While I am on vacation, I cannot do my celebrity post today, so in lieu, I am reposting a favorite of mine:
I had to get my wireless phone replaced and did not want to get into a hassle and I did the total girly girl non-feminist thing. Having been make-up free the whole day up until that point, before going into the Verizon Wireless store I put on a fresh coat of make up and walked in the store hoping to find a clerk who'd let a prettier fresh-faced me trade in the phone I spilled coffee on for a brand new one without asking me too many questions. It worked!
It's no secret that a pretty and well put together face gets treated better in retail stores. I've experimented unwillingly this theory before and know by now that a better looking me goes farther than the tired sweatpants haggard looking me, especially when I am having to deal with a live person who has to get me a service.
I remember having a conversation with a very beautiful friend of mine who went off unprovoked on the fact that overweight people who lose weight are praised, applauded and encouraged.
"What about us skinny girls who have to work hard to stay thin? Don't we get any recognition? Where is our "kudos" and "a job well done" she argued? I knew my friend was vain and a bit disconnected from reality but what she was saying took the cake.
I had to remind her of the many perks she enjoyed in life on account of her being very attractive. Several studies have verified that beautiful people get more "not guilty" convictions despite overwhelming evidence that would have had an uglier defendant in jail for life. I remember watching a 20/20 or 60 minutes or Dateline special a while back where they actually experimented and showed clear examples of (1) a gorgeous stranded woman getting 10 x as much help than an average looking woman; (2) a good looking job candidate getting offered a job on the spot while moments earlier an okay looking dude was told they'd get back to him even though their credentials were virtually identical; (3) and it goes on and on...
Well, that brought me to thinking about all the wonderful perks pregnant and new moms get to have when they traverse the streets with their protruding bellies or strolling about with their cherubic little babies. In case you were wondering, here they are in 10 ten list format of course:
10. At the bathroom in a long line. This one is obvious. Who wants to go between a preggers woman and her bladder?
9. On the way to catch an elevator. No need to run. Folks get that you are a waddling duck these days and will patiently wait. Yup, to the courier fubbling in his bag for the package he's to deliver, people are yelling all sorts of "hurry up and get in here!" obscentities. You sweet waddling duck get to take your sweet time.
8. At the airport security gate. Late for your flight? Horrified by the tremendous line at security check in and fearful you'll miss your plane? Worry not. Simply stroll junior to the front of the security stand and show them your boarding pass and voila! Instant-cut-a -line Perks!
7. At the airport boarding gate. Traveling with your kid guarantees you the chance to get in the plane first when they board "passengers carrying small children who need extra time getting in their seats." Sweet!
6. If you arrive at a check out or ordering line at the same time as another person, they're gonna let the glowing pregnant woman looking to nourish her unborn child go in front of them. That's a natural gimme!
5. At the parking lots to some mega stores that cater to children. Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Buy Buy Baby, some Walmart and other stores have special parking spots right next to the handicap ones up front reserved for pregnant women and woman with children. I used to smile everytime I'd see one of these signs and was feeling extra lazy that day.
4. Visiting someone who you'd rather not spend that much time with...You can always hit them with the line, "It's time for Amelia's nap. It's been nice, but we've go to go."
3. At a social event. You can always pat your belly and gesture towards the restroom to wiggle your way out of hearing another boring story about that party guests trip to the Outer Banks.
2. At the buffet line while on your second or third helping. Because everyone believes that line "you're eating for two" and you're uber eeked at getting to be a glutton and not be chastised for it!
1. On public transportation. While it is true in many major urban cities, people don't have the manners to let a pregnant woman have their seat, still several people are fine about getting up and putting you out of the danger of possibly losing your balance falling and hurting yourself and your unborn child.
Amanda Peete (love her!) announced last December to be expecting and recently the paps caught a glimpse of her growing bump! Cute, frumpy, but cute!
My favorite Top Chef host and advocate for scarred and burn survivors, Padma Lakshmi has welcomed a daughter, her rep has shared. 
Celebrity-Babies reports
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celebritybabies.info reports:
Now this is a beautiful and realistic post baby body!
Are the hands cusped in the shape of a heart on the belly the universal shot for pregnancy maternity session? Too cute. I love it!
Pregnant women should veer towards leaner cuts of beef, which provides valuable proteins and iron necessary for fetal development and healthy blood – among other benefits, of course. Mayo Clinic recommends 3 ounces of beef tenderloin (or equivalent a day, as it provides 3 milligrams of iron per serving.
10. Soledad O'Brien - as an anchor at CNN covering critical issues and world class events and topics, this mom of four has the power of the media at her fingertips. This power mom, whose dad is an Irish Australian and mom is an Afro Cuban, has the experience of so many ethnicities that CNN tapped her to be the reporter and host of Black in America 1 and 2 and Latino in America. Soledad balances her high profile career with being a mom to 5-year old twins twins Jackson and Charlie, 7-year old Cecilia and 9-year old Sophia Elizabeth.
mom balances work on her daily show with Regis Philbin and developing and producing several shows with her and her husband Mark Consuelos production company Milojo Productions. The two will executive produce two upcoming TLC shows Mom Inc. and Eat, Drink and Be Married. Kelly, the former All My Children star will be featured in Mom, Inc. as the host. Millions tune in to her show each morning and shape their behavior and thought based on what this fit and funny mom has to say. Kelly and Mark have three children: Michael Joseph Consuelos (born June 2, 1997), Lola Grace Consuelos (born June 16, 2001), and Joaquin Antonio Consuelos (born February 24, 2003).
mpany with her husband, designs a line of empowerment T-shirts and is an author and publisher. Even though she has an impressive acting career on her own, she says she always puts her family first. Jada and Will have two children, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (born July 8, 1998) and Willow Camille Reign Smith (born October 31, 2000 ). Jada is also the stepmother of Willard "Trey" Christopher Smith III (born November 11, 1992), Smith's son from a previous marriage. She is of West Indian, Creole and Portuguese Jewish ancestry. When I think of multicultural power couple and super mom, Jada pops in my mind instantly! I know for a fact that she inspires many.
She is a super super star and a loving mom of four and on the side she is also a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, film producer, film director, fashion designer, author and entrepreneur She is mom to Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon (born October 14, 1996, father Carlos Leon), Rocco (born August 11, 2000 with ex hubby Guy Ritchie); and David Banda and Mercy James who she adopted from Malawi. She's great about staying in step and reinventing herself.
TV star of Life in the Fab Lane. She gave birth to a baby boy in May 2009, named Kenzo Lee Hounsou and her daughters Ming Lee (born January 2000) and Aoki Lee (born August 2002) both models for her lines Baby Phat Kids Collection are featured often on the reality show. She seems to put family first and enjoys being a mom. She comes off as a take no prisoners expect the best boss on her reality show and does a darn good job handling all she has on her plate while raising her brood. And what little 
ild for motherhood for women in the heartland of America. Her folksy jargon has won her fans among millions nationwide. She is a former governor of Alaska the first woman vice presidential nominee for the Republican party and a bonafide hustler. This woman knows how to stay in the news and make herself relavent. She is one of the most watched women around. Her autobiography and subsequent book tour attracted many. While her family is quite controversial, this gun-toting moose hunter does her thang! Sarah has five children: sons Track (born int 1989) Trig Paxson Van (born in 2008), and daughters Bristol Sheeran Marie (born in 1990), Willow (born in 1995), and Piper (born in 2001). She is a young grandmother to Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, who was born to her eldest daughter Bristol, in 2008.
Marcheline in Nice, France, on July 12, 2008. Her eldest daughter she gave birth to Shiloh Nouvel was born May 27, 2006. Lovely family, and I can't fault her for being such a force to be reckoned with even if she did fall in love with a married man and is an atheist. I also do wish she would hire someone to hook up Zahara's hair. Poor child.
egnant at 45, but is leaning towards adoption, hence as we all suspected the reason to put her popular top rated show CougarTown on hiatus indefinitely. You go Courtney! I'm glad she and her actor husband David Arquette are putting their family first and have developed the clout in Hollywood to do so. I hear that Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson, other would be advanced age moms are also struggling to conceive right now. Here's wishing them good vibes that they ultimately succeed. If all else fails, there is always the surrogate option as Sarah Jessica Parker opted to do and also adoption a la Courtney Vance and Angela Bassett and others.
and his wife Shauna, who is five months pregnant, posed at the ESPN The Magazine’s Next Event on February 5, 2010 in Miami Beach, Florida. Below are more pictures of the couple at a Pre-Superbowl event on February 4th. source
