

1.Sleep. Rest is your best friend at this point to give your body a recover. Also try taking a multi-vitamin and drink a lot of water before going to sleep.

2.Replenish your body with fruit juice and water. Drink orange juice for Vitamin C. Drink a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade for nutrients.

3.Avoid caffeine. A weak cup of coffee may be okay but a lot of caffeine will continue to dehydrate you, the opposite of what you want right now.

4.Eat mineral rich food like pickles or canned fish.

5.Drink a Bloody Mary. While your blood is dealing with the new alcohol it is ignoring the old and in the mean time tomato juice and celery are full of vitamins. If you drank the last of the vodka make a Virgin Mary. Another spicy morning after drink option is Hair of the Dog, in which gin and hot sauce are sure to bite your hangover back.

6. Take a shower, switching between cold and hot water.

7. Try Alka Seltzer Morning Relief. Results have been proven.

8.Get some exercise & drink lots of water.

Lastly, do NOT...I repeat do NOT pop a bunch of pills. The side effects of aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen can be magnified when alcohol is in your system, so it is best to avoid them to kill the hangover pain. Aspirin is a blood thinner, just like alcohol, and can intensify its effects and Tylenol (or acetaminophen) can cause more damage to your liver. Ibuprofen can also cause stomach bleeding. So be cautious when going for the quick relief.

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